�� / The Psaltic Dress Code

�� / Discussion material

D. Koubaroulis wrote:

In a recent talk,
(http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=gr&id=379&tla=gr)
Patriarch Bartholomeos mentioned the following interesting things
about the dress of the psaltai. In my own translation:

"Unfortunately, we see -with reasonable concern and sadness-, some
chanters dressing up in unusual gowns with deep purple or red colars
around the neck and wrists, some also with gold-woven artwork which
manifest a secular spirit, spiritual emptiness and make the chanter a
miserable view to see."

Before that, he mentions that the psaltic dress should be all black
and nothing else. Now we all know that in Byzantium psaltai used to
dress much more fancy than that. Comments?

He also says that the Archon Protopsaltis (the right chanter of the
Patriarchate) wears a black cap that symbolises his wisdom and virtue.
Does the same apply to all the other protopsaltai that have been named
"Archon of the Arhdiocese of Constantinople" or do they breach the
protocol? What about the Archon Lambadarios? He does wear a cap as
well. The Patriarch probably included all the above under the term
"Archon Protopsaltis". Correct if wrong.