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I continue with my notes about the vestments in use in the Church following up from the General Synod discussion about "dressing down" and wearing casual clothing instead of traditional robes. Before the service the Eucharistic vestments are often laid out in the sacristy in accordance with a specific ritual beginning with the chasuble. If worn at all these days, the maniple would be placed vertically on top of the chasuble in the centre. The stole is placed on top of these in the shape of a letter H. Above it is the girdle in the shape of an S, these three forming the symbol IHS which is thought to stand for Jesus Hominum Salvator, Jesus Saviour of Mankind. Next comes the alb which is laid face down and folded into three because of its large size and finally on top of the whole is spread the amice with the strings crossed in the shape of St Andrew's cross.
The priest then begins to robe placing the white linen cloth called the amice upon his head, drops it around his neck and ties the strings around his waist. The amice was originally a neck cloth and still in some sense serves that purpose, it symbolises hope, the helmet of salvation (1 Thess 5.8). The priest then puts on the long white robe called an alb; it was a garment worn by both the Greeks and Romans and can still be seen worn by Arabs in the middle east today. Wall paintings in the Catacombs in Rome, dating from the second century show early Christians dressed in this robe. The alb is the garment of innocence and represents the holiness of Our Lord Himself, the great High Priest. The large alb is held together by a white or coloured girdle around the waist, a symbol of purity. It is fringed with tassels, a reminder of the cord of Christ's scourging. (These days albs are often made simpler and in such a way that do not need the girdle to hold it all together). The embroidered cross on the top of the stole is kissed by the priest before being placed around his neck and secured by the girdle, if worn. Its origin is a kind of scarf worn by Roman dignatories as an outward sign of their authority. In the Christian ministry the stole has the same significance, being worn over both shoulders by a bishop and priest and only over the left shoulder and tied on the right side by a deacon being in a lesser order of ministry. The maniple, thankfully, is rarely used today and was placed over the left forearm and having its origins in the cloth carried over the arm, like a kind of handkerchief to wipe the face in hot conditions. It symbolised service and good works. It was a rather dangerous item of the vestments and could be the cause of knocking the chalice when standing at the altar. Finally the priest puts on the chasuble which again can be seen in the wall paintings in the Catacombs in Rome. It is made of one piece of material, richly embroidered with a central opening through which the head is passed and the whole hangs down front and back of the priest. It has varied in shape over the years and these days the favoured shape is what is called 'Gothic', which has ample folds and quite long. (Most of our vestments at St George's are like this.) It symbolised the royal robe of Christ when he was mocked as king by the soldiers before His crucifixion.
Another vestment used by the priest for processions and on special occasions instead of the chasuble, is the cope. It is used in many Anglican cathedrals and churches instead of the chasuble, although it is strictly not a eucharistic vestment but a form of outdoor cloak. Many of our Anglican bishops seem to wear this together with a bishop's mitre on every conceivable occasion instead of a simple choir dress at non eucharistic services, which I think is a great pity. The cope is a dignified garment and can be worn for various occasions, weddings and funerals and at the coronation of the monarch. It is semi-circular in shape and held together across the chest by a clasp and often has a cowl or a decorated hood on the back and is often richly embroidered along the edges. Finally the colours of the vestments and altar hangings relate to the church's seasons. White and gold are used for the great festivals of Our Lord and Our Lady and the feasts of certain saints. Red is for the feast of martyrs (like St George) and signifies the shedding of their blood for Christ. It is also used at Pentecost, symbolising the tongues of fire that descended upon the heads of the Apostles and for the feast of the Holy Cross and on Good Friday and Palm Sunday. Purple is a penitential colour and is used in Lent and Advent and at funerals and requiems. Green is generally used for all the ordinary days of the year. I hope this has been of some interest to you and will help in your understanding of why we wear robes in church. The Bishop of Portsmouth said recently about vestments in an address in Sherbourne Abbey: "They are not ornaments of those who wear them, but ornaments of worship, and they help lift the imagination, and elevate our minds and our hearts". (9th June 2002). With my prayers and blessing, Your friend and priest. MALCOLM FERRIER |
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page last updated 2 NOVEMBER 2002 |
