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Vestments (SACRED the Christian church)

SACRED the Christian church the sacred vest- Rome and the East in the first centuries, retained unaltered by the clergy, whereas in fashion, in material, in color from year to year. There seems little room Christian ministers employed some dis- Catholic writers even find traces in the beginning of the 5th century of the practices of blessing the vestments which were destined for the public services of the Church. The vestments used in the celebration of mass by priests of the Roman Catholic Church are the amice (originally worn over the head); the alb; the girdle, a linen cord tied round the waist, and confining the folds of the alb; the maniple, a narrow strip of embroidered silk, worn pendent from the arm; the stole, and the chasuble. The three last named are always of the same material and color; but this color, which appears primitively to have been in all cases white, now, and for many centuries, varies according to seasons and festivals, five different colors being employed in the white, red, green, violet, and black. tuted for any of these except the last. the vestments of priests, two inner vestthe deacon and sub-deacon respectively), as also embroidered gloves and shoes, or episcopal ornaments the pectoral cross, and black. ring, miter, and pastoral staff, or, if archring, miter, and pastoral staff, or, if archbrating, massor wear thehopallium. Bishops, when they celebrate pontifically, take their vestments from the altar, whereas priests put them on in the sacristy; but this is a late distinction.

In other public services priests and the other sacraments, and also in adcape or hood. In the ministration of the other sacraments, and also in adwear the surplice with the stole, or it may even be the stole alone. In the wear the surplice with the stole, or it may even be the stole alone. In the of cloth, stiffened, worn pendent from the girdle, and perhaps originally a napkin), of cloth, stiffened, worn pendent from the tively with the alb, girdle, stole, maniple, and chasuble. Greek bishops wear the omophorion, which corresponds with the later pallium, and also a pectoral cross, and carry a short pastoral staff; but they wear no ring, and, except by the cape or hood. In the ministration of changes of the 16th century was to put The natural effect of the religious changes of the 16th century was to put aside the costume at the same time and was done, however, by the different churches of the Reformers in very variwas done, however, by the different churches of the Reformers in very variments altogether. The Lutherans genmay be said to have dispensed with vestments altogether. The Lutherans genthe Swedish Church full vestments are retained. In the English Church a vathe Swedish Church full vestments are retained. In the English Church a variety of practice has existed. As to the rest of the costume, the first Prayerbook retained the Roman vestments with little change; and as the vestments and ornaments of 1549 were again enjoined in the English Church has since 1851 rein the English Church has since 1851 reintroduced in some places almost every detail of the Roman costume in the comwhich has in many instances been vigwhich has in many instances been vigorously resisted.