Stole

Stole (Gr. stolē, Lat. stola, 'a robe'), a narrow vestment, of the same stuff as the chasuble, worn by bishops and priests in the Latin Church during mass, in the administration of sacraments, and in certain blessings, and by deacons when they have to move the blessed sacrament. In some places it is worn while preaching. Bishops wear it over both shoulders: so also do priests, but crossed over the breast; deacons wear it over the left shoulder. It is also used in some cases as a symbol of jurisdiction, in which sense it is constantly worn by the pope, even when not officiating. In the Anglican Church the stole is worn with the same difference by priests (but not crossed) and deacons. It is usually of black silk, fringed at the ends, with sometimes crosses embroidered; but coloured stoles, according to the season, are also worn in some churches. In the Greek Church the stole proper is peculiar to deacons; among Syrian Christians it is worn by clerics of all (even minor) orders. The stole originated in the orarium or handkerchief, which was sometimes worn as a scarf, and which in the 6th and 7th centuries came to be recognised as a sacred vestment in the Western Church. The name stole began to be substituted by the 9th, and was the common word before the 12th century. See illustrations at CHASUBLE and COPE. Stole-fees are the same as surplice-fees (see SURPLICE). The broad scarf is worn by chaplains to any member of the royal family, or to any peer or peeress, doctors in divinity, and capitular members of a collegiate church.