Apostolnik

An apostolnik or epimandylion is an item of clerical clothing worn by Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic nuns.

It is a cloth veil that covers the head, neck, and shoulders[1] similar to a khimār form of hijab worn by Muslim women, usually black,[2] but sometimes white.

While it is usually replaced with the epanokamelavkion[citation needed] when the nun becomes a rassophor, many nuns will continue to wear the apostolnik for the sake of convenience, much as a monk will continue to wear a skufia instead of a klobuk when not attending the Divine Liturgy.

In some practices, a novice will wear a black scarf covering the head and tied under the chin.

In this practice, the epanokamelavkion may be reserved for the abbess and for nuns of the Great Schema.