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AMICE:
The amice is a liturgical vestment
consisting of an oblong piece of white
linen that is worn around the neck and
shoulders and partly under the alb. It
measures 36" x 24" with two 36"
strings of twill tape. Originally, the
purpose of the amice was as a neckcloth to protect the valuable chasuble and stole.
Until 1972, in the Roman Church the amice was an obligatory vestment. Now it is
optional, provided that the alb worn by the priest does cover all secular clothes
underneath. If they are not all covered, an amice must still be used. The amice is
associated with the "helmet of salvation." While putting it on, the priest would say,
"Lord, give me strength to conquer the temptations of the devil."

BIRETTA
The biretta is a stiff square-shaped hat with silk trim and tuft. It
has three or four ridges, called "horns," across the crown. It is
worn by the clergy. It is black for priests, deacons, and
seminarians, purple for bishops, and scarlet for cardinals. The
biretta is now optional for clerics who are celebrating or
concelebrating Mass.

CAPPA: "Cappa" or "Cope" is Latin for "choir cape, black cape." It is a long
liturgical mantle, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp.
Sometimes it has a hood. It was worn in choir during the Divine Office by the clergy
of cathedral churches and by many religious, and is still retained by the Dominicans
during winter months. See Cope.

CASSOCK
The cassock, also known as a soutane,
comes in a number of styles or cuts, though
no particular symbolism attaches to these. It
usually has 33 buttons (symbolic of the
years of the life of Jesus) down the front.
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 ordinary
cassock is the black cassock worn by most
clerics. Choir dress cassocks for bishops are
purple. Other clergy including Acolytes (Altar Servers) can wear
cassocks of other colours such as the green ordinary time cassock on the right.

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CHASUBLE
The chasuble is the vestment that is put on
over all the others during Liturgical
services. Originally this was a very full
garment, shaped like a bell and reaching
almost to the feet all the way round.
During the 18th and 19th centuries the
Chasuble suffered much from a process of
shortening and stiffening as in the example
on the right above. Today there is a return
to the historical and beautiful, ample,
nicely draping Chasubles. The Chasuble symbolizes the virtue of charity, and the
yoke of unselfish service for the Lord, which the priest assumes at ordination. There
are 'Gothic' styles and 'Roman' styles. The example above in green is Gothic style, and
the example below in red is Roman style.

CINCTURE
The cincture is the cord used as a belt to gird the Alb. It symbolizes the
virtues of chastity and continence (meaning "the exercise of self
constraint") required of the priest. It comes in many colors.

COPE
It is a long liturgical mantle,
open in front and fastened at
the breast with a band or
clasp. Sometimes it has a
hood. The example on the
left is Gothic style, and the
example on the right is
Roman style.

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CROSIER
The word "crosier" comes from the Latin word "crocia" which means "crook or
bend." It is a Pastoral Staff, the symbol of authority and jurisdiction. This
ecclesiastical ornament is conferred on bishops at their consecration.

DALMATIC
Dalmatic is an outer, sleeved tunic that came to Rome from Dalmatia, hence its name.
It is worn in place of the chasuble, by the deacon and sub-deacon during Solemn
Mass. It symbolizes the joy and happiness that are the fruit of dedication to God.
Dalmatics are often not used by deacons in OCAC
as we don't have perpetual deacons, and they use
albs and stoles, to save buying new vestments as
they will be ordained priests in the coming months
or years. The dalmatic can be used if the deacon so
chooses.

EPISCOPAL RING
The episcopal ring was the 'sigillum' or mark of the bishop. Originally used to impress
upon wax seals on important documents or scrolls to show the official capacity of the
seal. Rarely used in OCAC, but bishops rings can be worn for ceremonial services if
desired.

GAUNTLETS
Gauntlets are the liturgical gloves that are an option for bishops to use during
liturgical celebrations (as celebrant or concelebrant, not in choir). They are made of
silk, and extend partially past the wrist. They can match the liturgical color, or can
always be white. The gauntlets, like so many vestments, developed out of necessity to
help keep the hands of the bishops warm during liturgical ceremonies in cold, stone
churches. These are not usually used in OCAC, except on the consecration of a bishop
who desires to wear them for their consecration.

GENEVA GOWN
The Geneva Gown is often worn when visiting non-
catholic churches as a preacher. Sometimes called pulpit
gown or preachers gown, they come in many colours,
but darker colours of black, dark grey or dark blue are
more common. OCAC pastors wear these and those in
minor orders can wear these too for delivering 'Services
of the Word'.

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HUMERAL VEIL
Humeral Veil is worn so as to cover the back and shoulders
(where it gets its name) and its two ends hang down in front.
To prevent its falling from the shoulders, it is fastened across
the chest with clasps or ribbons attached to the border. The
Humeral Veil is worn by the priest or deacon in processions of
the Blessed Sacrament, in giving Benediction, in carrying the
Host to its repository on Holy Thursday, and bringing it back
to the altar on Good Friday. In processions of the Blessed
Sacrament and at Benediction given with the monstrance, only
the hands are placed under the humeral veil; in other cases, it
covers the sacred vessel which contains the Host. The Humeral Veil is usually and
properly some shade of white (from ivory to white is acceptable).

MANIPLE
Maniple is an ornamental vestment of colored silk or damask over the
left forearms. Originally this vestment was a handkerchief carried in the
left hand or thrown over the left arm. It symbolizes the labor and
hardship the priest must expect in his ardent apostolate. Many are shaped
with wider ends as in this example.

MITRE
The mitre is the common headdress of bishops, worn at
liturgical functions. It is either precious, golden (orphreyed),
or simple (simplex). The precious mitre is worn by celebrants,
the simple by concelebrants, and the golden by the celebrant
at an ordination. All the cardinals wear a damasked mitre
(simplex) in presence of the Pope. It is very tall, and is made
of layered white damask silk. OCAC bishops use a mitre, but
only a simple style mitre.

PECTORAL CROSS
The pectoral cross is a small cross, usually about 6 inches in height, worn around the
neck of a bishop and suspended by either the cord (in liturgical vestments or choir) or
the chain. The cord is scarlet and gold or green and gold.

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STOLE
Roman magistrates wore a
long scarf when engaged in
their official duties, just as our
judges wear a court gown.
Whenever a priest celebrates
Mass or administers the
Sacraments, he wears the stole
as a sign that he is occupied
with an official priestly duty.
When placing the stole about
his neck, in vesting for Mass,
the priest begs God to give
him on the last day the
'garment of immortality' that
was forfeited by our sinful
first parents. Roman style has
wider ends often with tassles.
Deacons stoles are worn on one side only as shown below.

SURPLICE
The surplice, is a knee-length, white vestment worn over the
choir cassock, but by priests, deacons, and seminarians rather
than bishops. It is typically simple in design, but can be very
fancy. It is distinct from the rochet not in the level of
decoration, but in the sleeve: the sleeve of a rochet, like an alb,
fits flush against the choir cassock; the sleeve of a surplice is
fuller, and often bell-shaped as can be seen from this example.

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TIPPET
A black scarf of Anglican origin, wider than a stole, worn about the neck, with ends
hanging down the front. It is worn by the clergy at choir offices. Usually the diocesan
shield and the shield of the priest’s seminary are on the ends of the tippet.

ZUCCHETTO
The zucchetto is the silk skullcap worn by the Catholic clergy. It is
white for the Pope, scarlet for a cardinal, and violet for a bishop.
Priests may use a black cloth zucchetto for everyday wear, but not
during the liturgy.

Liturgical Colours for Vestments

Advent (Purple vestments)

Christmas (White vestments)
Ordinary Time (Green vestments)
Lent (Purple vestments)
Holy Week (White or Gold vestments)
Easter (White or Gold vestments)
the church then resumes Ordinary time from Easter to Advent (Green Vestments).

Symbols on Vestments

SYMBOL SIGNIFICANCE
ALPHA-OMEGA Eternity of Christ
ANCHOR Faith
BREAD AND WINE Eucharist--death of Christ
CHI-RHO First two letters of "Christ" in Greek
CROSS Death of Christ
DOVE Holy Spirit at baptism of Christ
FIRE Holy Spirit on Day of Pentecost
FISH Initial letters of "Jesus Christ, God's son, Savior" in
Greek, spelling ICHTHUS, the Greek word for "fish";
feeding of 5000; "fishers of men"
LAMB Christ's self-sacrifice
SHEPHERD Christ's care for His people
SHIP Church (Noah's ark; cf. baptism)
VINE Christ's union with His people; wine of Eucharist

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Picture Credit: American Anglican Council

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Old Catholic Apostolic Church – Ecclesial Training Program

Historical Vestments
The description of historic or other vestments that are not used in OCAC is below:

CAMAURO : The camauro is the crimson velvet cap trimmed with white ermine,
worn by the Pope, instead of the biretta, on non-liturgical occasions. The camauro,
like the biretta, evolved from the academic cap of the Middle Ages. Unlike the biretta,
however, it did not evolve much. The camauro in its present form was established by
the twelfth century. It is not used in OCAC.

CAPPA MAGNA: The cappa magna (literally, "great cape") is a voluminous

ecclesiastical garment with a long train, proper to cardinals, bishops, and certain other
honorary prelates. No longer mandatory (and therefore rare), the cappa magna was
never abolished and still appears in the Ceremonial of Bishops. Ordinarily scarlet for
cardinals and purple for bishops, the garment dates to the first millennium and its train
has varied in length over the ages. It is not used in OCAC.

CAPPELLO ROMANO: A cappello romano, meaning Roman hat, is a hat with a

wide, circular brim and a rounded rim worn by the clergy. It is made of either beaver
fur or felt, and lined in white silk. It serves no ceremonial purpose, being primarily a
practical item. The wearing of it is optional, but it is never worn during services. It is
generally uncommon outside of Rome today. The pope wears a red cappello with gold
cords. All other clerics wear black cappelli. A cardinal may have a cappello with red
and gold cords with scarlet lining. A bishop may have green and gold cords with
violet lining. A priest may substitute black lining for his. Cappelli worn by deacons
and seminarians have no distinguishing items.

CHIMERE: The chimere is a sleeveless gown, usually of red, but sometimes of black
material of quality and derived from the Spanish word "Zammarvia" that means
"riding cloak." It is an upper robe of a Bishop. This garment serves as a symbol of the
mantle of a prophet. The chimere is only worn by the Bishop because it signifies him
as chief proclaimer and defender of the faith in the apostolic tradition. It is not used in
OCAC.

DOUILLETTE: Douillette (or greca or cappotto) is a long, loose-fitting, double-

breasted cloak worn over the cassock or simar by all clerics. It is white for the Pope,
black for all other clerics. The douillette came into the Roman Church through
France. It was originally employed in the East, where it was known as the Greca. It
was adapted from civil wear for the clergy in 1812, and has changed little since. It is
not used in OCAC

FANON: Fanon is a shoulder cape that only the pope wear. It consist of two pieces of
white silk ornamented with narrow woven stripes of red and gold. It is nearly circular
in shape with a round hole in the middle for the head to pass through, and with a small
gold cross embroidered in front. It is worn over the alb, and only at solemn pontifical
Mass. This is not used in OCAC

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FERRAIOLO: Ferraiolo is a full cape, now almost completely out of style, worn by
clerics in abito piano. It is scarlet watered silk for a cardinal, violet silk for a bishop,
violet wool for a protonotary apostolic, and black wool for any other degree of cleric.
The Pope does not make use of a ferraiolo. This is not used in OCAC.

GLOVES
Gloves used by clerics must always be black, and are not used during a liturgical
celebration. The master of ceremonies alone may make use of white gloves, and is the
only one allowed gloves while vested in choir. Gloves are not used in OCAC.

MANTELLETTA: Mantelletta, while formerly worn by all bishops and some of the
monsignori, is now only used by the seven protonotaries apostolic de numero. It is a
short, violet mantle with slits for the arms, worn over the rochet and choir cassock.
This is not used in OCAC.

MOZZETTA: The mozzetta is the short shoulder-cape worn by bishops over the choir
cassock and rochet in choir dress. It is made of the same material and color as the
cassock.

PALLIUM: The pallium is only worn by archbishops, patriarchs, and the Pope, as a
symbol of the authority of the metropolitan. It is a thin band of white wool worn
around the neck with extensions front and back. It has black crosses on it, and is
pinned to the chasuble in three places around the neck.

ROCHET: The rochet is a knee-length, white vestment worn over the choir cassock
by bishops in choir. It is often, but not necessarily, very fancy with lace and linen. It is
not interchangeable with the surplice, contrary to the belief of many bishops. It is
distinct from the surplice not in the level of decoration, but in the sleeve: the sleeve of
a rochet, like an alb, fits flush against the choir cassock; the sleeve of a surplice is
fuller, and often bell-shaped.

SIMAR The simar (or zimarra), is only worn by the ranks of the episcopate. It is the
most common dress for a bishop. It resembles a cassock in many respects, but it is not
properly a cassock, as it has in addition to it a shoulder-cape of the same material and
color. It is always black (except for the Pope), and the trim is scarlet for cardinals and
amaranth-red for bishops.

SOPRANA: The soprana is a black wool cloak worn by any cleric, but most notably
by Roman seminarians. It is rarely seen outside of Rome today. This cloak originated
in the seminaries of Rome, and used to include colored silk trim and facings, which
were specific to each seminary. This is not used in OCAC.

TRIREGNO: The triregno, or Papal tiara, is the triple crown reserved to Popes. No
Pope since Pope Paul VI (died 1978) has been crowned with it, and no Pope since
John XXIII (died 1963) has made use of it. The tiara developed from the mitre. The
three crowns are symbolic of the Pope's three-fold powers: potestas magisterii,
potestas regimini, and potestas ministerii. [Meaning: "teaching, sanctifying, and
governing."]

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Version 1 Jan 2023

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