THE SACRED VESTMENTS
At the performance of Church Services and Sacraments the Bishop, Priest and Deacon are vested in sacred garments appropriate to their respective grades.
These vestments are: 1) the alb (sticharion), 2) the stole, 3) the epimanika (shortsleeves), 4) the epitrachilion, 5) the zone, 6) the phelonion, 7) the Sakkos, 8) the omophorion, and 9) the mitre. The first two are used by the deacon, the second three–by the priest, the epitrachilion, the zone and the last three–by the Bishop.
All these vestments have a deep sacred signification.
The alb points to the purity of life which is particularly required by the sacred office.
The stole reminds the Deacon of the grace which vouchsafed him in his sacred order. The epitrachilion tells the Bishop and Priest of the double outpouring upon them of the Gifts of grace which correspondingly requires of them particular labours in their sacred office.
The omophorion, placed on the shoulders of the Bishop, recalls to him the Lord's parable of the lost sheep which the good shepherd found and joyfully put on his shoulders. Thus it bids the Bishop to take good care of the children of the Church entrusted to his guardianship.
The epimanika remind the consecrated person of those fetters with which the hands of our Lord and Saviour were tied, and tell them not to put their trust in their own powers and gifts, but rather to ask for the help from above for the performance of their duties.
The sakkos point to the humiliation and passion of Christ and instill in the shepherds humbleness.
The mitre points to an especial glory and power vouchsafed by the Lord to His Ministers.
THE SACRED VESSELS AND OTHER OBJECTS USED AT THE DIVINE-SERVICES
At the Church's Divine-Services the following vessels and other sacred things are used: 1) the paten, 2) the chalice, 3) the asterisk, 4) the spoon, 5) the lance.
The paten is a silver or golden plate on stand, on which is placed the bread which, during the Liturgy, is consecrated into the Body of Christ.
The chalice is a vessel into which is poured wine mixed with water, which, during the Liturgy, is consecrated into the Blood of Christ.
The asterisk (star) is placed over the paten to keep the holy bread and particles disposed around it in a certain order, as well as to support the veil and the aer, with which they are covered.
The spoon is used for conveying the holy Gifts into the mouths of the faithful.
The lance is used for taking out the holy Bread (Lamb, Agnetz) and other portions from the prosphoras (loaves) and for breaking the holy Bread (holy Lamb).
The objects used at the performance of other sacraments are: 1) the font, used at the sacrament of Baptism, 2) the Chrism, a vessel used for keeping the holy Chrism, 3) and the crowns, used at the celebration of the sacrament of Matrimony.
The above text was excerpted from The Most Useful Knowledge for the Orthodox Russian-American Young People, compiled by V. Rev. Peter G. Kohanik (Passaic, NJ: n.p., 1932–1934), using only minimal adjustments to the original text (such as correcting typographical errors and adding clarification in brackets of alternate transliterated spellings).