Epigonation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ornamental piece of clothing worn by some Eastern Orthodox clergy as a sign of rank and dignity
2. A rectangular cloth hanging from the waist of certain religious figures, symbolizing their authority and role within the church
3. A decorative garment associated with specific roles in Orthodox ceremonial dress, representing spiritual significance and tradition

Etymology: In Greek, "epigonation" means "upon the knee," which is a plain description of where the garment hangs. It is a lozenge-shaped panel of stiff cloth, often embroidered, suspended by a cord from the belt on the right side of the body, so that it falls roughly to the knee. Bishops and some other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches wear it as part of their vestments. The garment's name in Greek is a compound of "epi," meaning "on" or "upon," and "gony," meaning "knee." English took the Greek term as a technical label for this one piece of clerical dress, and it has stayed a specialist word. Its meaning has not shifted much from its Greek sense. The panel is often interpreted as a symbol of a sword, sometimes read as the spiritual weapon of the clergyman, though the precise symbolism varies by tradition and period.

Synonyms: palitza, ephigonation