The Legend of the White Cowl

In the early 16th century, the Russian Orthodox Church was in the process of asserting its independence from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the recently destroyed Byzantine Empire.

One night, he had a vision of a radiant youth, who told him that Constantine gave Pope Sylvester I a white cowl for the glory of the Church.

The youth told Philotheos that he should accept the gift and immediately forward it to Novgorod, Russia before the corrupt Western Church could demand its return.

Initially, the Patriarch wished to keep the holy relic in his own city, but the radiant youth appeared to him again and told him of the Empire's impending doom at the hands of the Turks.

In fact, a church council in 1564 confirmed the right of the archbishops to wear the white cowl and use red wax seals on their correspondence (the latter privilege had previously been reserved for the grand prince and patriarch).