The "omophorion" has two forms: the ancient great "omophorion", which passes around the neck, is folded in the front, and hangs down past the knees in both the front and the back, like a loosely worn long scarf; and the small "omophorion" which is much simpler, passing around the neck and hanging down in the front similar to an "epitrachelion" (stole), only wider and shorter, coming down a little past the waist. Because of the complexity of the great "omophorion", and because of the dignity of the episcopal office, whenever the bishop puts on the "omophorion" or takes it off, he is assisted by two subdeacons.