Cassock

Anglican priest in Cassock
Catholic bishop in Cassock

The cassock or soutane is a type of clothing. It is a Christian clerical coat used by the Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, it is also used by Protestants such as Anglicans and Lutherans.

Catholic Cassock

In the Catholic Church, the cassock is an important part of the dress for priests and bishops.

The ordinary Roman cassock is black, but in tropical countries, it is often white and usually without a shoulder cape (pellegrina). The cassock has buttons down the front. Coloured piping (narrow decorative trim) and buttons are added in accordance with rank: black for priests, purple for chaplains of His Holiness; purple for bishops, protonotaries apostolic, and Honorary Prelates; and scarlet red for cardinals.

Catholic archbishop in tropical cassock

Orthodox Cassock

In the Orthodox Church, the cassock is also worn by priests and monks. It is often called the riassa.

Orthodox clergyman in cassock

The riassa is usually black and has a simple design. There are two types of cassocks: the inner cassock, worn under vestments, and the outer cassock, worn as regular clothing.

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox examples

Oriental Orthodox examples


Anglican Cassock

In the Anglican Church, the cassock is worn by clergy during services.

Anglican bishop in cassock

The Anglican church uses single and double-breasted cassocks. The single-breasted (one row of buttons) version is common in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, while the double-breasted (two rows of buttons) version is often worn in the evangelical part of the church. Black is the most common color for priests, readers, vergers, and server cassocks.

A Greek Orthodox clergyman wearing an outer cassock (exorason) and kalimavkion
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (in red cassock) and a priest (in black)

Notes

  1. ↑ Vestment is a special type of clothing worn by clergy during religious services

References

  1. 1 2 "Cassock | Religious Garment, Clergy Robe, Vestment | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  2. 1 2 "Dictionary : CASSOCK". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  3. 1 2 Manzoor, Muzzamal (2024-04-04). "The Significance of the Catholic Cassock a Holy Garment". Medium. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. 1 2 "Cassock". www.immaculate-conception.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  5. 1 2 "Wearing the Cassock | EWTN". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  6. ↑ "When is the ryassa to be worn? | ROCOR Europe". Великобританская и Западно-Европейская Епархия, РПЦЗ. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  7. 1 2 Litsas, Fotios (1996). A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology (PDF). University of Illinois at Chicago. p. 11.[permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ "Definition of VESTMENT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. ↑ "A Guide to Orthodox Liturgical Vestments » Saint John the Evangelist Orthodox Church". Saint John the Evangelist Orthodox Church. 2024-09-23. Archived from the original on 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  10. 1 2 "Anglican Distinctives". Saint Luke's Anglican Church. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  11. ↑ "Cassock". Anglican Compass. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  12. ↑ "Anglican Vestments: A Rookie Anglican Guide". Anglican Compass. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2024-10-20.