Byzantine influence
Byzantine dress influenced styles throughout the medieval world. The striking feature of Byzantine dress is its colour. The Byzantine love of colour was apparent also in the jewellery and in magnificent mosaics in the interiors of churches. The basic Byzantine garments originated from the late Roman Empire. The undergarment was a simple white tunic with long sleeves. Over this was worn a richly decorated tunic-robe or dalmatica. Motifs derived from the mixed heritage of society - simple geometrical patterns from classical cultures and religious scenes from the new Christian faith. Wool and linen were used; the new imported material, silk, was mostly used by the nobility and court as well as in religious ceremonies. Fabrics were sewn with gold threads and precious stones and pearls were also used in fabrics. Women’s dress followed men’s. Garments remained relatively static for several centuries. The Karelians were christened during the 12th and 13th centuries. Eastern monasteries had a strong influence in general and Valamo monastery in Ladoga was particularly influential in Eastern Finland. The Karelians shared the same love for colours as the Byzantines, and this influence is readily visible in our Deisis collection. White linen or cotton tunics with long sleeves and varying in length to the ankle can be worn alone or combined with festive and colourful sarafan or feresi type kirtles. We have different long tunic models for men and women. In the Karelian Orthodox tradition, a married woman had a sorokka headdress with a rich embroidered front part. We are happy to offer our costumers embroidery packages with embroidery instructions, threads and fabric, as well as patterns for two models of the sorokka headdress and two paradise gowns. For a member of the Orthodox Church, the mystery of death - the hour of our death - means a second birth into a new life, a passage from the earthly world to the heavenly.
Funeral services are long and beautiful. The coffin is always open and relatives and friends can pray and honour the deceased.
DEISIS
Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine
Vestments and Church Linens
The liturgical art textiles and vestments that we design and produce draw on the profound presence of the Byzantine and Finnish Orthodox traditions. We specialise in liturgical art. Liturgical textiles include textiles and vestments for sacred interiors, churches, prayer houses and medical environments. Our textiles and vestments are custom-made on the premises. The designs and hand-woven fabrics follow the tradition of Byzantine patterns with their rich colour palette and high-quality natural fibres such as wool, linen and silk. Fabrics for vestments can be woven by hand in our studio with several special pattern looms and techniques. Our vestments are lightweight, breathable, comfortable, wearable, washable and durable. We work hard on our production and our products to fulfil the highest environmental standards, including sustainability.
Baptism and chrismation (confirmation) are the first two sacraments in the Orthodox Church. Holy Baptism, with three immersions in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the mystery with which adults and infants are baptised. During the ceremony, questions are put to the child, and answered by the godparents on his or her behalf. The christening garment is brought by the godparents to dress the infant in immediately after the baptism by immersion. Chrismation consists of anointing with holy oil. In it the recipient is marked with the seals of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Sacred Mystery of Chrism is the fulfilment of baptism and entrance into the life of the Church.
Our Orthodox christening gowns are always opened in the back and easy to put on the child. They are fastened in back with small pearl buttons. The fabrics have been chosen with consideration for the functions of baptismal dress and the ritual involved in the sacrament. A white christening dress functions as a means of communication. It tells the community that the newborn baby has been admitted to membership in the Church. The name given to a person in baptism is commonly the name of a saint, who becomes the individual’s patron saint. In the Orthodox Church, baptism garments are considered sacred and must either kept safely or destroyed by fire.
We worked hard to find the quality materials with sustainable backgrounds. White garments from the earliest times had a special symbolic significance for Christians. To honour the early Christian tradition and the sacrament of baptism. All our christening dresses are white like a dove, a gesture evoking the first Christian vestments in ancient Rome. The elegance of our baptism dresses and their quality are based on the use of the finest materials, beautiful cuts and hand-embroidered details. The festive materials are all natural fibres - silk, linen and cotton – and give a sense of luxury and soft feel on the baby’s skin.
Our products ask to be held and touched
Baptismal robe
The Church welcomes a newborn child into the congregation or the community with a special ceremony - baptism. Gathering together for christening ceremonies is one of the most important family celebrations. We are pleased to offer you what we believe is a superior baptismal robe collection with accessories to highlight what is a memorable religious experience. Our classical dresses are suitable for boy as well as girl babies.
Church textiles and clergy vestments
Our liturgical designs and textile art have their roots in Byzantine art and textiles. Vestments are specially designed and manufactured by hand in our studio. We collaborate with church professionals to enhance the religious and cultural identity of our designs, and produce them within the tradition and with an eye to providing continuity to the next generation. Our craftsmanship, artistic expression, aesthetic values and technological know-how provide a broad perspective that enables us to create elements for church interiors that appropriately reflect religious fervour.
The Deisis collection offers personal vesture and sanctuary decoration designs with a Finnish touch, aesthetic vision and understanding of tradition. These encompass church supplies, vestments for clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), robes for altar servers and altar furnishings. Vestments are custom-tailored to your individual measurements.
Religious textiles are designed and woven in an atmosphere of reverence, emphasising the importance of their function as blessed objects glorifying God. We seek to create objects that honour God and heighten the beauty of religious celebrations. We specialise in custom work and approach design as a collaborative process between artist and client. We are pleased to offer you a complete liturgical tailor service.
We look forward to hearing from you and discussing your requirements regarding liturgical vestments and Church linen
Orthodox paradise gowns and accessories
In autumn 2009 we announced our newest collection of Orthodox paradise gowns, known as the Deisis collection. The designs include burial garments and accessories for the Eastern Orthodox Church, and reflect Byzantine and Finnish-Karelian traditions.
Clothes have always played a central role in human culture, and especially in the Orthodox tradition it has been a beautiful, venerable custom for generations to be prepared for the last journey and have the burial garments reserved in one’s wardrobe throughout one’s adulthood.
20240 Turku - Finland / helbe.pajari@vernum.fi / +358 45 113 2827
Linteum - Orarium - Deisis - Matrona
Designer Helbe Pajari - Vernum in Media
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