To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other ministers wear vestments. The clergy may also wear cassock and surplice. Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders. The deacon's corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic.
Bishops sometimes wear a special headcovering called a mitre.
Stoles, chasubles, and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their color changes with the seasons and holy days of the Church Year. In recognition of the important events in the life of our Lord, his saints, and his church. We recognize the coming of Christ in Advent, Christ's birth in Christmas, Christ's manifestation to the gentiles in Epiphany, our repentance and Christ's suffering and death in Lent, Christ's resurrection in Easter, Christ's ascension into heaven at Ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost, and the spreading of Christ's kingdom in the time after Pentecost. In addition we recognize individual outstanding Christians of the past and hold them up as examples on the various saints' days of the church calendar.