Canonical answers of metropolitan John II (Prodromos; †1089) on priestly garments: realities of Russia and the culture of Byzantium

Canons 14 and 33 of the Canonical Answers of Metropolitan John II (Prodromos; †1089) are devoted to the clothing of the clergy. Such attention to priestly vestments was explained not only by the importance of priestly vestments, but also by the fact that the realities of Russia were in conflict with the culture and tradition of Byzantium. Thus, the performance of services in winter required the use of clothing made of animal skins, which did not correspond to the ideas of ritual purity. No less difficult were the local customs in the circle of the wealthy clergy, incorporated into the circle of the Kiev nobility. Their use of rich clothing, probably competing with the vestments of the bishops, forced the metropolitan to appeal to the authority of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. However, it is difficult to judge the effectiveness of the measures taken by the primate.