Greek Orthodox Bishops Officiating with a Papas and Protopapas, 1842

This original antique lithograph, colored by hand, is a plate from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). In the upper image two bearded bishops stand in a landscape: at left one in a white hood and long white robe with a yellow embroidered stole, holding a tall staff; at right one in a crimson vestment over a white robe with a yellow stole marked with crosses, raising a lighted three branched candlestick in one hand and a two branched candlestick in the other. In the lower image two bearded clerics stand among shrubs: at left one in a tall blue cap and a crimson coat trimmed with fur over a pale robe, holding a staff topped with a ring; at right one in a dark hooded cloak over a white robe with a yellow sash, his hand on his chest.

The top margin is lettered "Tav 154" at left, "GRECIA" in the center and "Tom IV" at right. The captions read "Vescovi in funzione" (Bishops officiating) and "Papas e Protopapas" (Papas and protopapas, a priest and a senior priest).

In the Greek Orthodox Church a bishop blesses the congregation with the dikirion and trikirion, candlesticks of two and three candles, as shown at upper right. Papas is the common Greek word for a parish priest, and a protopapas is the senior priest of a church or district.

The raised candlesticks and rich vestments make this a striking plate for a collection of religious costume.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.