A is a soft-sided brimless
cap whose top may be pointed (Russian style), flat with embroidered designs (Serbian style), flat and pleated (Greek style), or flat with raised edges (Romanian style). Typically, monastics receive their either when they first become a
novice or when they are
tonsured. A
monk or
nun who has been tonsured to the
Great Schema will wear a skoufia that has been
embroidered with prayers,
crosses, and figures of
seraphim. In Russian Orthodox and
Orthodox Church in America practice, priests and deacons who have been awarded the purple kamilavka regularly wear a black skufia outside of liturgical worship. However, any clergy from the rank of
Reader is permitted to wear the black skufia, if they have received a blessing from their bishop. After five years of being a priest, they are awarded a purple skufia in place of the black one. High-ranking
bishops (such as
archbishops and
metropolitans) will sometimes wear a black or purple with a small jewelled
cross on informal occasions. A
nun will sometimes wear a over her monastic
veil; while
monks often wear the (without a veil) when the
klobuk or
epanokamelavkion might get in the way of work. ==See also==