Monastic Hoods in the East and West

[nbhart]

Where did the difference in custom generally originate between eastern monks such as those of the Maronite, Greek, Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian traditions, and western monks such as Benedictines and Carthusians wearing their cowls? Those of the eastern tradition are generally seen with their cowls on while those of the west have there heads uncovered. This seems to be both within and without the liturgy.

 

[CelticWarlord]

You may find the answer here;

Catholic Monks & Colors | Synonym

classroom.synonym.com

 

[Roseeurekacross]

I can ask the monks in a few weeks if you like, but in the meantime

@CRM_Brother

 

[CRM_Brother]

Hello all,
While I am not extremely versed in eastern monastic habits, I did some research and here is what I came up with. If anyone sees something concerning the Eastern explanation which is wrong, please point it out. I want to learn too.

Now, it seems that monastic hoods from the East and the West adopted similar aspects of their habits for very different reasons.

While theological explanations have been formulated over the centuries for the western monastic cowls, its original purpose was practicality. The early monastics in the west worked to live. They heavily relied upon the influence of the Rule of St. Basil in which presented physical work and prayer as complementary, not in conflict with one another. The early cowls served two purposes.

1. It kept out the rain - The early western monastics worked to live. Harvesting fields did not wait for good weather. The stiff cowls kept out both snow and rain, but also kept strong sun from beating down on their heads as they worked.
2. It promoted personal reflection - The stiff cowl cut off much of the monk’s peripheral vision. This allowed the monk to ignore what wasn’t directly in front of him, his task at hand, both at work and at prayer. This was especially helpful to the Carthusians, as not being able to see a fellow monk gave the monks less temptation to speak outside of their allotted times. Some modern monks even attach cowls to their work clothes for this very purpose.
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From what I’ve read of eastern monastic traditions, there are two separate categories which could be called ‘hoods’.

1. Kalymafki - this is a form of liturgical headgear worn by many eastern monks and nuns which is a stiffened felt hat, sometimes with an attached veil (which would look somewhat like a hood). This headgear is a remnant of Byzantine Imperial court headgear. After the Edict of Thessalonika in 380 which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, all bishops, and monks became part of the imperial court. This headgear was a domed felt or metal hat. This evolved over time in various Christian traditions. This is also where the Catholic miter comes from. When a kalymafki is worn by an eastern bishop or patriarch as seen below, the kalymafki is embroidered with images of the schema and it is known as a koukoulion, despite being distinct from the monastic koukoulion (see below).
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2. Koukoulion - This is the eastern analogue to the western cowl. This is worn by Schemamonks, or monks who have made full vows and tonsure and wear a distinctive embroidered habit. It is also worn by Patriarchs. I have been unable to find the theological meaning behind the Koukoulion. Below are two images: the koukoulion with the analavos (embroidered outer habit slightly similar to a scapular) of the Great Schema; and a koukoulion on its own.
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[dochawk]

There is also a distinction between the “greater” and “lesser” schema, although I couldn’t tell you the difference. A search of the byzcath.org forums for “schema” might be productive . . .

All eastern bishops are “monasticized” (wrong word) before consecration. They take the schema, even if they were secular rather than monastic.

In a side note, the academic cowls that today are only worn by doctors (real doctors; I don’t mean physicians) at graduation really are cowls. Their origin, too, is quite practical: the places they taught tended to be rather cold and poorly heated (central heat generally disappeared from Europe from the fall of Rome until something like the 17th or 18th century . .)

hawk