You think you're hot? Take a look at what she's wearing…
28/08/05
Gone are the simple cassock and surplice (the traditional service garments of our English Church). Today's fanciful liturgical vestments, all seemingly designed to hold in summer's heat, have their origins in the fashions of the later Greco-Roman world: The alb, a long loose-fitting robe-like garment often secured by a belt was worn around the house (oft over an amice, a short hooded cape) and the more decorative chasuble, worn over the alb like a dress coat in public. Late in the third century writers begin to mention special garb ("vestis," Latin for 'garment') for liturgical services. Attending a service in fourth century Rome or Constantinople you might have seen the priest vested much as today, but then again most well-heeled citizens you might greet would be dressed much the same...
The base vestment for the priest is the long linen gown called the cassock alb, (cassock from the middle-French "casaque" 'long coat,' and "alb," Latin for 'white garment'). A redux of the Roman toga, its white(ish) color (purity) reminds the priest of her celebratory duties, both of soul and body.
Securing the alb is the cincture ("cinctura" is Latin for 'encircled'), the rope belt worn around the waist to bind the alb closely to the body. It's usually made of braided linen.
Over the alb and also secured by the cincture she wears the long strip called the stole (old-English for 'priestly vestment'). Originally an open sleeveless robe that was part of the court uniform of Roman judges, the Church adopted the stole to denote the authority of her ministers.
Finally, at Communion (any time when serving at the altar), the priest dons (over her (amice), alb, cincture and stole) the chasuble (traced back to the Celtic "casal," meaning 'house head'), the large, often heavy, vestment worn on the shoulders and hanging down in front and behind. Having been greatly altered over its history, the chasuble was originally a massive cloak (often with hood); assistants regularly had to hold up the sides of the priest's chasuble due to its size and weight.
Well, at least on those cold Sunday mornings in January, she'll be insulated quite nicely.
The base vestment for the priest is the long linen gown called the cassock alb, (cassock from the middle-French "casaque" 'long coat,' and "alb," Latin for 'white garment'). A redux of the Roman toga, its white(ish) color (purity) reminds the priest of her celebratory duties, both of soul and body.
Securing the alb is the cincture ("cinctura" is Latin for 'encircled'), the rope belt worn around the waist to bind the alb closely to the body. It's usually made of braided linen.
Over the alb and also secured by the cincture she wears the long strip called the stole (old-English for 'priestly vestment'). Originally an open sleeveless robe that was part of the court uniform of Roman judges, the Church adopted the stole to denote the authority of her ministers.
Finally, at Communion (any time when serving at the altar), the priest dons (over her (amice), alb, cincture and stole) the chasuble (traced back to the Celtic "casal," meaning 'house head'), the large, often heavy, vestment worn on the shoulders and hanging down in front and behind. Having been greatly altered over its history, the chasuble was originally a massive cloak (often with hood); assistants regularly had to hold up the sides of the priest's chasuble due to its size and weight.
Well, at least on those cold Sunday mornings in January, she'll be insulated quite nicely.