Syriac kuttino is now almost always white also. The Armenian patmucan and Ethiopian qamis are similar to the sticharion. Liturgical use Deacons, subdeacons and altar servers wear the sticharion at any service at which they are serving. However, in Greek practice, the custom has developed to wear only the orarion and epimanikia without the sticharion during the lesser services. Before vesting, the deacon or altar servicemen will take his sticharion for the priest (or bishop, if he is present) to bless before he puts it on. Bishops and priests will bless their vestments themselves before vesting. Each minister will kiss the cross on the back of their phelonion before putting it on. When vesting for the Divine Liturgy priests and deacons say the following vesting prayer as they put on the garments: My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness has He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me with comeliness. When a bishop is vesting before the Divine Liturgy the prayer above is read by the Protodeacon, as the subdeacons place the vestment upon him. Sometimes this prayer is chanted by the choir during the vesting of the bishop. References Eastern Christian vestments History of clothing History of clothing (Western fashion) History of fashion Byzantine clothing