Sticharion

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.

[1] In the form worn by deacons, subdeacons, altar servers, and sometimes by readers, the sticharion is a long robe with wide, loose sleeves, fastened at the neck, and often open down the sides but held shut with buttons or ties.

The sticharion is symbolic of "a pure and tranquil conscience, a spotless life, and the spiritual joy in the Lord which flows therefrom.

Coptic priests wear a white sticharion with a large cross on the front and back, and smaller ones on each sleeve.

"Ⲓⲏ̅̅ⲥ̅̅ Ⲡⲓⲭ̅̅ⲥ̅̅ ̀Ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲫ̅ϯ" (Nomina Sacra for Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲥ Ⲡⲓ̀ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲟⲥ ̀Ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲪⲛⲟⲩϯ), meaning "Jesus Christ the Son of God," is usually written around the crosses.