Another trademark of a bishop is his ceremonial staff (or jezel in Russian), which should not be confused with a bishop’s walking stick (posok).

Another trademark of a bishop is his ceremonial staff (or jezel in Russian), which should not be confused with a bishop’s walking stick (posok). The ceremonial staff symbolizes that bishop is the leader or shepherd of the flock. This staff can either be topped with two serpentine heads (reminding us of the snakes which Moses lifted with his staff) or the “tau-shaped” curved bar. Either type bears a cross on top.

Because such staffs are often made of metal, a rectangular cloth known as a “sudarium” is sometimes used by the bishop as he is holding his staff. As these cloths became more ornate and brocaded, it because customary to tie them om place and for the bishop to hold the staff underneath the sudarium so that its beauty might be freely seen.

Fr. John