To the Kilted Clergy of the group

[Clockwork John]

Regarding the original question - performing any liturgical act requires the standard liturgical garments:

for an Orthodox priest (which I am) cassock, Rhiasa (with the big sleeves) in black, with pectoral cross,

and the appropriate vestment for the service, and, its not optional.

Father, which jurisdiction do you belong to?

[Galician]

Not in my experience. Every Roman Catholic clergyman I've ever met wore the same exact vestments for Advent and Lent. Those things are expensive, after all!

Seriously, I've never heard of different shades of purple being used for these two liturgical season. The same color is prescribed for Advent and Lent in the current liturgical rubrics, and I don't see any evidence for this being a change from past practice. M

I understand that they are expensive!! That is why I said that they often are, not always, or even usually.

I also agree that the rubrics call simply for purple, but I have been involved in ordering liturgical items for thirty years, and the catalogs have always listed the two shades. So SOMEBODY must be ordering them.

It's important to remember that our norms are not just what is commonly done here, but based on an international practice. I have seen how Italian and German pastors wear the shoulder cape, which is an item NEVER seen in this country for the general clergy.

[Prester John]

Father, which jurisdiction do you belong to?

I am a priest currently serving the Orthodox Church in America, but may be going on loan very shortly, as my availability is making some noise right now.

I currently work a secular position as Executive Director of the Helen Foundation in Mesa, AZ. (helenfoundation.org)

[Clockwork John]

I am a priest currently serving the Orthodox Church in America, but may be going on loan very shortly, as my availability is making some noise right now.

I currently work a secular position as Executive Director of the Helen Foundation in Mesa, AZ. (helenfoundation.org)

Very cool. I belong to an Antiochian parish. The priest who baptised me was recently appointed head of finance for the OCA.

[andyfg]

To the original question: vestments for the wedding and kilt for the reception.

[Coemgen]

Regarding the original question - performing any liturgical act requires the standard liturgical garments:

for an Orthodox priest (which I am) cassock, Rhiasa (with the big sleeves) in black, with pectoral cross,

and the appropriate vestment for the service, and, its not optional.

Father, I know that it's traditional to wear vestments in certain colors during particular seasons (purple in Lent, gold on Sundays and feast days, etc.), but I had been under the impression that the assignment of particular colors was a modern (i.e. less than a thousand years ago) invention - my copies of the Triodion and Menaion say to wear "dark" and "light" or "bright" vestments.

[Prester John]

Father, I know that it's traditional to wear vestments in certain colors during particular seasons (purple in Lent, gold on Sundays and feast days, etc.), but I had been under the impression that the assignment of particular colors was a modern (i.e. less than a thousand years ago) invention - my copies of the Triodion and Menaion say to wear "dark" and "light" or "bright" vestments.

Generally, it was originally best, second best, ordinary and black (for Good Friday). Eventually that became "bright" "light" and "dark" based on whether you celebrated a feast or a fast.

Various specific colors are actually what is called "Cathedral practice." Each Cathedral eventually had a tradition of using specific colors during specific season, particularly in the West.

The two dominant color themes became the Church of Rome - generally accepted by all western liturgical churches now (primarily green throughout the year) and the Church in Salisbury (primarily red throughout the year). In Constantinople, gold was the ordinary color.

One of the oddities of this (I mean the shame of it) is that another name for Pentecost is Whitsunday - obviously meaning "White Sunday." Sadly, almost everyone wears Red (for the tongues of flame), and the Orthodox wear Green (the color of Life)!

When St. John of Krondstadt was once asked why he wore red most of the year, he responded:

"We like red!"

[Coemgen]

When St. John of Krondstadt was once asked why he wore red most of the year, he responded:

"We like red!"

I need to tell my priest that! He loves wearing his blue vestments, but rarely gets a chance.

[Prester John]

If you like blue, go with blue!

After all, why not!

Some places in Russia and Alaska wear red at Pascha (Easter) because it is bright in the bleak winter. Makes sense to me.

[Ozman1944]

As an 'Aside';
Panache's infamous 'pink' kilt is really Roman Purple. Vestments are actually 'listed as Violet' for Lent & Advent. The 'Maroon'/Fuschia' color of Bishops is called 'Roman Purple' and matches the color reserved for Caesar and his slaves in ancient Rome.
Orthodoxy has no standard official 'Color scheme' it's a Roman custom.
Blue is often worn in Catholic Spain for Virgin Mary feasts.