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 Episcopal Language
     
EPISCOPAL LANGUAGE

General Terms

Titles

Worship

Seasons, Feasts &
Holy Days

Items Used
in Worship

Clothing & Vestments

Architecture

Spirituality
Clothing and Vestments
 
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
 
C
Cassock
Cassock-alb
Chasuble
Chimere
Cincture
Collar
Colors
Cope
Cotta
Crozier
Crucifix


Cassock: A black robe worn over street clothes by priests serving at the altar, usually with a white over-garment called a surplice. It buttons or zips in front, and should be long enough to cover the ankles. In more "high" churches, it may also be worn by laity serving during a worship service, such as lectors, vergers, chalice bearers and others.
   Bishops' cassocks are usually purple. A Canon may wear a black cassock with red piping, or (with permission) may wear a purple cassock. Deans and archdeacons may wear black cassocks with red or purple piping.
   Before 1900, most formal clothes were black and most work clothes were not dyed. Thus the main historic distinction between albs and cassocks is that albs are working clothes and cassocks are formal clothes, so if the alb expresses humility, the cassock expresses respect.

Cassock-alb: A more modern variation of the alb, this has become the de facto standard Eucharistic garment for many, if not most Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic clergy. A combination of the amice and alb, it is worn in place of cassock and surplice or amice, alb, and cincture. It is normally white and should be long enough to cover the ankles. A cincture around the waist should be worn with this vestment, although it is not essential. A surplice is not worn over the cassock-alb.

Chasuble: From the Latin casula ("little house"), and is derived in design from a worker's cloak. A chasuble is a type of vestment worn by the celebrant during holy Communion. It is a long, wide sleeveless vestment, poncho-like, usually oval when laid out flat, with an opening in the center to accommodate the celebrant's head. It is of the liturgical color of the day or season and usually worn over all other vestments.

Chimere: A long, sleeveless coat-like vestment worn by a bishop. Usually black, though sometimes scarlet.

Cincture: A rope, usually white, worn with the alb or cassock-alb, tied with a slip knot at the right side of the waist and allowed to hang down the right side. The ends of the rope may have either knots or tassels. This rope is sometimes called a girdle. The modern version is a band cincture

Collar: Some time after the 1850's, 'high churchmen' among Episcopal clergy adopted the Roman Catholic clergy collar - a white rigid band fastened in the rear with a stud. Collars can be high or low, rigid or flexible, and most all are washable. For still others, a 'collar' means a 'tab collar'. This is a shirt of any color with a white tab insert in the front. It can be removed and replaced easily.
  
Colors: Color plays an important part in the designation of seasons and feasts in the Episcopal Church. Each church season has a color associated with it, and both vestments and altar cloths usually mirror the seasonal/festive color.


Red
To signify the presence of the Holy Spirit:
on Pentecost
Feasts of Martyrs
Ordinations
Confirmations
during Holy Week
during Whitsuntide

White

Gold
As the colors of celebration:
for weddings
on Feasts of our Lord
Feasts of Saints who were not martyrs
Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary
at the Burial of the Dead
Maundy Thursday (white)
Easter
Ascension and during the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Green
As the color of growth:
on the Sundays and Ordinary days of the Year after Epiphany and Pentecost.

Blue
Used (in honor of Mary) during Advent.

Purple
or Violet
As a color of penitence or preparation:
during Lent 

Purple was originally a sign of royalty, as purple dye was rare. Thus, a purple clergy shirt (or some shade of violet) usually indicates that the wearer is a bishop, or else associated with one.

Black
As a color of mourning:
in some places, for the Burial of the Dead
for Good Friday.


Cope: A long cape, worn over the shoulders by the celebrant and others at various liturgies (processions, etc.), or by a bishop. It is usually of the liturgical color of the day or season, has a clasp at the chest and is worn over cassock-alb and stole or over cassock and surplice.

Cotta: From Middle English meaning "to cover." A cotta is a short, white robe often worn by choir members and acolytes.

Crozier: The bishop's staff (a shepherd's crook) carried in procession and held when giving the absolution or blessing. Also known as the Pastoral Staff.

Crucifix: From the Latin crux ("cross"). A crucifix is a cross bearing the likeness of the body of Christ on it.

     
 
     
 
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Address:   202 South Massachusetts Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33801