Asurplice (/ˈsɜːrplɪs/;Late Latinsuperpelliceum, fromsuper, "over" andpellicia, "fur garment") is aliturgicalvestment ofWestern Christianity. The surplice is in the form of atunic of white linen or cotton fabric, reaching to the knees, with wide or moderately widesleeves.
It was originally a long garment with open sleeves reaching nearly to the ground. As it remains in the WesternChristian traditions, the surplice often has shorter, closed sleeves and square shoulders. Anglicans typically refer to a Roman-style surplice with theMedieval Latin termcotta (meaning "cut-off' in Italian), as it is derived from the cut-offalb. Some English-speaking Catholics may not make the distinction between the two styles and refer to both as a "surplice".
It seems most probable that the surplice first appeared in France or England, from whence its use gradually spread to Italy [citation needed]. It is possible that there is a connection between the surplice and the Gallican or Celtic alb, an ungirdled liturgical tunic of the oldGallican Rite, which was superseded during theCarolingian era by theRoman Rite. The founding of theAugustinian Canons in the second half of the eleventh century may have had a special influence upon the spread of the surplice. Among the Augustinian Canons the surplice was not only the choir vestment, but also a part of the habit of the order.[1]
The surplice originally reached to the feet, but as early as the 13th century it began to shorten, though as late as the 15th century it still fell to the middle of the shin, and only in the 17th and 18th centuries inContinental Europe did it become considerably shorter. In several localities it underwent more drastic modifications in the course of time, which led to the appearance of various subsidiary forms alongside the original type. For example:
The first two of these forms developed very early; and, in spite of their prohibition bysynods here and there (for example that ofLiègecirca 1287), they survive in various places to the present day. The latter two only appeared after the close of theMiddle Ages: the first of them in SouthGermany, the second more especially inVenetia, where numerous pictorial records attest its use. As a rule, however, only thelower clergy wore these subsidiary forms of surplice. They came about partly under the influence of secularfashions, but more particularly for convenience.
Lack of exact information obscures the older history of the surplice. Its name derives, asDurandus and Gerland also affirm, from the fact that its wearers formerly put it on over the fur garments formerly worn in church during divine service as a protection against the cold. The word derived its name from the Medieval Latin wordsuperpellicium which divides into super, "over", andpellicia, "fur garment".
Some scholars trace the use of the surplice at least as far back as the 5th century, citing the evidence of the garments worn by the two clerics in attendance on Bishop Maximian represented in themosaics of theBasilica of San Vitale atRavenna; in this case, however, confusing thedalmatic with the surplice.
In all probability the surplice forms no more than an expansion of the ordinary liturgical alb, due to the necessity for wearing it over thick furs. The first documents to mention the surplice date from the 11th century: acanon of the Synod of Coyaca inSpain (1050); and an ordinance of KingEdward the Confessor.Rome knew the surplice at least as early as the 12th century. It probably originated outside Rome, and was imported thence into the Roman use. Originally only a choir vestment and peculiar to the lower clergy, it gradually—certainly no later than the 13th century—replaced the alb as the vestment proper to the administering of thesacraments and other sacerdotal functions.
TheEastern Churches do not use a surplice or any analogous vestment. Of the non-Roman Catholic Churches in the West the surplice has continued in regular use in theLutheran churches, in theAnglican Communion, and among variousOld Catholic denominations among others.
In the Roman tradition, the surplice (or "cotta") sometimes featuresliturgical lace decoration or embroideredbordures.
The surplice is meant to be a miniaturealb, the alb itself being the symbol of the white garment received atBaptism. As such, it is appropriately worn by anycleric, bylectors andacolytes, or indeed byaltar servers who are technically standing in for instituted acolytes for any liturgical service. It is often worn, for instance, byseminarians when attendingMass and by non-clericalchoirs. It is usually worn over acassock and never alone, nor is it ever gathered by a belt orcincture.
It may be worn under astole bydeacons andpriests for liturgical ceremonies or the celebration ofsacraments outside of Mass. On occasion, acope is worn over the cassock, surplice and stole.
As part of the choir dress of the clergy, it is normally not worn byprelates (thepope,cardinals,bishops,monsignori, and somecanons)—instead, these clerics wear therochet, which is in fact a variant of the surplice.
The surplice belongs to thevestes sacrae (sacred vestments), though it requires nobenediction before it is worn.
The secondAnglicanPrayer Book, that ofEdward VI in 1552, prescribed the surplice as, with thetippet or theacademic hood, the sole vestment of theminister of the church at "all times of their ministration", therochet being practically regarded as the episcopal surplice. The moreextreme Reformers furiously assailed its use, but in spite of their efforts,Elizabeth'sAct of Uniformity 1558 retained the garment, and the advertisements and injunctions issued under her authority enforced its use, though they ordered the destruction of the "massing vestments"—chasubles, albs, stoles and the like. Copes survived this destruction as they were not considered "superstitious," having no explicit symbolic formula like the other vestments.
Until 1965, the surplice had remained, with the exception of the cope, the sole vestment authorised by law for the ministers, other than bishops, of theChurch of England (for the question of the vestments prescribed by the "Ornaments Rubric" seevestment). And apart fromclerks inHoly Orders, all the "ministers" (including vicars-choral andchoristers) ofcathedral andcollegiate churches, as well as thefellows and scholars ofcolleges inchapel have worn surplices since theReformation.
The clergy have employed as a distinctive mark the tippet or scarf mentioned above, a broad band of black stuff or silk worn stole-wise, but not to be confused with thestole, since it has no liturgical significance and originally formed a mere part of the clerical outdoor dress for high ranking or degree-holding clerics. Formerly the clergy only wore the surplice when conducting the service, and exchanged it during the sermon for the "black gown", i.e. either aGeneva gown or thegown of anacademic degree. This custom has, however, as a result of theHigh Church movement, become almost completely obsolete. The "black gown", considered wrongly as the ensign ofLow Church views, survives in comparatively few even of evangelical churches; however, preachers of university sermons retained the custom of wearing the gown of their degree.
The traditional form of the surplice in the Church of England survived from pre-Reformation times: a wide-sleeved, very full, plain, white linen tunic, pleated from the yoke, and reaching almost, or quite, to the feet. Towards the end of the 17th century, when largewigs came into fashion, it became convenient to have surplices constructed gown-wise, open down the front and buttoned at the neck, a fashion which still partially survives, notably at the universities. In general, however, the tendency followed continental influence, and curtailed the surplice's proportions. The ample vestment with falling folds has thus in many churches given place to an unpleated garment reaching to the knee. In someAnglo-Catholic churches, the surplices follow the style of the Roman cotta. Cottas may in some churches be worn by servers and members of the choir and clergy may wear surplices in services where they do not wear eucharistic vestments.[2]
Traditionally, the surplice is used for non-sacramental services, worn over thecassock, such as morning prayer,Vespers, andCompline withoutEucharist. The surplice is traditionally full-length in the arm and hangs at least down to the knee.[3]
In German Lutheran and United Churches, where the black academic gown with preaching bands have commonly been in use since the early 19th century, the surplice is sometimes worn over the academic gown and preaching bands as a 'compromise' between the black gown, which has become a symbol of Protestantism among Germans, and the traditional Christian symbol of white for grace and the sacrament.[4]
Among thepaleo-orthodoxy andemerging church movements in Protestant and evangelical churches, particularlyMethodist,Lutheran, andPresbyterian, many clergy are reclaiming not only the traditionalEucharist vestments of alb and chasuble, but alsocassock and surplice (typically a full length Old English style) with appropriate liturgical stole, and cassock andGeneva gown for a Liturgy or Service of the Word.[citation needed]
Braun, Joseph (1913)."Surplice". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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