Gospel Colors
In some denominations, pastors do their job dressed in a robe or a suit and tie. Others use more elaborate vestments, worn with reverence and steeped in the symbolism of their faith.
Often, each article of clothing reflects religious meaning. Colors also are chosen with purpose.
“The vestment of the priest helps us celebrate the gospel of the day,” said David Rehm, head of the altar society at St. Michael's the Archangel Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lyndora.
In the Greek Catholic tradition, for instance, purple is used during Lent.
The same holds true for Catholics, according to the Rev. Gerald Lutz, senior pastor at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler. And likewise for Orthodox groups, said the Rev. Joseph Wargo of St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Lyndora.
Although purple bears a similar meaning among those groups, many variations occur.
At St. Michael's, the Rev. Douglas Lorance wears white for weddings and on Sundays with no special significance. Although white also is worn at Catholic weddings, Catholics wear green during ordinary times.
“Green is used in the ordinary time of the year, signifying the hope that we have for salvation,” Lutz said.
But green carries yet another connotation at St. Andrew.
“Green represents Pentecost: The descent of the Holy Spirit among the apostles,” Wargo said.
“(It's also) the freshness of the new spring,” he added. “Usually the leaves on the trees are at their greenest at Pentecost.”
Specific items also change among churches and denominations: At Roman Catholic churches like St. Paul, priests wear a white alb, a stole and a chasuble, or outer robe.
“That comes from Latin, which means ‘a little house,'” Lutz said. “It covers the priest.”
At St. Andrew and St. Michael's, a belt and cuffs also are worn.
When tying the belt, Wargo said priests say a prayer for God to give them strength to celebrate the service.
“The cuffs represent the rope that Jesus was tied with when they took him to Pontius Pilate for the hearing,” he said.
While the items themselves are somewhat standard among Orthodox Christians, Wargo's church reflects a mix of ethnic descents.To acknowledge the mix of Serbian, Greek and Russian origins, he switches from Greek-style robes with ordinary necklines to those more common in Russia, where chilly, outdoor processions resulted in dramatic, stand-up collars to block the wind.Fabrics can range from lightweight cottons and silks to heavy, ornate metallics.Wargo said the vestments are owned by the priest or by the church, depending on the circumstances of their purchase. Costs can range between $800 and $2,000 — with the level of sophistication dependent upon budget and preference.“I still have my vestments from when I got ordained in 1973. I keep them in good shape. They were donated by my parents,” Wargo said.“When that day and time comes, I am going to request that I be buried in the vestments.”The vestments come from a variety of places, Wargo explained.“There are companies that make vestments and also vestment makers,” he said.In Wargo's case, repairs are sometimes done by skilled sewers in the parish.“We have a priest in our deanery who also makes vestments for the priests,” he added. “I'm very fortunate to take my vestments to that person (for repair).”Although some priests have access to large closets where vestments are stored on hangers, Wargo's are folded in a particular way and stored in a draftsman's file cabinet, where shallow drawers are labeled as to style and color.For Wargo, it takes about 10 minutes to vest before services, a time that includes prayer and reflection.“I would feel awkward and naked if I didn't have the vestments on for the services,” he said.“It was taught to me that these were ... sacred and holy.”Still, he stipulates that vestments are only symbols of his role in the church.“I think the change comes through the Holy Spirit,” Wargo said. “I feel it's the Holy Spirit that's doing it and not the material or the vestments.“In church, the Holy Spirit comes down to change the bread into the Body of Christ and the wine into the Blood of Christ,” he added.Despite their presence as symbols, the vestments and their colors still help trigger a mindset for worship.“I always thank God when I change the altar colors. I do feel good about it,” Wargo said.“It's nice to be in this color for this season.”
