Pallium of Grigorios of Eirinoupolis, second half of the 18th century

Dimensions: of the polos, diameter: 9.5 cm., appliqués: 20 x 20.5 cm., potamoi: 19 x 43 cm.

The polos of the neck, the four appliqués, and the potamoi are sewn on to white silk material of a later date. The appliqués are embroidered on red satin and have a rhomboid shape with small protrusions between the two sides. The appliqué thus forms a notional cross, at the centre of which, in a circle, each of the Evangelists is shown, sitting, with the gospel in front of him and his symbol next to him. The rest of the rhomboid is taken up with embroidered voluted designs. The same designs also appear on the potamoi, which are divided into two above the name of the owner: “GRIGORIOS OF EIRINOUPOLIS”.

On the polos of the neck, in a lace circle, there is an embroidery of the Good Shepherd in front of the Cross.

Grigorios of Eirinoupolis and Vatopaidi was born at Ephesus in 1761. He became a monk of the Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring on Samos. He served as patriarchal protosyncellus* and subsequently as Metropolitan of Eirinoupolis (the present-day Ermenek). In 1802, he was elected Abbot of Vatopaidi, while from 1802 to 1806 he was general inspector of the Vatopaidi met­ochia* in Moldavia. In 1810 he was exiled by the Russians to Kazan; he regained his freedom two years later. On 26 February 1821 he gave his blessing, together with Veniamin, Metropolitan of Moldavia, to the corps of Alexandros Ipsilantis, and contributed in a variety of ways, until liberation came, to the Greek struggle for independence. He is considered a great benefactor of the Greek nation: he spent large sums on the maintenance of schools, the rebuilding of churches, the support of scholars and of the Greeks in their struggle, and the care of families ruined by the Revolution. He died at Kisnovio (Chisinau) in Bessarabia on 3 January 1846. On his tomb there is an inscription composed by Constantine Ikonomou ‘ex Ikonomon’21.

The embroidery on the arms of the cross and between the protrusions depicts a schematised eagle whose body has been worked in canetille, while the outline of the design is in straight riza stitch. The embroiderer has used gold thread and silver thread for the background, on which the figure of Christ and the Evangelists are in karfoto stitch. The faces of the younger figures are rendered in light and dark (for the hair and beards) brown, and those of the older in light and dark grey. The clothing is in sea-blue, while the Gospel books are in white, with red and green points to represent the letters and the miniatures. The workmanship suggests a good Asia Minor workshop.