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Stole
A long narrow strip of material that is the distinctive vestment and insignia of the clergy. Its use may be derived from the ancient practice of wearing a ceremonial garland at a festival and from use as an insignia of rank by Roman officials such as senators and consuls. It is typically worn with other vestments. Its color usually reflects the liturgical color of the day. It may match the design and material of other vestments and altar hangings, and it may be decorated. It is worn over an alb or surplice, and may be worn under or over a chasuble or dalmatic. An underlay stole is a stole worn under a chasuble or dalmatic, and an overlay stole is a stole worn over a chasuble or dalmatic. Bishops and priests wear the stole around the back of the neck, with equal ends hanging down in front. Some priests cross the ends of the stole in the front. If a cincture is worn, the ends of the stole are usually placed through it. Deacons wear the stole over the left shoulder, with the ends of the stole falling diagonally across the front and back of the body. The deacon's stole is tied near the right hip. Historically, the deacon's stole simply hung over the left shoulder, with the ends of the stole hanging down in front and back. In the east, and occasionally in the west, the deacon's stole may be worn under the right arm, with the ends of the stole crossing over the left shoulder and hanging down in the front and back. Stoles are not worn by candidates for ordination. The BCP calls for newly ordained priests and deacons to be vested according to their order after ordination (pp. 534, 545). The stole, worn according to the new order, or other insignia of office, is placed on newly ordained priests and deacons after the entire prayer of consecration is completed and before presentation of the Bible (BCP, p. 553-554). The BCP form for Celebration of a New Ministry calls for a stole or other symbol to be presented to the new minister at the Induction (p. 561).
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Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from "An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians," Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.
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