Eastern Rite - Crosier

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Nahum, Prophet. One of the Minor Prophets, lived in the seventh century B.C. He saw the fulfillment of his prophecy of the destruction of Nineveh.

And of St. Filaret, the "Almsgiver" and St. Ananias, Martyr.

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The crosier (Greek: πατερίσα; Slavonic: zhezl) is carried by Eastern bishops and senior monastics as a stylized staff of office and a symbol of authority and jurisdiction. The crosiers are staffs that generally come with one of two different tops: on one form the top of the crosier is usually in the shape of the Greek letter Tau, with the arms curving downward, and the other is surmounted by a small cross. Crosiers are usually made of fine metal often gilded or silver plated. Some may be made of fine wood.

The crosier is carried by bishops, archimandrites, abbots, and abbesses. The crosier is presented to a new bishop by the chief consecrator following the dismissal at the Divine Liturgy when the bishop is consecrated. For archimandrites, abbots, and abbesses, the crosier is conferred at the time of their investitures. The crosier is carried by the bishop while outside the altar, and it is not taken within the altar area, that is behind the iconostasis. When the bishop enters the altar the crosier is placed leaning against the iconostasis next to the icon of Christ to the right of the Royal Doors.

When the prelate is not vested for services in the church, he uses a different, smaller staff that is in the form of a walking stick topped with a silver pommel.