Eastern Orthodox Nuns. The Abbess in the center is wearing a kamilavkion with epanokamelavkion, the three tonsured nuns are wearing the Apostolnik, and the novice in the back is simply wearing a black scarf covering the head and tied under the chin

An apostolnik or epimandylion is an item of clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian nuns. A cloth veil which is completely covers the head (except for the face), neck, and shoulders [1], it is usually black, [2] but sometimes white [3]. It is sometimes worn with a skufia [4]. Image File history File links Nuns001. ... Image File history File links Nuns001. ... An Abbess (Latin abbatissa, fem. ... A Kamilavka (Greek Καμιλαυκα) or Kamilavkion (Καμιλαυκιον) is an item of clerical clothing worn by worn by Orthodox Christian monks (in which case it is black) or awarded to clergy as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple). ... is a made up word ... Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. ... A novitiate (also called a novice) is a member of a religious order who has not yet taken his/her vows. ... It has been suggested that clergy_shirt be merged into this article or section. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest Christian organization in the world (or third if one sees Protestantism as a single entity). ... Nun in cloister, 1930; photograph by Doris Ulmann A nun is a woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life. ... The muslim niqab is an example of a type of veil. ... A Skufia (also Skufiya or Skoufos) is an item of clerical clothing worn by worn by Orthodox Christian monastics (in which case it is black [1]) or awarded to clergy as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple). ...

The nun typically receives the apostolnik when she becomes a novice. While it is usually replaced with the epanokamelavkion when the nun becomes a rassophor, many nuns will continue to wear the apostolnik for the sake of convenience, much as a monk will continue to wear a skufia instead of a klobuk when not attending the Divine Liturgy. A novitiate (also called a novice) is a member of a religious order who has not yet taken his/her vows. ... is a made up word ... A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. ... Eastern Orthodox Monks wearing klobuks. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ...

In some practices, a novice will wear a black scarf covering the head and tied under the chin. She will then receive the apostolnik at her tonsure. In this practice, the epanokamelavkion may be reserved for the abbess and for nuns of the Great Schema. The difference between Roman Catholic, and Orthodox nuns is that Orthodox nuns do not leave the monastery unless they need to.