Sticharion

The sticharion (also stikharion or stikhar; Greek: στιχάριον; Slavonic: Стиха́рь - Stikhár’) is a liturgicalvestment of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, roughly analogous in function to the alb of the Western Church. The sticharion is worn by all classes of ordained ministers in the Byzantine Rite and comes in two forms: one worn by priests and one worn by deacons, altar servers, and minor clergy.

The sticharion is derived from the chiton, a long, sleeved garment which reached to the ground and was worn in ancient times by both men and women.