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Clergy of various ranks in vestments at a Mass according to the Neo-Gallican Rite of Versailles Elevation of the chalice.


For other garments worn by clergy, see also clerical clothing.

Origins of vestments[edit]

In the early Christian churches, officers and leaders, like their congregations, wore the normal dress of civil life in the Greco-Roman world, although with an expectation that the clothing should be clean and pure during holy observances. From the 4th century onward, however, modifications began to be made to the form of the garments, and as secular fashions changed from the 6th century the church retained the original forms of their garments, although with separate development and with regional variations. The Catholic churches had essentially established their final forms in the 13th century.[1]

The Reformation brought about a new approach towards simplicity, especially under the influence of Calvinism. The Church of England experienced its own controversies over the proper use of vestments.[1] The resulting varieties of liturgical dress are described below.

Rubrics for vesting[edit]



Illustration of liturgical garments from Acta Eruditorum, 1713


Western Christian vestments[edit]

Renaissance styled vestments which is used by the Catholic clergy: A chasuble, dalmatic, cope, and a biretta




an item of clerical clothing; a long, close-fitting, ankle-length robe worn by clerics of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and some Reformed churches.
Gold-embroidered epitrachilion (stole) - Google Art Project
The long, narrow strip of cloth draped around the neck, a vestment of distinction, a symbol of ordination. Deacons wear it draped across the left shoulder diagonally across the body to the right hip while priests and bishops wear it draped around the back of the neck. It may be crossed in the front and secured with the cincture. Traditionally, this was done by priests when wearing Eucharistic vestments, whereas bishops always wore it uncrossed (as possessing the fullness of the priesthood). In modern usage, it is common for both bishops and priests to wear the stole uncrossed. Corresponds to the Orthodox orarion and epitrachelion (see below).
Gold pectoral cross from Italy or subalpine regions, late 6th century–7th century
Pectoral cross

Used by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans[edit]

A white tunic worn over a cassock or habit. It is commonly worn by altar servers, and choir members. In Catholic and high church Anglicanism, it may be worn by clergy who are attending a Eucharist but not by the celebrant. Among lower church Anglicans and some Lutherans and Methodists, the Surplice is sometimes worn with a stole or scarf (and less often by itself) as the proper vestment for the Eucharist.
A circular cape reaching to the ankle, commonly used by bishops and priests and, sometimes, also by deacons. In traditions that historically reject the use of the Chasuble, the Cope may be used as a Eucharistic vestment.
Similar to a surplice but with narrower sleeves. In Catholic and Anglo-Catholic use, it is often highly decorated with lace. The Anglican version is bound at the cuffs with a band of cloth and worn with a chimere. Its use is reserved to bishops and certain canons.
Worn by bishops and some abbots. Despite having the same name, this does not really correspond with the Eastern mitre (see below), which has a distinct history and which was adopted much later.

Used by Roman Catholics and some Anglicans and Lutherans[edit]

Humeral veil
A rectangular cap that may be worn by clergy of all ranks except the Pope; its color can signify rank.
The outermost garment of subdeacons.
The outermost garment of deacons.

Used only by Roman Catholics[edit]

Pontifical gloves
Pontifical sandals
Papal tiara

Used only by Anglicans[edit]

Canterbury cap
a soft square-shaped hat.
This Lutheran pastor is wearing a Geneva gown and Preaching Bands

Used by some Anglicans and Protestants[edit]

a type of neckwear taking the form of two oblong pieces of white cloth which is tied about the neck so to hang from the collar. Sometimes referred to as "preaching bands", they are worn traditionally by most of the Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist clergy with a cassock (with or without a surplice) or gown.
Academic Gown
Academic Hood
Hoods, which denote the highest academic degree of their wearers, are usually worn by Anglican clergy at choir offices. It is also sometimes worn by Methodists and Reformed/Presbyterian clergy with an academic gown ("Geneva Gown"), though this is fairly rare in the United States.

Paleo-Orthodoxy and Emerging Church movements[edit]


Eastern Church vestments[edit]

Byzantine Rite[edit]

A bishop blessing with dikirion and trikirion upon being vested
A priest between two deacons praying the Cherubikon
Archbishop John (Maximovich) wearing an episcopal mantle.

In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, any member of the clergy of whatever rank is vested when serving his particular function during the Divine Liturgy or other service. As in the Latin Church, the use of vestments is rooted in the early history of the church. The various vestments serve several different functions. The three forms of stole (Orarion, Epitrachelion, and Omophorion) are marks of rank. The three outer garments (Sticharion, Phelonion, and Sakkos) serve to distinguish the clergy from the laity. Some are practical (Zone and Epimanikia), holding the other vestments in place. Some (Nabedrennik and Epigonation) are awards of distinction.


Sticharion (Greek στιχάριον)
Actually a form of the garment given at baptism and worn by the newly baptized, this is the one vestment worn by all clergy. It is also used by non-ordained persons carrying out a liturgical function, such as altar servers. For priests and bishops, it is made of lightweight material, usually white. It corresponds most closely with the Western alb (see above).
Orarion (Greek ὀράριον)
Epitrachelion (Greek ἐπιτραχήλιον, "over the neck")
Epimanikia (Greek ἐπιμανίκια)
Zone (Greek ζώνη)
Phelonion (Greek φαιλόνιον or φελόνιον)
Sakkos (Greek σάκκος)
Nabedrennik (Slavonic набедренникъ)
Omophorion (Greek ὠμοφόριον)
Mitre (Greek Μίτρα)
Pectoral cross
Mantle (Greek μανδύας)


Eastern Orthodox examples[edit]

Orthodox Priest Liturgy.png
Eastern Orthodox Priest Polystavrion.png
Orthodox Priest Vespers.png
Orthodox Deacon Liturgy.png
Orthodox Subdeacon Liturgy.png
Orthodox Altar Server Liturgy.png
Priest vested for Liturgy. This is an Exomologos (confessor priest), who, in the Greek tradition, has the honor of wearing the Epigonation. Priest vested for Liturgy Priest vested for Vespers and smaller services Protodeacon vested for Liturgy Subdeacon vested for Liturgy Altar Server/Reader/Chanter vested for Liturgy
Eastern Orthodox Bishop.png
Orthodox Priest Kontorasion.png
Eastern Orthodox Priest.png
Orthodox Monk-Priest.png
Eastern Orthodox Schema Monk.png
Eastern Orthodox Reader.png
Bishop Priest with grey Zostikon, a
Kontorasson and wearing a Skufia.
Priest Hieromonk Schemamonk Monk in an Exorasson Reader/Subdeacon/Deacon
dressed in the Zostikon

Oriental Orthodox Churches[edit]

Within the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the corresponding Eastern Catholic Churches there is much variance as to what vestments are used.

Coptic, Ethiopian, and Eritrean Churches[edit]

In these Churches, generally only a white robe will be used for the Eucharistic service. On more solemn occasions, an epitrachelion-like vestment is worn, and sometimes a vestment resembling a cope is worn. Priests and bishops always carry a Hand Cross during services. Deacons wear either an orarion crossed over the left shoulder, or brought around the back (where the two pieces form a cross) and then hanging down in front (not crossed), secured by the cross piece.

Syrian/Indian Churches[edit]



  • Chanters wear only the Kutino
  • Readers wear the Uroro crossed like a Greek subdeacon
  • Subdeacons wear the Uroro crossed over the left shoulder
  • Deacons wear the Uroro like a Greek deacon

Armenian Apostolic Church[edit]

An Armenian priest (at the right)
This is a broad stiff band of heavily-embroidered brocade and decoration, functioning like a collar, worn exclusively by Armenian Orthodox priests over the phelonion. It corresponds to, and is likely derived from, the Western amice.


Syriac Orthodox Patriarch.png
Syriac Orthodox Bishop.png
Coptic Orthodox Priest.png
Syriac Orthodox Priest.png
Syriac Orthodox Priest-Monk.png
Syriac Patriarch Syriac Bishop Coptic Priest Syriac Priest Syriac Priest

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Phillips, Walter Alison (1911). "Vestments" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 1056–1062.
  2. ^ "Out of the question: Cassock-alb protocol". Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  3. ^
  4. ^
  5. ^ "ordinations / DSC_0191.jpg". 2005-04-29. Retrieved 2019-11-18.

Further reading[edit]

  • Dwyer-McNulty, Sally (2014). Common Threads: A Cultural History of Clothing in American Catholicism. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1469614090.

External links[edit]