The priestly stole is a liturgical garment traditionally worn by priests and bishops, made of silk or linen and decorated with crosses. The colors of the stoles are dictated by the time of year and occasion. Stoles are also worn by women as head or shoulder coverings and have been in fashion since ancient Rome.
Traditionally worn by priests and bishops, the robbed priest is a liturgical garment that customarily indicates the wearer’s office or order. A priestly stole is a type of shawl or scarf, with a width of 2 to 4 inches (5.08 to 10.16 cm) and a length of 7 to 9 feet (2.133 to 2.743 m). The stole is most commonly decorated with crosses placed in tandem, facing each other. Additionally, some denominations add ornamental fringe to both ends of the priest’s stole.
The fabric originally used to create a conventional priest’s stole was silk or linen. The fabric was tightly woven and often heavily starched to create a more substantial appearance. An interface was also often added to further reduce wrinkles. Today, several different types of fabrics are used when making this liturgical garment.
The colors of the stoles are traditionally dictated by the time of year they are worn, and whether they are to be worn to celebrate a holiday. The priests’ stoles used to celebrate Christmas and Easter are made from a white cloth. The red cloth is chosen for those to be worn on Good Friday and Palm Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. Violet is used for Lent and Advent, and black, not violet or purple as many would assume, is selected in case the wearer is presiding at a funeral or mass.
Although most often worn by men, scarves, wraps, or stoles are also worn by women as head and/or shoulder coverings during liturgical services. Those worn by women tend to be made of a thinner material than those worn by men, and are more often worn to cover the head rather than just the shoulders. A light silk or sheer linen, chiffon, or pashmina is often used. While white is a common color of choice, these types of stoles come in a wide variety of hues and patterns. The length and width of these stoles also vary greatly.
In addition to being worn as a liturgical garment, stoles have been in fashion for a long time, dating back to ancient Rome. Worn by both men and women, stoles are worn not just as a fashion accessory but for the purpose of providing an extra layer, for added warmth. The traditional priest’s stole shape is often used as a basic pattern shape for many fashionable stoles, scarves and wraps.
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