In Russia, the Orthodox Feast of the Intercession is greatly revered, the words of prayer are heard in all the churches of the country that day: "Cover us with your omophorion." What is omophorion?
Background
At present, the Church greatly honors the Most Holy Theotokos; it protects and protects believers from evil, enemies and other misfortunes. It was she who, protecting the city of Constantinople from barbaric ruin, covered it in 910 with her omophorion. Witnesses of this miracle were a few people. The church believed them and in memory of this event established a holiday. The omophorion of the Virgin was familiar from heaven that the prayers of believers were heard, that foreign invaders could not break into the city, that citizens could live peacefully, raise children, plant trees and build houses.
Greek origin of the name
From the Greek language, omophorion is “worn on the shoulders”. Most likely, in ancient times this word was used to refer to a wide female scarf that was worn on the shoulders. If you look closely at the frescoes of the Byzantine era, you can see that this attribute of clothing was a typical element of clothing for women of that time. On many icons on the Mother of God, the scarf covers not only the head, but also the shoulders and back to the ankles.
For the Slavs, the word “cover” is more familiar, which is synonymous with “homophore” and gave the name to the Orthodox holiday. On the one hand, this is a handkerchief, and on the other, the mercy of the Virgin, which, with prayers and protection, shelters the city from the enemy. Moreover, the Greeks for a long time also used the word "skepticism", which means "cover" or "protection".
The meaning of the word and its meaning at present
Subsequently, the omophorion is the property of the vestment of the bishop. In the clothes of clerics there are two types of cover: small and large. The Great is a wide and long ribbon with the image of crosses, it goes around the neck, covers the back with one end, and descends to the chest with the other. Small omophorion is a wide ribbon with the image of crosses, which falls at both ends on the chest and is sewn in front or fastened to buttons.
This attribute of clothing is always worn over saccos. The bishop performs all services in the great homophore, except for the liturgy, which he puts on in small.
Homophore is the oldest element of the episcopal vestments. It is this attribute of clothing that distinguishes priests from other members of the church. The wide ribbon on the shoulders of the clergyman is a symbol of the grace of God that is given to the clergy. When a spiritual person covers his head with a holy cloth on top of a penitent person, this means that God granted him forgiveness. This action is called the Sacrament.
The definition of word "omophorion"
This is a kind of robe that is worn on the shoulders, since "omos" in the translation "shoulder", "fero" - "wear." Some scholars believe that the forerunner of the omophorion was the ephod, which was the ritual vestment of the clergy, mentioned in the Old Testament. 2 onyxes were attached to the ether, on which the names of the 12 sons of Jacob were carved. This was a peculiar designation of all Israel. Now, instead of nameplates on the homophore, crosses, which are symbols of the Orthodox Church, are depicted.