The term “vestment” is used to describe special clothing that is worn by the people who are head of the religious community and conduct the worship service. Common types of vestments include:
Vestments are used almost universally, although in many modern denominations only the choir actually wears vestments.
Why are Vestments Worn?
Vestments, though evolved, have their origins in the ordinary clothing of the first century. Today, vestments are worn over street clothes and are used to serve a number of practical purposes:
Clergy Robes
Clergy robes are a special form of vestment that marks clergy who have not attained a doctorate degree or who choose not to wear their doctoral robes. These clergy robes are essentially a modified form of the graduation baccalaureate robe. This is likely due to the fact that graduation robes have evolved from a similar type of robe over time. Clergy robes are also very similar to judicial robes, though they often feature a built-in stole and/or a wide stripe running down both sides of the front. These decorative stripes are often adorned with religious symbols.
Vestments and Clergy Robes at Churchgoers.com
If you are looking for a wide variety of clergy robes for your church, Churchgoers.com is the perfect online store for you. At Churchgoers you can find a wide range of robe options for clergy members, choir members, confirmations, weddings, communions and even christenings. Churchgoers also offers special vestment options including chasubles and albs.
One of our most popular option is the simple Plymouth Clergy Robe. This robe greatly resembles a judicial or graduation robe and is the perfect option for those who want a simple yet sophisticated garment. We also offer more adorned options like the Clerical Pulpit Robe which features red embroidered crosses and line detailing on the front. Those who need a specific religious garment, like a chasuble, are in luck! Churchgoers is proud to feature chasubles in a range of colors including white, red, blue, green and purple with detailed embellishment.
No matter the type of clergy or other religious robe you need, Churchgoers can offer you a range of options. When you need quality religious garments at a great price, Churchgoers is the place to go.
]]>Lenten season ends when Easter begins. You may already know this, but liturgical colors of vestments change every time seasons transition. Easter is no different, as the attire of ministers will have to change as well into something different. With regards to the color scheme specifically, it’s really quite noticeable.
In a lot of cases, we’ve been introduced to this change in general, stemming from our observation of how often ministers switch vestments up. In the case of Easter, gold or white is usually the color of church apparel worn by priests and members of the clergy. It represents renewal in a lot of aspects in our Christian lives and the color of the vestments embodies such renewal.
It is a way of symbolizing victory against death and sin, due Christ resurrecting on the third day to fulfill his father’s will. For another thing, the colors gold and white grant us that sense of hope in every aspect of our Christian lives. This would have to hold true in a very profound fashion.
The importance of Easter’s liturgical colors has since been stressed out for centuries on end. It brings the faithful and those who have fallen back to the fold, teaching them that redemption and renewal is indeed possible. As such, the concept is a way to understand how God’s love works and how the Holy Spirit brings about its powers of making us whole again.
Whenever we see Easter colors, we are reminded of the significance of being pure and we’re driven to strive to be much closer to the divine and the immaculate. These reasons are exactly why priests wear such colors. That is why we should take them into account, as they are essential in every way.
If you’re looking for vestments to be worn during the Eastertide, you may view our line of products here.
]]>You’re very much familiar with choir robes, but what exactly are cassocks and why are they needed in choirs? Are they the same as cassocks worn by members of the clergy?
Well, yes and no. Although priests wear cassocks when they’re going about their priestly duties, the ones they wear during certain ceremonies are different ones and are made for specific purposes, such as celebrating the liturgy which does not involve the Mass, such as vespers.
They are usually of ankle length with close-fitting waist and sleeves. For the most part, they are simple and straightforward pieces of apparel which are commonly in black, but other colors are also available according to a minister’s choice and needs.
Cassocks are also worn by seminarians, deacons, and acolytes, but theirs don’t differ from the normal ones they wear in every ceremony they engage in.
Priests who hold higher honors typically wear different cassocks to signify their status within the Church or parish. Bishops wear purple cassocks and a pectoral cross. The Pope himself wears a white cassock, along with a red brocade stole, a pectoral cross, and red silk.
Choir cassocks are traditional and continue to be a popular piece of attire among western Churches either in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican tradition. There may have been numerous innovations with cassocks in the past, but they should always remain conservative and dignified, especially during the liturgy and the singing of hymns.
What exactly does one need to look for in a cassock? For as long as it emanates glory in divinity and conveys the beauty of worship—while sticking to what is traditional—then it would be the perfect choice for any minister out there.
So where should you start in your search for choir cassocks? Well, allow us to help you in your quest as you view our product catalog here.
]]>Church vestments are vital in any solemn of ceremony within churches. This is why priests and members of the clergy take care of their apparel very well. Vestments are considered by the Church as sacred and are expressions of devotion towards God and the Christian creed. It is therefore important to maintain the beauty and sanctity of divine outfits. Vestments such as albs, chasubles, and surplices must be hung to prevent wrinkles and damages to the fabric, inside closets and cabinets.
Copes should also be hung using a hanger, as folding might cause permanent harm to the material. Every one of them stored should be protected from elements such as dust, mildew, and the like. Linens such as amices and finger towels on the other hand should be folded and stored in sealed drawers, since these can get away with the risk of damaging because they are small and can easily be stored within enclosed spaces.
It should be noted that not all linens should be handled by laypeople, but only by those ordained as clergy. A lot of vestments are dry clean only, but you might get away with hand washing, as long as you’re careful not to cause tears or long-term creases. While some parishes have been using the same vestments for almost a century, it can’t be helped that they do need to be replaced someday, especially when signs of wear and tear are becoming rather visible. But the disposal of garments may not be as straightforward as it seems. Decorations on embroidered items may be lifted and used later on, especially those on elaborate pieces.
These pieces should not easily be thrown away—especially when they’re not too damaged—as they may have cost a fortune to manufacture. If the vestments aren’t damaged but could not be used anymore, they may be handed down to other parishes. On the other hand, those with minor problems may simply be fixed by a competent tailor or seamstress.
]]>The Advent season is on its way. This means that within the Church, changes will have to be made—especially with the vestments. Typically, liturgical vestments change according to liturgical seasons. This means that during Advent, priests will have to don new attire.
Why exactly do they have to wear different vestments for different seasons? Does it make sense that they have to change vestment colors from time to time? Well, below is why ministers wear different colors of vestments—in this case, during Advent, which is fast approaching.
During the Advent season, priests of the Roman Rite will wear purple vestments to celebrate the mood of the seasons. Since Advent prepares us for the Christmas season, being a season of joy, the lush purple color is made to embody that sort of joy which we feel in preparation for commemorating the birth of Christ.
In the early periods, purple dye was very expensive and only a privileged few could afford to wear clothes dyed in purple. It was a color reserved for royalty. As such, with Jesus Christ considered by Christians as a king, it is well-suited that a minister of Christ wear purple when celebrating the liturgy.
In the Lenten season, purple is also used and this has caused confusion among churchgoers. As such, there are instances when vestments of either seasons are changed to blue, although there's been no universal approval of this.
However, when it comes to the color purple, there is a difference between that which is used during Advent and that of Lent. Lent’s purple color is similar to what we see in the sky during sunrise, embodying mankind’s excitement for the birth of Jesus Christ.
During Advent, purple vestments are only worn during Sunday Masses and Ferias such as Ash Wednesday. Outside such days, priests can simply wear Ordinary Time vestments.
Colors can symbolize many things and purple perfectly embodies the atmosphere of Advent. It’s therefore important to know what the colors during the Mass signify and how important they are to the faithful in church.
]]>You've often attended so many mass services in your life that you commonly find yourself seeing priests don their distinct robes whenever they appear on the altar. But every so often, you might notice that priests would also wear rather curious-looking religious vestments and accessories and wondered what is their purpose or significance. This handy infographic highlights five of the most common pieces worn by priests so that you can get up to speed on the sartorial side of clergy members.
If you’ve noticed some bishops wearing a rather elaborate kind of hat during special Mass ceremonies, then the correct term for that religious accessory is “mitre”. The mitre is a common headdress used primarily by bishops for liturgical functions. It can either be classified as precious, golden (orphreyed), or simple (simplex) and each classification is intended for different occasions. The precious mitre is worn by celebrants, the simple mitre is worn by concelebrants, while the golden mitre is worn by the celebrant at an ordination.
Those long scarf-like pieces of fabric you see draped over a priest’s shoulders is what we call a “stole”. This is important because whenever you see a priest don this accessory, this signifies to the congregation that he is occupied with an official priestly duty such as celebrating Mass or administering the Sacraments.
One of the special robes worn by clergy members is what one calls an “alb”. The alb is a liturgical vestment made out of long white linen and is designed with tapered sleeves. It is commonly worn by priests during the Holy Mass, and it symbolizes the innocence and purity that should adorn the soul of the priest who ascends the altar. While the color of the alb is white in the Western Church, it can be rendered in any color in the Eastern Church.
Otherwise known as a “soutane”, the “cassock” is a common vestment worn by priests when they are not performing Mass services or perhaps attending extracurricular religious functions or events. The garment comes in a number of cuts and styles, though there is no particular symbolism that is related to these. The cassock often has thirty-three buttons—representing the years of Jesus’ life—down the front.
Another elaborate piece that is worn by clergy members is a garment known as the "chasuble”, which is a bell-shaped vestment intended to be put on over all the others during Liturgical services. Originally, this was designed to be a full-body garment reaching almost to the feet, but modern conventions have made the chasuble shorter in length so as not to be too cumbersome for the wearer.
And if you happen to be a member of the clergy interested in purchasing some of these key pieces to wear in your next Mass service, then feel free to check out the product range of the Churchgoers website, where our promise is to always make worship beautiful for less!
]]>Anglicanism is a tradition in Christianity which comprises of the Church of England and some churches who have similar beliefs, worship practices and church structures. The word Anglican originated from a Medieval Latin phrase ‘ecclesia anglicana’ which means the English Church. Those individuals who adhere to Anglicanism are called Anglicans.
Anglicans like other Church servers also wear Eucharistic vestments. The Anglican vestments are the following:
Alb - A basic garment worn in the Roman Empire. It is a simple ankle-length white robe. The alb resembles the white robe given to the newly baptized in the early Church as a symbol of having their sins washed away and the new life in Christ. The alb is a symbol of the Christian’s striving for purity and holiness.
Stole - A long scarf-like cloth that hangs around the neck, over the shoulders and down the front of bishops and priests. Deacons wear the stole around the neck and across the chest. In the Roman era it meant that power also required becoming a servant.
Chasuble - It is the poncho-like garment worn by bishops and priests while celebrating the Holy Eucharist. It was an overcoat worn by both sexes during the Roman Empire. As the bishops and priests wear the chasuble it reminds us that they are our vicars, that is, they vicariously and symbolically enact on behalf of Jesus the Eucharistic action of taking bread, blessing it, breaking it and giving it to the people of God until his coming again.
“Choir” Vestments - A different set of vestments worn by the bishop and priest when not celebrating the Eucharist are called “choir” vestments. For the priest they consist of a cassock, surplice and tippet. Bishops wear a cassock, rochet, chimere and tippet. Some Anglican clergy prefer to wear these vestments for all liturgies including the Eucharist.
Cassock - The long ankle-length robe worn by clergy and others such as servers and choirs members. Cassocks worn by servers, lay readers and choir can be of any color.
Surplice - A white loose-fitting linen garment with wide sleeves. It is Anglican custom that the cassock and surplice are the minimal vestments that clergy should wear when leading “formal” worship. The surplice represents simplicity and dignity in worship.
Vestments are sacred sets of clothing worn in worship by Bishops, Priests, Anglicans and others. Vestments are not like costumes that can be fondly used but they denote dignity among the people who wear them. Anglican vestments are now available in many shops. If you’re looking for first-rate vestments, visit http://www.churchgoers.com/vestments and be enthralled with the availability of different vestments that are of high quality and reasonable price.
]]>Episcopal vestments are also referred as Pontifical vestments or pontificals. These vestments are liturgical vestments worn by bishops in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches. What are the most common Episcopal vestments worn by bishops?
The cassock, which is a long black garment which is worn under everything else, resembles the attire of those days. Over the black cassock can be worn a surplice, a not so long white vestment with full sleeves. Its history is interesting. The name comes from the Latin meaning a garment worn over furs.
The next vestment is the stole. It’s a long scarf of fabric matching the color of the church season. It symbolizes ordination, representing the yoke of Christ. A deacon wears it over his left shoulder, crossing to the right side, where it is tied or fastened, thus being worn diagonally. Priests wear it over both shoulders. It came into use in the 4th century.
A black “tippet” is the equivalent of the stole, and is worn during services which do not include the Eucharist, such as Morning and Evening Prayer.
The alb is an all-white vestment which is ankle length with long sleeves. It is worn by clergy during the Eucharist. Generally the stole is worn over it, and is anchored at the waist with a cincture. Cinctures are white ropes. They snug the alb or the cassock to the waist. They are knotted in such a fashion that the stole is also secured by the cincture.
The chasuble is a vestment made of silk which matches the color of the church calendar. It is oval, large, and sleeveless, with an opening in the center for the priest’s head. The priest may wear it before the beginning of the Holy Communion itself.
Some Bishops wear the mitres. The mitre is a tall, double-pointed hat. Something similar was worn by the kings of Persia and Assyria long before the Christian era. The two points of this double pointed hat have come to represent the Old and the New Testaments. The mitre is elective. Some bishops wear them, others do not.
The above-mentioned vestments are the most common and major ones. In other church traditions, bishops and priests may wear other Liturgical vestments. From the early times, the vestments have already been worn by selected people who included the judges, policemen, rulers and the clergies. The major purpose of the vestments is for the clergy to be reminded of the eternal admonition which states, “Remember who you are and whom you represent”.
At www.churchgoers.com, one may find a number of first-rate vestments for sale. Some vestments were made uniquely in form and in style.
]]>Priest and bishops wear liturgical vestments not because they want to look fashionably good with the vestments but because each of the vestments has a significant role to play in the commemoration of God’s death and in the celebration of the mass. Here are some of the vestments used by bishops and priests and their significance:
The Chasuble. It signifies the purple cloak God was mocked in as a King. The chasuble is a knee-length garment which flows at all sides. This vestment is folded up on its sides and strings could be used to make it be folded. The priests wear a chasuble during Eucharistic celebration in Western Christian Parishes. The vestment almost reached the feet and the material was bunched up to the sides to allow the arms to be outside the garment.
The Alb. It signifies purity of the mind, heart and body. It is a representation of the garment in which Jesus was mocked by Herod. The alb is a common vestment among the ministers in a mass. It is worn over the cassock and under special garments such as the stole, dalmatic or chasuble.
The Amice. It signifies the crown of thorns. The amice is a large white napkin hanged from two of its corners. Most commonly, a cross is sewn at the bottom of the amice. The priest places the amice upon his head and then rests it on his shoulders and then starts to recite the vesting prayer.
The Cincture. It represents the ropes by which God was bound and led. The cincture is used to secure the alb by fastening a linen rope about the waist.
The Maniple. It represents the chains used to secure God’s hands at His scourging. The maniple, chasuble and the stole often come in matching sets along with a chalice veil and burse. The maniple was not originally a sacred vestment but a sweat cloth to wipe the priest’s face during long services. The maniple is worn on the left arm of the priest and secured above the wrist. The maniple is a strip of cloth which is made of the same material as the stole and chasuble and is now often being embroidered.
The Stole. The stole represents the cross which God carried during His suffering. It is a long, thin breadth of cloth that the priest places over his head. The stole is made of silk though some can be created with the use of cotton and other similar fabrics. Normally, the stoles’ size is seven and one half to nine feet (2.28 to 2.74 meters) in length and three to four inches (7.62 to 10.16 centimeters) wide.
Each of the liturgical vestments mentioned above has significance in the celebration of the mass. If one is finding where to buy these vestments, Churchgoers.com is the best site for you to visit. The site offers various vestments where you could choose from.
]]>vestments for Bishops are similar to the vestments of the priest such as the cassock, epitrachelion, nabedrennik, chasuble, and mitre, except the chasuble and the nabedrennik.
During the period of Byzantine Imperial, the chasuble was reinstated by another garment which is alike to the deacons called the "Saccos", or the sackcloth garment. This actually represents the Bishop should ascend to life's holiness, using this clothing that was recognized as the "clothing of humility.” The vestments for Bishops have lots of use and meaning.
Akin to the Christ's robe that was lacking of seam, the Bishop's clothing is similar to it also. The large Orarion that they wear that covers their shoulder called the "Saccos,” is made of sheepskin in the ancient time. This is one of the vestments for Bishops that bears momentous meaning. It represents the sheep, which Christ carried on His shoulder being the Good Shepherd, in which the Bishop is also representing to the people in the church.
The vestments of a bishop and the vestments for Deacons are too meaningful in the Catholic Church belief. The crozier, on the other hand is what they carry as a representation of his service in the church. The meaning of this is a cue of the crook of the Shepherd, since Bishops are the Christ's flock. This is a double crook in Episcopal Staff on its top with across over it. In some occasions the double crook has a shape of the head of the serpent that signifies Moses' brazen serpent which he lifted up in the wilderness. On the other hand, it is also a sign of the cross that Christ carried up on His shoulder—which the Bishops have to portray in the church. And this Staff is specified to some Abbots and Archimandrites that symbolize a token of the spiritual power of Bishops to rule over the monastery.
Bishops usually wear shirts in purple color to differentiate the positions between them to the priests and the Deacons. A number of people as well believe that the purple color means the color of repentance that should reminds the Bishops of their holy duty, while some believe that this color has been drawn from ancient tradition for authority and royalty since purple is unique and precious in the medieval times.
The compositions of the Bishops vestments are special. This is meant in order to set them apart from other positions. To invest a vestment for bishops with class and great value, navigate to churgoers.com for this online shop holds and provides a bulk of vestments. Bishops deserve it as they are the ones who embrace the position to wear garments and stand with special accountabilities. They can choose a vestment based on the occasions and services they need to attend. Any member in the Orthodox Church, it doesn't matter what their rank or position in the clergy are entrusted to wear liturgical garments on their service in particular function in the Blessed Liturgy. Different clergy vestments serve different functions anyway.
]]>In fact, vestments for women in the present days are swarming around online stores. As a result, if you are searching for quality materials and you after for valuable labor, such options actually call for your pocket to empty. That is why many people prefer to create their own vestment. If you have knowledge to do so- the why not? The benefits of this idea are plethora.
The vestments for women are easy to sew. When you decide to make one, the result of the creation is in fact undeniably much better. For sure you will not only make it more beautiful, you are also getting these 4 more reasons why vestments handmade are more favorable:
More Savings
Creating your own vestment can provide you more savings, which is very ideal if you are currently cautious to spend much money. You can order for a set of custom-made vestment online. But in order to avoid spending more thousand of bucks, you can obtain cheaper offer because most shops prioritize the members of the congregation.
There are lots of ways to save money. Try to search for sales in stores. Who knows, you have the chance to choose the fabric that you want, make the labor even better, and make sure that the quality is on top. This idea is more related to money-saving because you don't need to pay a labor cost.
Produce comfortable and smooth feeling
You can pick the fabric of your choice that can offer you comfort and smooth feeling, such as satin or silk. These cloths are lightweight and silky-smooth that can improve the condition of your mood while you are in handling your service in the church. In some instance, other churches are not strict when it comes to colors of vestments, so, you can pick your favorite color.
Reliable Quality
You will not only save money when you consider a handmade vestment but you may often finish it with better and reliable quality outcome. You can also compose the distinction between excellent fabric and its contrary to mix with embellishments.
Guaranteed Satisfaction
Since it is handmade you can guarantee that you are doing the best from cutting to stitching. You can even make it an heirloom if you know that you are producing durable clothing. You know your correct measurement for sure so in terms to appropriate fitting, expect it perfectly. How about elaborating the band of the vestment? Anything that you would like for your vestment is doable. Therefore, you will end up producing a set of vestment that is more appropriate to your needs.
Before settling to buy a vestment and burn up dollars on a pricey one, consider over on hand-making for this will not only provide the above benefits, but it also let you experience enjoyable experience during the making process.
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