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Crosier (as described here) in Slavonic is usually 'zhezl,' not 'posokh.' Text changed accordingly. 'Posokh' is more often translated as 'staff.'
[[Image:Crozier on Iconostatis.JPG|right|thumb|150px|The crosier of the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]], Metropolitan [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah]], before the [[Holy Doors|Royal Doors]] of his [[Cathedral]], [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, D.C.) |St Nicholas Cathedral]], Washington, D.C.]]
The '''crosier''', also '''crozier''', (Greek: paterissa; Slavonic: Posokhzhezl) is carried by Orthodox [[bishop]]s and senior [[monasticism|monastics]] as a stylized staff of office and a symbol of authority and jurisdiction. The crosiers are staffs that generally come with one of two different tops: on one form the top of the crosier is usually in the shape of the Greek letter ''Tau'', with the arms curving downward, and the other is surmounted by a small cross. Crosiers are usually made of fine metal often gilded or silver plated. Some may be made of fine wood.
The crosier is carried by bishops, [[archimandrite]]s, [[abbot]]s, and [[abbess]]es. The crosier is presented to a new bishop by the chief consecrator following the dismissal at the [[Divine Liturgy]] when the bishop is [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]]. For archimandrites, abbots, and abbesses, the crosier is conferred at the time of their investitures. The crosier is carried by the bishop while outside the [[altar]], and it is not taken within the altar area, that is behind the [[iconostasis]]. When the bishop enters the altar the crosier is placed leaning against the iconostasis next to the [[icon]] of [[Christ]] to the right of the [[Royal Doors]].