Priests Headwear

Khepra

I read on a forum somewhere that the Coptic priests hat worn in the liturgy (Taylasana) is only about 300 yrs old and is borrowed from the west or possibly armenian bishops (It is also never depicted in any icons). I have seen many historical photographs depicting coptic priests wearing a bishops mitre without the cross (as is the Russian custom for protopriests). I have always believed that the priests can wear the deacons hat in the liturgy, especially when you compare the practices of various other orthodox rites.

Is there any truth too the claim that it is only 300 yrs old? 

Girgisantony

This link might clarify some things. All it says about the taylasana is that  "It is the head cover…and it is like the twenty-four elders who had their crowns while they stand before God…it reminds the priest of the honor and glory of his divine service."

http://www.suscopts.org/servantsprep/pdf/RIT/RIT102-churcharchitecturepriestsvestments.pdf

mossa012

Here's an interesting entry in the Coptic Encyclopedia outlining the different Liturgical vestments. It doesn't necessarily answer your question but it does show how quickly these things can change (the encyclopedia was published in 1991).

http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cce/id/1221 ;