Cassock

The cassock or soutane is a type of clothing. It is a Christian clerical coat used by the Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, it is also used by Protestants such as Anglicans and Lutherans.

Anglican priest in Cassock

Catholic bishop in Cassock

Catholic Cassock

In the Catholic Church, the cassock is an important part of the dress for priests and bishops.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The ordinary Roman cassock is black, but in tropical countries, it is often white and usually without a shoulder cape (pellegrina). The cassock has buttons down the front. Coloured piping (narrow decorative trim) and buttons are added in accordance with rank: black for priests, purple for chaplains of His Holiness; purple for bishops, protonotaries apostolic, and Honorary Prelates; and scarlet red for cardinals.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Catholic archbishop in tropical cassock

• 
  Pope
  (Often with pellegrina.
  His coat of arms is embroidered
  at the bottom of his fascia.)
• 
  Cardinal
  (Often with pellegrina.)
• 
  Bishop
  (Often with pellegrina.)
  (Also worn by Protonotaries Apostolic
  and Honorary Prelates, but without
  pellegrina and zucchetto.)
• 
  Chaplain
  of His Holiness
• 
  Priest/Deacon/
  Seminarian

Orthodox Cassock

In the Orthodox Church, the cassock is also worn by priests and monks. It is often called the riassa.^[6][7]

Orthodox clergyman in cassock

The riassa is usually black and has a simple design. There are two types of cassocks: the inner cassock, worn under vestments^[a], and the outer cassock, worn as regular clothing.^[7][9]

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox examples

• 
  Bishop
• 
  Priest with grey Zostikon, a
  Kontorasson, and a Skufia.
• 
  Priest (married)
• 
  Hieromonk (celibate Priest)
• 
  Monk
• 
  Chanter/Subdeacon/Deacon
  dressed in the Zostikon

Oriental Orthodox examples

• 
  Syriac Patriarch
• 
  Syriac Bishop
• 
  Coptic Priest
• 
  Syriac Priest
• 
  Coptic & Syriac Priest
  (monk)

Anglican Cassock

In the Anglican Church, the cassock is worn by clergy during services.^[10]

Anglican bishop in cassock

The Anglican church uses single and double-breasted cassocks. The single-breasted (one row of buttons) version is common in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, while the double-breasted (two rows of buttons) version is often worn in the evangelical part of the church. Black is the most common color for priests, readers, vergers, and server cassocks.^[10][11][12]

• 
  Bishop
• 
  Canon
  (cassock colour may vary)
• 
  Presbyter/Deacon/Layperson
  cassock colour may vary if worn
  by, for instance, a chorister

A Greek Orthodox clergyman wearing an outer cassock (exorason) and kalimavkion

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (in red cassock) and a priest (in black)

Related pages

• Bishop
• Archbishop

Notes

1. Vestment is a special type of clothing worn by clergy during religious services^[8]