vestment

Vestment refers to the liturgical garments worn by clergy and other ministers during Christian worship. The term comes from Latin vestimentum, meaning clothing. Vestments serve to signify sacred authority, mark liturgical functions, and symbolize the church’s reverence and unity.

In Western churches, the common set includes the alb, a white robe worn by most clergy; the stole, a narrow scarf indicating ordination and office; and the chasuble, the outer vestment worn by the celebrant during the Eucharist. Deacons typically wear a dalmatic, while priests may use a maniple in some traditions. Other garments include the cope for ceremonial occasions and various head coverings such as birettas or mitres for bishops. Vestment colors change with the liturgical year (for example, white or gold for major feasts, purple for penitential seasons, green for ordinary time, red for martyrs and certain celebrations). Materials range from linen and wool to silk and precious embroidery.

In Eastern Christian traditions, vestments have different names and arrangements. Clergy may wear the sticharion (a tunic), the epitrachelion (a priest’s stole), the zone (belt), and the orarion (a deacon’s stole). The priest’s outer garment is typically the phelonion, and bishops may wear the sakkos and a miter. Colors and patterns follow the regional liturgical calendar, with symbolism similar to Western practice but interpreted through different rites.

Vesting practices reflect ordination, role, and occasion within the service. Garments are crafted from diverse materials, and care ranges from simple laundering to elaborate decoration in traditional communities.