Editing Mantle (monastic vesture) (section)

== History ==
[[Image:Antropov Archbishop Gavriil.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of [[archbishop]] Gabriel (Petrov) wearing an episcopal mandyas (Alexey Andropov, 1774, [[State Russian Museum]], [[Saint Petersburg]]).]]
[[Image:Isidore of Pelusium (Menologion of Basil II).jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the monk [[Isidore of Pelusium]], wearing a black mantle, from the Menologion of Basil II, 11th Century.]]

The mantle was originally a cape worn simply to ward off the cold. The mantle was first mentioned in the [[Old Testament]], as a garment worn by several prophets including [[Elijah]] and [[Elisha]].  In {{bibleverse|2|Kings|2:11-14|KJV}}, the mantle passing from Elijah the prophet, to Elisha, his successor,  symbolizes the passing of prophetic authority: 
:And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 
:And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 
:He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 
:And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the {{LORD}} God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 

Depictions of monks on [[icon]]s show the mantle in use from the earliest Christian times. The original monastic mantle was of simple material: black, brown or grey, depending on what was at hand. As time went on, the use of mantles of a particular color and style came to be established as specific monastic vesture. Over the years distinguishing colors and ornamentation came to be applied to the mantle to distinguish monastics of higher positions within the church, while still reminding them of the need for monastic humility.

In the contemporary practice of the Eastern Orthodox Church, monks and nuns wear solid black mantles. They also wear veils, differing between traditions and rank. In common practice, monks wear a black veil that covers a [[Kalimavkion]], a cylindrical hat. Abbesses also wear this same veil and hat while nuns only wear the veil. The practice of wearing a kalimavkion below the veil has only arisen in the last 300 years, and prior to this period, monks either wore no veil, or wore a pointed veil, as seen in many Russians of the old rite and icons of African saints. Nuns have been wearing a veil, in addition to the mantle since at least the 11th Century.