This article is about the garment used by monks. For other uses, see Cowl (disambiguation) or Cowling (disambiguation).

Drawing showing a cowl as it is worn over the head

The cowl (from the Latin, cuculla meaning "hood") is a hood worn by members of religious orders. It also refers to a long, hooded cloak, with wide sleeves, worn by some Catholic and Orthodox monks when participating in the liturgy. Developed in the Middle Ages, they became the formal garment for those in monastic life. They were worn to give warmth to people who often spent long hours in unheated and drafty churches.

[edit] Religious use

A Roman Catholic monk wearing a cowl

They are most commonly bestowed upon the monk at the time of his making solemn, or lifetime, vows. They are generally worn in conformity with the color of the monk's tunic, with the Benedictines wearing black, and other groups which follow the Rule of St. Benedict, e.g., the Camaldolese and Cistercians, wearing some form of white. Carmelites wear a white cowl, although their tunic and scapular are brown. Dominicans also wear black cowls, although over a white tunic and scapular. The cloak, with a hood, is also worn by nuns, in the same manner. ^[1]

Some orders which are not part of the Benedictine tradition do not make use of this cloak. However, the Franciscans, Carthusians and Dominicans all wear cowls.

St. Tikhon of Moscow wearing the patriarchal white koukoulion

Among the Eastern Christians (Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics) the cowl developed into the koukoulion worn by monks of the Great Schema, the highest degree of monasticism in the Eastern Church. Currently the koukoulion is of two types: one is similar to the hood still worn by some Western monastic orders, the other takes the form of a stiff rounded hat (like a bowler hat without a rim) to which is attached an epanokamelavkion (veil with lappets). The koukoulion is usually embroidered with crosses and the Instruments of the Passion. The koukoulion is also worn by the Patriarchs of some of the autocephalous Orthodox churches.

[edit] See also

• Koukoulion
• Burqa
• Chador

[edit] External links

• "Cowl". Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV, 1908
• "Carthusians" Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III, 1908

[edit] References