Royal blue zostikon? (Orthodox cassock) during Vigils with Kursk Root Icon?

[The Liturgist]

In this video of Vigils at the ROCOR Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington, DC, there is a clergyman (whose pectoral cross suggests he is a presbyter) who appears to be wearing a royal blue Zostikon (cassock). I am aware of white zostikons as used by the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, and I seem to recall seeing another Eastern Orthodox or Greek Catholic bishop of high rank in a burgundy zostikon, and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch wears a red zostikon (or on other occasions, a black Latin cassock with red trim), and likewise Catholicos Mar Addai II of the Ancient Church of the East, memory eternal, (but not as far as I am aware, his counterpart from the much larger Assyrian Church of the East) wore a purple zostikon (I have a photo of him meeting with the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas, memory eternal, which made for a colorful picture).

But among Eastern Orthodox clergy, I have only personally seen the black zostikon, with the exception of the white zostikon worn by the Romanian patriarch. So I guess my question is, is the gentleman visible in the first minute or so of the video wearing what appears to be a blue zostikon in fact one of the presbyters, and is this something that is common in ROCOR, or is it a special award, like the Klobuk? My thought is it is being worn for the same reason the cathedral is decorated in blue paraments and the clergy are vested in blue, due to the presence of the Miraculous Kursk Root Icon.

Also, on a related note, one frequently sees klobuks in either a dark burgundy color or an indigo color, often being worn by different clergy at the same occasion - does the color have any significance?

 

[ArmyMatt]

blue, green, gray, red, white, and black are all the shades I have seen.

 

[The Liturgist]

blue, green, gray, red, white, and black are all the shades I have seen.

Is that so the Zostikon doesn’t clash with the colors of the Phelonion and Stole at Vespers, but blends in more naturally like the Sticharion does when fully vested?

Also, during the hierarchical divine liturgy, is the bishop wearing a Zostikon rather than a Sticharion under the Sakkos?

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

In this video of Vigils at the ROCOR Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington, DC, there is a clergyman (whose pectoral cross suggests he is a presbyter) who appears to be wearing a royal blue Zostikon (cassock). I am aware of white zostikons as used by the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, and I seem to recall seeing another Eastern Orthodox or Greek Catholic bishop of high rank in a burgundy zostikon, and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch wears a red zostikon (or on other occasions, a black Latin cassock with red trim), and likewise Catholicos Mar Addai II of the Ancient Church of the East, memory eternal, (but not as far as I am aware, his counterpart from the much larger Assyrian Church of the East) wore a purple zostikon (I have a photo of him meeting with the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas, memory eternal, which made for a colorful picture).

But among Eastern Orthodox clergy, I have only personally seen the black zostikon, with the exception of the white zostikon worn by the Romanian patriarch. So I guess my question is, is the gentleman visible in the first minute or so of the video wearing what appears to be a blue zostikon in fact one of the presbyters, and is this something that is common in ROCOR, or is it a special award, like the Klobuk? My thought is it is being worn for the same reason the cathedral is decorated in blue paraments and the clergy are vested in blue, due to the presence of the Miraculous Kursk Root Icon.

Yes blue is the color associated with the Theotokos. Have you ever been to St John's in DC? It is a very beautiful inside!

 

[ArmyMatt]

Is that so the Zostikon doesn’t clash with the colors of the Phelonion and Stole at Vespers, but blends in more naturally like the Sticharion does when fully vested?

no, because the riassa is still black

Also, during the hierarchical divine liturgy, is the bishop wearing a Zostikon rather than a Sticharion under the Sakkos?

both

 

[The Liturgist]

both

I figured as much. This would be a blessing in Northern Europe and the deserts during the winter, but I have the utmost respect for those bishops* in the Patriarchate of Alexandria who serve in Subsaharan Africa, where I’ve been, and it tends to be warm and very humid throughout the year. The kontorasson would help at least outside.

* I have great respect for all bishops, but here I refer to the extreme ascetic self control required to stand in prayer wearing that much in a parish church without air conditioning in the extreme heat and humidity.

 

[prodromos]

I recall a priestmonk describing the liturgical robe he was given to wear during the Liturgy while visiting an ancient monastery. The monks said they had something special for him. It had fine gold wire interwoven in the fabric resulting in a robe that weighed several times more than if just fabric. Imagine standing for a few hours wearing that during a pontifical Divine Liturgy