Roman Catholic clergy of various ranks (cardinal, bishop, priests) in cassocks. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities

The cassock, an item of clerical clothing, is a long, close-fitting, ankle-length robe worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Church, and some clerics of the Reformed, and Lutheran churches. Clerical clothing is non- liturgical Clothing worn exclusively by Clergy. A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a Cape or Cloak by the fact that it usually has Sleeves The English The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The cassock derives historically from the tunic that was formerly worn underneath the toga in classical antiquity. A tunic is any of several types of Clothing for the body with or without Sleeves and of various lengths reaching from the hips to the ankles This article is about the aviation term for the Roman garment see Toga. Classical antiquity (also the classical era or classical period) is a broad term for a long period of cultural History centered on the Mediterranean

The word cassock probably comes from the word "casaque" which means cloak; or cassaca, which means white. In older days, it was known in Latin as vestis talaris. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.

Although the cassock was formerly the universal everyday clothing of the clergy, many have abandoned it as in favour of a clerical suit of more conventional design. Clerical clothing is non- liturgical Clothing worn exclusively by Clergy. In current usage, wearing of the cassock may be a mark of a traditional cleric; its abandonment, a rejection thereof.

Western practice

Roman Catholic

A Roman Catholic priest from Belgian Congo wearing the Roman cassock. The Belgian Congo ( Dutch: Belgisch Kongo French: Congo Belge German: Belgisch Kongo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic
Note the 33 buttons, symbolizing the 33 years of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)

Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone wearing the white cassock approved by indult for tropical regions. Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, SDB (born 2 December 1934) is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. As a cardinal, his cassock is trimmed in scarlet. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church.

The cassock, also known as a soutane, comes in a number of styles or cuts, though no particular symbolism attaches to these. Cut in Clothing, Sewing and Tailoring is the style or shape of a garment as opposed to its fabric or trimmings. A Roman cassock often has a series of buttons down the front--sometimes thirty-three (symbolic of the years of the life of Jesus); an Ambrosian cassock has a series of only five buttons under the neck, with a sash on the waist; a French cassock also has buttons sewn to the sleeves after the manner of a suit, and a slightly broader skirt. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 This article is about the history and the current form of Ambrosian Rite for an explanation of the form of this Rite used before the Vatican-II see Traditional Ambrosian Rite This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The man's suit of clothes is a set of garments which are crafted from the same cloth A Jesuit cassock, in lieu of buttons, has a fly fastened with hooks at the collar and is bound at the waist with a black cincture knotted on the right side. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order

Generally the cassock can be attributed to the clerics of the Roman Catholic Church. There are two types of cassock: the ordinary cassock and the choir cassock. A band cincture or fascia is also worn with both types of cassocks. The fascia is a Sash worn by Clerics and Seminarians with the Cassock in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church

The ordinary cassock seen on most Roman Catholic clerics is black with black fascia. The fascia is a Sash worn by Clerics and Seminarians with the Cassock in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church Additionally, for prelates or honorary prelates, colored piping (keeping in mind that the cassock is still black) and the colored fascia are permitted. A prelate is a high-ranking member of the Clergy who either is an Ordinary or ranks in precedence with ordinaries The fascia is a Sash worn by Clerics and Seminarians with the Cassock in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church In the cases of bishops, protonotaries apostolic (e. In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic ( Latin protonotarii apostolicii) is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of g. , monsignors), and honorary prelates, the piping is amaranth red and the fascia is purple; for cardinals, scarlet piping and fascia are the rule. Monsignor, pl monsignori is the form of address for those members of the Clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain Ecclesiastical Amaranth is a Reddish rose Color that is a representation of the color of the Flower of the Amaranth plant Purple is a general term for the range of shades of Color occurring between Red and Blue. Despite these distinctions, however, prelates, even cardinals, may make use of the simple black cassock in their day to day responsibilities.

In tropical countries, Papal indult has allowed the ordinary cassock to be white. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 This article refers to an Indult according to church law. For other uses of the word see Pardon. White is a Color, the perception which is evoked by Light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive Cone cells in the Human eye The piping and fascia correspond to the appropriate rank of the prelate (black for regular priests, purple for honorary prelates, amaranth red for bishops and scarlet silk piping for cardinals).

Choir dress cassocks for bishops, protonotaries apostolic, and honorary prelates are fully purple (this purple corresponds more closely with a Roman purple and is approximated as fuchsia) with amaranth trim, while those of cardinals are fully scarlet with scarlet trim. Choir dress is the vesture of the Clerics seminarians and religious of traditional churches worn for public prayer either apart from the The Catholic cardinal has the additional distinction of having both his choir cassock sleeves and his fascia made of scarlet watered-silk (also referred to as moiré). The cut of the choir cassock is still a Roman-cut or French-cut Roman cassock. In the past, the cardinal's entire choir cassock was made of scarlet silk moiré along with a train as well (some twenty-six inches which was later abolished by Pauline Motu Proprio in 1969). It should also be noted that the prelatial choir cassock usually means that for major prelates of the Church (bishops, archbishops, and cardinals) to be in choir they must also don the mozzetta and the rochet and only at occasions of the Church's liturgical life. The mozzetta is a short elbow-length cape that covers the shoulders and is buttoned over the breast A rochet is a Vestment generally worn by a Roman Catholic or Anglican Bishop in Choir dress. For honorary prelates and protonotaries apostolic, their choir dress is merely their purple choir cassock and a surplice (unless indult has allowed for a rochet and mozzetta to be worn; in most cases this cannot be assumed).

A fascia, i. e. , a wide band with fringe on the ends, is often worn around the waist of the cassock. The black faille fascia is worn by priests, deacons, and major seminarians, while the purple faille fascia is permitted for bishops, supernumeraries apostolic, prelates of honor, and chaplains of his holiness. The black watered silk fascia is permitted for priests who are attached to the Papal household, the purple watered silk fascia is permitted for bishops attached to the Papal household, and the scarlet watered silk fascia is permitted for cardinals. The white watered silk fascia, with the appropriate coat of arms on the ends, is worn by the Pope.

The black shoulder cape over the black cassock is permitted only for priests. At the time of the restoration of the hierarchy in England and Ireland, Blessed Pius IX afforded this privilege to all priests in these countries. Consequently, the wearing of the shoulder cape over the cassock has been the sign of a Catholic priest in England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand since that time.

Cassocks are frequently confused with the simar, but there is a distinction in that the simar has the small shoulder cape without buttons and does not fasten in the front. The simar is a Roman Catholic garment reserved for the hierarchy and is considered a garment of jurisdiction In previous times, cassocks also had buttons on the upper parts of the sleeves, thus providing another differentiation from the simar, but Paul VI dropped this custom, leaving the Cassock and Simar virtually identical, save for the small shoulder cape with the latter. Pope Furthermore, the simar is garment of jurisdiction and is therefore reserved for bishops.

In cold weather, the manto, the ankle length cape---with or without shoulder cape, or the greca, also known as the douillette, the ankle length double-breasted overcoat, is traditionally worn over the cassock. The greca or more properly the douillette, is a clerical double-breasted overcoat worn over the Cassock. For bishops and priests both the manto and greca are solid black in color, while for the pope the manto is red and the greca is white. The greca or more properly the douillette, is a clerical double-breasted overcoat worn over the Cassock.

Cassocks are sometimes worn by seminarians studying for the priesthood, by religious brothers, by lay people when they are assisting with the liturgy in church, such as altar servers, and by members of choirs (frequently with cotta or, more usually in Anglican churches, surplice). A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions An altar server or Acolyte is a lay assistant to a member of the Clergy during a religious service Priest or seminarian with censorjpg|thumb|Seminarian vested in a pleated Roman-style surplice with lace inserts holding a Thurible.

Anglican

An Anglican priest wearing a single-breasted cassock. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities

An Anglican cassock is often double breasted (then more correctly called a "sarum"), fastening at the shoulders on the opposing side of the breast. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The single-breasted cassock worn by Anglicans sometimes has thirty-nine buttons rather than the Roman complement of thirty three. This is often said to signify the Thirty-Nine Articles, but may have developed from an older fashion. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were established in 1563 and are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine in relation to the controversies of the

In Anglican churches, a black cassock is the norm, but other colors and variations are common. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Canons often choose to wear a black cassock with red piping, and, likewise, deans and archdeacons, black cassock with purple piping. A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανωνικος 'relating to a rule' is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the A dean, in a church context is a Cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy A position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations above that of most Bishops traditionally wear purple cassocks. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight However, some bishops, particularly Rowan Williams, have recently chosen regularly to wear black cassocks. Rowan Douglas Williams, PC, DD, DCL, FBA, (born 14 June 1950 in Swansea, Wales) is an Anglican This is perhaps due to closer ties with Eastern Orthodox churches and a desire to emphasise simplicity and humility over rank. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

Presbyterian (Non-comformist, Scottish, Church of Scotland) practice

In Scotland, it is not uncommon to see full-length cassocks worn in the blue of the Flag of Scotland, which is also tied to the academic dress of the University of St. Andrews (close to azure. The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. The Flag of Scotland is a white Saltire, a crux decussate (X-shaped cross representing the Cross of the Christian Martyr The University of St Andrews is the oldest University in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between Azure is a Blue Color on the HSV color wheel at 210 degrees Azure is the Hue that is halfway between Blue and Cyan Over this is typically worn a preaching gown or the academic gown of the minister. The Geneva gown, also called a Pulpit gown, Pulpit Robe, or Preaching Robe, Academic dress or academical dress is traditional Clothing for academic settings primarily tertiary and sometimes secondary During the Edwardian and Victorian era, it was common to see a shortened, double-breasted black silk cassock worn under the gown. Class and society Socially the Edwardian era was a period during which the British Class system was very rigid The term " Victorian Fashion " refers to Fashion in Clothing in the Victorian era, or the reign of Queen Victoria (1837&ndash1901 It generally reached to the knees and was tied with a simple cincture. The cincture is a liturgical Vestment, worn encircling the body around or above the waist The American Geneva Gown is often supplied with a cuff sewn into the double-bell sleeve. This innovation is a remnant of the cassock sleeve that was formerly worn underneath.

Eastern practice (Orthodox and Eastern Catholic)

Russian Orthodox clergy near Ein Karem, Jerusalem. See also Eastern Orthodox Church Structure and organization The Slavic Orthodox Church is organized in a hierarchical structure Ein Kerem (عين كارم עין כרם lit Spring of the Vineyard) also commonly known as Ein Karem, is a neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Each is wearing a podryasnik and cassock vest. The hieromonk (right) is wearing skoufos and pectoral cross. Hieromonk, or Hieroschemamonk, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, ( Greek: Ἱερομόναχος Ieromonachos; Slavonic: Ieromonakh A skufia (also skufiya or skoufos) is an item of Clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic Monastics A pectoral cross or pectorale (from the Latin pectoralis, "of the Chest " is a cross, usually large suspended from

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (in red cassock) and a priest (in black). The Patriarch of Antioch is the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church; this is a list of primates who have held that office Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (زكى عيواص, born Sanharib Iwas on 21 April 1933) is the 122th and reigning Patriarch of

In Eastern Christianity there are two types of cassock: the Inner Cassock and the Outer Cassock or Rason. Monastics always wear a black cassock. There is no rule about coloration for non-monastic clergy, but black is the most common. Blue or grey are also seen frequently, while white is sometimes worn for Pascha. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

• The inner cassock (more often simply cassock) is an ankle length garment worn by all major and minor clergy, monastics, and often by male seminarians. A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is a specialized and often live-in Higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students The Russian version, called a podryasnik (Russian: подрясник), is double-breasted, closely fitted through the torso and flaring out to the skirt, and with a high collar buttoned off-center [1]. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The Greek version, called an anteri or rason, is somewhat fuller, gathered at the waist with a cord, and with a high collar buttoned in the front [2]. The inner cassock is usually worn by all clergy members under their liturgical vestments.
• The outer cassock also called a ryasa or riassa (Russian: ряса), or exorason (Greek εξώρασον or simply ράσον) is a voluminous garment worn over the inner cassock by bishops, priests, deacons, and monastics [3] as their regular outer wear. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly It is not worn by seminarians, readers or subdeacons in the Russian tradition. In some Christian churches the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the Scripture at a Liturgy. Subdeacon (or sub-deacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. In the Greek tradition, however, chanters may wear it in church, usually with no inner cassock beneath but directly over secular clothing. The outer cassock should be worn by a priest celebrating a service such as Vespers where the rubrics call for him to be less than fully vested, but it is not worn by any clergy beneath the sticharion. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the It may be worn with the bottoms of the sleeves turned back, which are sometimes faced in a contrasting color. The Greek version tends to be somewhat lighter weight and more fully cut than the Russian. It is originally a monastic garment, and in the Russian tradition a man must be explicitly blessed by the bishop to wear it following his ordination to the diaconate. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions
• A cassock vest is sometimes worn over the inner cassock in cooler weather. This is a closely fitted collarless vest with patch pockets, usually falling slightly below the waist [4]. Sleeveless Jackets or coats, known as vests in the US and as waistcoats in the UK and Ireland
• A cassock coat may be worn on very cold days, with the same cut as the outer cassock but slightly larger and of heavier material. It may or may not have a fur-lined collar [5]. The coat is worn over the outer cassock, although many clerics may wear it in lieu of a coat on colder days.

Non-clerical sixteenth century jacket

A cassock is also a loose-fitting, pullover, hip-length jacket worn by ordinary soldiers in the sixteenth century. A jacket is a type of sleeved hip - or Waist -length garment for the upper body A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. A cassock has attached sleeves and is open down the sides, similar to a mandilion. Sleeve ( O Eng ''slieve'' or ''slyf'', a word allied to slip, cf A mandilion or mandelion is a loose men's hip-length pullover coat or jacket, open down the sides worn in England in the later Sixteenth century