The robes, which in everyday life are called to distinguish the ministers of the churches from the laity, once in ancient times and themselves came from the clothes worn in the world. But pretty soon they acquired characteristic features so that the clergy and monasticism externally differed from other people. Over the centuries, the cut of these vestments has not changed. Today the cassock is the garment of a priest, a representative of the Church, "the kingdom is not of this world." And it is fully consistent with this concept.
Cassock and cassock
These are the two main apparel of monasticism and the clergy of all possible degrees.
Cassock - bottom vestment. It is long, to the toes, with narrow sleeves and a blank collar. In monks, he must be present, executed in black. The white clergy can vary: black, brown, navy, gray and even white (summer). The materials for the manufacture of a traditional podvodnik are also allowed different: cloth and wool, linen and satin, chesuch and silk.
The cassock is the upper broad vestment. Sleeves are long - below the palms. Clothing itself is up to the toe. Color is usually black. But other shades may be allowed: dark blue and brown, gray and cream, white. Materials for the manufacture are used the same as for the podsatnik. Lining is also often used.
The priest's robes can sometimes be made, for everyday life and convenience, as a winter or demi-season coat. Then it is done on a warm lining and can be trimmed with a collar (with fur or black velvet).
At worship
As a rule, all types of worship (excluding liturgy) are also conducted by a priest in a cassock and cassock. Special clothes - robes are put on over everyday clothes. At the liturgy, the confessor should be clothed in a cassock, on top of which is a cassock and vestments. And the deacons serve in the crib, worn over the cassock. The bishop also serves in the cassock, on which the holy vestments are worn. Some prayers are allowed, according to the charter, to serve in epitrachilum worn over a cassock or mantle. Thus, although the cassock is more of an everyday garment, it is an indispensable basis for liturgical robes.
A bit of history
In the world of both eastern and western peoples, long-sex clothing with rather narrow (or wide - as an option) sleeves was ubiquitous. So, during the earthly journey of Christ (which, according to many scholars, he himself wore this) in Judea, ordinary people put it on. Many eastern peoples still consider this dress to be national and visually resembles a monastic cassock. And for Orthodox believers, the cassock of the priest is a symbol of the robes of Christ.
Origin of the word
The word "cassock" comes from the ancient Greek adjective "raason", which means "processed, devoid of pile, wiped, worn." According to legend, it was such clothes that the monks were supposed to wear. From among the monks, the vestments also entered into the life of the clergy as a whole.
Symbol of faith
The priest's robes are a symbol of spirit and faith, a visual evidence of estrangement from worldly vanity. For any believer, peace and tranquility in the heart, spiritual stay with God is the main goal and task. But for the clergy and monasticism in particular. And the priestโs outer attire brings this spiritual state into correspondence, as if reminds of it and helps to achieve equilibrium, being a prototype of that attire in which Christ himself was dressed.
It is worth emphasizing that the black color of monastic podschits and cassocks is especially significant: in fact, this is the absence of color itself, the brightness of the color spectrum, a symbol of a real renunciation of the vanity of the world and focus on inner life and communication with the Lord.
Catholic cassock
She is a little different from the Orthodox vestments. Sutana (from the Latin word for "skirt, cassock") - clothes worn outside worship, with long sleeves and up to the heels. It has a special standing collar, where an insert called a colorata is drawn. Catholic cassock, cassock, is fastened with buttons, a number of them. And its color is determined by the hierarchy of the dignity of a particular priest. So, an ordinary minister, as a rule, has a black cassock. The bishops have purple, the cardinal has a scarlet color, the pope has a whitish color. The shape of the cassock is a bit like an orthogonal cassock.