Saturday 30 March 2013

A Brief Background of Clergy Robes and Stoles

By Aileen Smith


Clergy robes and stoles are the traditional garments usually found in Eucharistic activities of Christianity. These clergy robes could be worn under vestments like having mass ceremonies, or a daily clothing of priest and ministers. The United Methodist Church in United States has no main guidelines on these garments. The use of it relies on the location and scenario. The stole or the vestment is made from colourful fabrics, threads, patches, and embroideries. Its usage depends on the season commemorated by churches.

Stole derives from the Latin word, stola, and the Greek word, st ??? (stole), which means "garment". Before, it's a kind of garment used to cover the shoulders, and fall down on front of the body. Even females used the larger ones to cover themselves.

Years passed, the adaptation of wearing clergy robes and stoles has continued. On the 7th century, the stole has actually been innovated to be narrower and more ornamented. It serves as a symbol of dignity to the one who was wearing. However, during this era, it becomes wider and is made of various materials invented by technology.

It is said that the stole was derived from the orarium, a liturgical napkin which is very like the sudarium. The orarium was used to wash the feet of Christ's disciples, in which it signifies the yoke of service throughout the era of Christ. Its origin can also be traced on the scar being used by the Imperial authorities of the Roman Empire.

The usage of the stole is likely to show the belongingness of the individual to a company, along with, showing that person's rank in the group. However, unlike before, when these stoles are worn by most of individuals or even laymen, stole today is just used based on the line of work of certain classes of individuals.

The clergy robes and stoles are stated to have sign and color that represents something. It signifies the bonds of Jesus throughout his Interest, that's why usually stoles have the cross design. Stoles also signify the duty of someone in spreading the word of God. The church also set the liturgical colors for each liturgical season. There are similarities of the colors being designated to it in various Christian churches.

Some colors include Purple which used throughout the Lenten season, Arrival, and All Soul's Day. It is the color used for stoles and coverings of the religious objects. An additional color is Green, which is used during Ferias in common time. Typically, this color is used throughout Sunday mass. The black clergy stoles could be found throughout Good Friday and All Soul's Day. Red is also used during Good Friday, in addition to, on Palm Sunday and Pentecost days. The blue stoles clergy are used during the The tokos Feasts on Byzantine rights.

These garments- clergy robes and stoles have an important duty in the solemnity of the Eucharistic activities. They are the signs of authority which lead to prosperity and constant tradition of the Christian belief and practices.



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