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.
 Catholic Cassock  
In the Catholic Church, the cassock is an important part of the dress for priests and bishops.

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.thumb|Catholic archbishop in tropical cassock

 Orthodox Cassock  
In the Orthodox Church, the cassock is also worn by priests and monks. It is often called the riassa.


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

 Eastern Catholic and Orthodox examples 

 Oriental Orthodox examples 

 Anglican Cassock  
In the Anglican Church, the cassock is worn by clergy during services.


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

 Related pages 
 Bishop
 Archbishop

 Notes 

 References 

Category:Christian clothing