What does an altar server wear?
Servers often wear cassock and surplice, with black and red being the most common colors for a server’s cassock.
What is cassock and surplice?
surplice in American English 1. a loose-fitting, broad-sleeved white vestment, worn over the cassock by clergy and choristers. 2. a garment in which the two halves of the front cross diagonally.
How should a cassock and surplice fit?
While cassocks come in odd and even sizes, surplices only come in even sizes. If the cassock you are purchasing is an even size, get the matching size in a surplice. If the cassock is an odd size, choose the next size up for the surplice.
Do altar servers wear vestments?
Altar servers are an extension of the clergy and expected to act and dress appropriately. Plain, light colored shirts (or dresses) with no bold prints, stripes, or wording that may show through the altar server robe should be worn.
Why do some altar servers wear red cassocks?
As the color of blood, it is also used as a symbol for commemorating Christ’s passion. It is therefore also a color used in homage to martyrdom, and red vestments are occasionally worn for the Feast days of Martyrs. Red vestments are also reserved for Palm Sunday, Pentecost, and the Feast of the Lord’s Passion.
Who can wear a surplice?
surplice, white outer vestment worn by clergymen, acolytes, choristers, or other participants in Roman Catholic and in Anglican, Lutheran, and other Protestant religious services. It is a loose garment, usually with full sleeves.
What does the surplice symbolize?
We touched on this above, but in general terms, the surplice is meant to symbolize the purity of the ritual of baptism. Babies wear white coverings themselves during the ceremony, and it’s fitting that it’s white – see our blog above on color symbolism for more information.
What does the cassock symbolize?
Roman Catholic cassocks, for example, are often outfitted with thirty-three buttons down the front, to symbolize the number of years in Jesus’ life. An Anglican cassock, which is often called a “sarum,” is often double breasted.
Can altar servers wear alb?
The Alb. The long linen gown worn by Altar Servers is called the alb, meaning simply the white garment… It is a survival of the white Roman toga. Its white color denotes the necessity of purity, both of soul and body, in him who offers the Lamb of God to the Father.
Who wears purple cassock?
Bishops
Bishops and Archbishops often wear purple cassocks. This has been practise since the 19th century.
Can anyone wear a cassock?
The vest has its origins in the outer cassock and therefore should be worn only by clergy and monastics who would, in formal or liturgical settings, wear the outer cassock.
What surplice means?
Definition of surplice (Entry 1 of 2) : a loose white outer ecclesiastical vestment usually of knee length with large open sleeves.
Who wears an alb and surplice?
The surplice is meant to be a miniature alb, the alb itself being the symbol of the white garment received at Baptism. As such, it is appropriately worn by any cleric, by lectors and acolytes, or indeed by altar servers who are technically standing in for instituted acolytes for any liturgical service.
What does red cassock mean?
Lighter colours, such as white are used in tropical countries and some cathedrals have colours specific for their location. Piping is also used in the Anglican church to indicate position held with red being used for Deans, Archdeacons and Cathedral Canons. Bishops and Archbishops often wear purple cassocks.