Cassocks: Zostikon, Exorason, and Kontorason

Performance Exorason

Wool Kontorason

Wool Exorason

Blue silk Zostikon--deluxe upgrade included in price

Black performance with cross-over collar

Navy wool with charcoal stitching detail (deluxe option only)

Blue wool Zostikon with mandarin collar

Gray wool with mandarin collar

White wool with cross-over collar

Hemp Zostikon

Hemp Zostikon with hemp Kontorason

Mandarin collar (shown with Deluxe stiching upgrade)

Mandarin Button

Cross-over collar

Zostika and Exorasa

All of my cassocks (zostika and Exorasa) are custom-tailored. I offer a wide range of
fabrics so that you can have a garment suitable for any situation or weather.

Zostikon (inner cassock) comes with reversible fronts, drawstring belt, fully- functioning
button cuffs, decorative stitching on fronts and cuffs, and hip pockets with pass- through
(you can access your pants pocket through a slit in the back of the hip pocket). Chest
pockets have a cellphone/pen pocket. Fabrics available are: performance fabric (100%
wicking polyester, machine-washable, lightweight, great for everyday wear), hemp/lyocell
blend (machine-washable, environmentally-friendly, great for everyday wear), tropical-
weight wool (98% wool/2% lycra, dry clean only, lightweight, great for everyday and
dressy wear), and true silk crepe (100% silk crepe, dry clean only, very lightweight,
great for dressy wear). You have your choice of collar: either cross-over collar with two
buttons which completely hides the shirt worn underneath OR mandarin collar which fastens
with a hook and eye and requires wearing a white shirt underneath. The "Deluxe" upgrade
has additional decorative stitching and burgundy satin cuff linings. Various colors are
available (please see price list for details).

Exorason (outer cassock) comes with lined fronts (self-fabric in the case of
performance and silk; satin linings in the case of tropical-weight wool) and sleeves and
mandarin collar finished with silk knot button. Fabrics available are performance,
tropical-weight wool, or true silk crepe. All Exorasa are black.

Pricing for zostika and Exorasa (PDF)

Pricing for zostika and Exorasa (Word Document)

Question "How do I choose between a cross-over collar and a mandarin collar?"

The mandarin collar has rounded edges and so must be worn with a collared shirt underneath so that the bare neck will be not seen. It should not be worn with a tshirt or turtleneck-type shirt underneath. Because the collar just meets rather than overlaps, it has less bulk at the neck area than the cross-over style.

There is some debate over which style is more comfortable-some prefer the comfort of wearing any type shirt underneath and others are happy to wear collared shirts underneath in order to have a less-bulky mandarin collar. It really depends on which kind of shirt you decide to wear underneath. My professional opinion is that a white collared shirt should always be worn under a cassock, but I know this is not the preference of many of my clients. If you need assistance choosing which collar is best for your situation, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Clergy Vests

Also known as "Kontorason", clergy vests are quite popular in Greece and are gaining in popularity here in the U.S. In Greece, it is traditional for the priest or deacon to wear the Zostikon (cassock) with the Exorason for street wear. The Exorason is a full garment and rather unwieldy for street wear, so over the years, it has gotten smaller and smaller until it has evolved into the "Kontorason". It is helpful to think of the clergy vest as completing the outfit of a priest or deacon just as a suitcoat completes the outfit of a businessman. It is frequently takes the place of a coat and can be quite practical since it has so many pockets (nice for hospital visitations and the like).

I offer three styles of clergy vests--performance (unlined; for daily use), tropical- weight wool (lined, for daily or dress use), and wool melton (heavyweight, for cold weather or to layer with other vests in place of a coat).

Tropical-weight wool clergy vest (lined, dry clean only) $185
Performance clergy vest (unlined, machine-washable) $150
Heavyweight wool melton clergy vest (unlined, dry clean only) $175

These are sold in standard sizes (Men's Small, Medium, Large and X-Large) and are available for immediate shipment. If you are not sure which size to purchase, please email me your chest and waist measurement and I will determine which size is correct.

Kontorasa Coats

For seasons or climates in which a clergy vest worn over a cassock is not warm enough, I offer a Kontorason Coat. Essentially an Exorason with narrower sleeves and a shorter length, it is designed to be worn over a Zostikon (cassock). This garment is made from melton wool which is heavier than regular cassock wool. The sleeves, collar, and fronts are lined. This is a custom-tailored garment. Two lengths are available: Car Coat and Overcoat (the Overcoat length is 12 inches longer than the Car Coat). Excellent for funerals, cold weather, and much more comfortable for driving, the Kontorason Coat rounds out a cassock wardrobe. Price is $375 for Car Coat length and $395 for Overcoat Length.

Kontorason Coat, car coat length