Chasuble: Encyclopedia - Chasuble

Chasuble

The chasuble is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist among Western-tradition Christian churches that use full vestments, primarily the Roman Catholic Church and 'high church' congregations in the Anglican Church. In the Eastern rites, the equivalent vestment is the phelonion. The chasuble usually worn over an alb and cassock, or over a cassock-alb, and is generally made in a color determined either by the liturgical colour of the day, or by the particular service being celebrated (e.g. black, purple or white for a funeral service).

This vestment originated as a sort of poncho, with a round hole in the middle through which to pass the head, and falling to the feet. Thus, it had to be folded around the arms to allow them to be used. Strings and deacons were used to assist in this task. Over the centuries it was reduced to the shape of a broad scapular, referred to as the "fiddleback" style, which left the arms completely free at each side. Complex schemes of decoration were often used, incorporating the image of the cross or of a saint, and for major celebrations rich materials such as silk, cloth of gold or brocade were employed.

Following the Second Vatican Council, the scapular form became less common in Roman Catholic churches, with the return to widespread use of the fuller, "Roman" style used in more ancient times, along with simplification of material and design.

Category: Vestments

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Chasuble", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki