Pontifical vestments, also referred to asepiscopal vestments orpontificals, are the liturgicalvestments worn by bishops (and by concession some otherprelates) in theCatholic,Eastern Orthodox,Oriental Orthodox, someAnglican, and someLutheran churches, in addition to the usual priestly vestments, for the celebration of theHoly Mass, othersacraments,sacramentals, andcanonical hours. The pontifical vestments are worn only when celebrating or presiding over liturgical functions. As such, the garments should not be confused withchoir dress, which is worn when attending liturgical functions but not celebrating or presiding.
The pontifical accoutrements include the:
Ametropolitan archbishop also wears apallium within his own ecclesiastical province, once he has received it from the Pope. After receiving it, he is entitled to have anarchiepiscopal cross (with two cross-bars instead of one) carried before him.[1]
TheSecond Vatican Council determined that the use of pontificals should be "reserved to those ecclesiastical persons who have episcopal rank or some particular jurisdiction".[2] The following items, while prescribed by the preconciliarCaeremoniale Episcoporum, are not prescribed by the most recent edition and so are seldom used.
When celebratingMass, the bishop wearsalb,stole andchasuble, in the manner done by priests. TheCaeremoniale Episcoporum recommends, but does not impose, that in solemn celebrations he should also wear adalmatic of a thinner and lighter fabric, which can always be white, beneath the chasuble, especially when administering the sacrament ofholy orders, blessing an abbot or abbess, and dedicating a church or an altar.[3][4]
Atunicle was also worn until the apostolic letterMinisteria quaedam of August 15, 1972, decreed that, with effect from January 1, 1973, the functions that in theLatin Church had been assigned to the subdeacon should thenceforth be carried out by the instituted ministers (not members of the clergy) known aslectors andacolytes.[5]
When attending solemnly atSolemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by another bishop, when presiding atSolemn Pontifical Vespers, and when celebrating thesacraments ofbaptism, marriage, andconfirmation outside Mass, a bishop may wear acope. A cope may be worn also by priests or deacons for liturgical celebrations outside Mass.[6]
At any liturgical celebration, whether wearing chasuble (for Mass) or cope, the bishop may also wear a mitre, pectoral cross, ecclesiastical ring and zucchetto. He may also carry the crosier if the celebration is within his own diocese or if he is celebrating solemnly elsewhere with the consent of the local bishop.[7] If several bishops take part in the same celebration, only the presiding bishop carries the crosier.[7]
Latin Church clergy other than bishops, in particular any who areabbots orapostolic prefects or ordinary of a personal ordinariate, may wear pontifical items. Mitre, crosier and ring are bestowed on an abbot at his blessing and the pectoral cross is a customary part of anabbatial habit. There are limitations as to where and when abbots may wear pontificalia, for example only within their monasteries. The practice of granting other clergy (e.g. the highest level of monsignor) special permission to wear such items as a mark of honor has almost disappeared; it is still practiced, however, for ordinaries of apersonal ordinariate.[8]
The pontifical vestments inEastern Christianity are somewhat similar, although Greek terms are used instead of the mainly Latinate forms used in the West. There are also certain vestments that are unique to the Christian East.[citation needed]
In theEastern Orthodox andByzantineCatholic churches bishops use the following vestments (worn over the priestlysticharion,epimanikia andepitrachelion) and implements:[citation needed]
The distinctive vestment of a bishop is the omophorion. There are two types of omophoria: the "Great Omophorion", which is worn at certain moments during theDivine Liturgy and at theGreat Doxology at theAll-Night Vigil, and the "Little Omophorion", which is worn at other times (note that the sticharion is worn only at Liturgy, while the epimanikia and epitrachelion are always worn when vesting).[citation needed]
The Sakkos is normally worn only when the bishop is celebrating the Divine Liturgy, or during the Great Doxology at the All-Night Vigil. At other services, or when he is "presiding" but not serving at Liturgy, he will wear theMantya, a cape with a long train and red and white ribbons ("rivers") running along the sides.[citation needed]
Whenever heblesses, the bishop stands on anorletz ("eagle rug"), and at certain times he blesses usingdikirion and trikirion. The dikirion is a candlestick with two candles symbolising thedogma of thetwo natures of Christ and trikirion has three candles symbolising theTrinity.[citation needed]
Eastern bishops do not normally make use of an ecclesiastical ring; instead, the lower clergy and faithful kiss the bishop's right hand as a sign of respect.[citation needed]
As in the Latin Church, anhegumen (abbot) is presented with his crosier by the local bishop. The abbot usually wears a gold pectoral cross, and may be granted the right to wear a mitre. Anarchpriest may also be granted a gold pectoral cross.Archimandrites andprotopresbyters wear jewelled pectoral crosses and mitres. The epigonation and/or nabrednnik may be worn by these members of the clergy, or may even be granted on their own as marks of honour to distinguished priests. The right to wear a pectoral cross or mitre may be bestowed upon other (lower) clergy as a sign of honour due to some outstanding achievement or dedication.
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