HABITS AND UNIFORMS OF THE PATRIARCHAL CURIA AND PONTIFICAL COURT


General Definitions:

Cappa Magna: A large cape with train and a fur hood (winter) or silk hood (summer). Worn by bishops and canons.

Mozzetta: An elbow-length shoulder cape. Worn by bishops and certain other officials.

Mantelletta: A sleeveless knee-length garment closed at the neck and open in the front with two large lapels. Worn by canons.

Mantellone: A sleeveless full-length garment closed at the neck and open in the front with two large lapels. 

Toga: A mid-calf garment with full-length sleeves, usually worn open in the front. In addition to their use here, clergy of the Imperial Roman Church may wear the toga appropriate to their grade with house dress in place of a ferraiolo.



The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia
(shown in choir habit)


(audience habit)
The public habit is identical, without the mozzetta.
The toga has on its front chest a miniature stylized stole in plain green ribbon.
The colour green represents the tree of the Cross, and the stole overall
represents the pastoral responsibility and authority of the Archfather.


Governor-General, Arch-Chancellor, and Cardinals
(gold tassel and watered silk for Cardinals)
Scarlet cassock with rochet, with either cappa magna (shown)
or mozzetta over a mantelletta.


Prefect-General and Senator of Florence (Lay or Clerical)
Scarlet cassock and fascia with gold bullion tassels, yellow mantellone (gold damask), and ermine mozzetta with red band.
A clerical Prefect-General wears his biretta according to rank. A lay Prefect-General wears
a wide-brimmed black velvet cap with gold bullion tassel.
Prelates entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions.


Prefects of the Patriarchal Curia (Lay or Clerical)
Violet cassock and scarlet mantellone.
A clerical Prefect wears his biretta according to rank. A lay Prefect wears
a wide-brimmed black velvet cap with gold bullion tassel.
Prelates entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions.


Canons, Titular Bishops, and Titular Archbishops of the Patriarchal Chapter
Violet cassock with red cuffs and trimming, rochet, violet mantelletta, and purple or red shoes.
 The First Archdeacon as well as Electoral Clerics other than the Electoral Bishops of the
specific Electorate of the Pontifical Imperial State, use a red habit, with gold tassel on the fascia
.
Pectoral cross on a cord according to rank. Royal blue zucchetto and
biretta (by the Decretal "In Honour and Recognition" of 17 March 2021).
Purple zucchetto and biretta for titular bishops of the chapter.


Auditors of the Florentine Rota
Violet cassock, scarlet mantellone, and ermine mozzetta with red band.
Prelates entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions.


Patriarchal Chamberlains
(shown carrying the patriarchal flabellum)
Violet cassock and violet mantellone with black biretta and zucchetto.


Patriarchal Chamberlains of Honour and Lay Officers of the Nobile Anticamera Segreta
Scarlet toga worn over court dress. It is worn with a wide-brimmed black velvet cap with gold bullion tassel.
(If worn while serving at liturgy, the cassock is likewise violet, as shown here.)


Nobles (Lay and Clerical) of the Anticamera
(below the rank of Chamberlain),
and the Chaplains in Minsiterial Service,
Violet toga worn over court dress. (See Private Chaplains below for example of toga.)
(If worn while serving at the altar during liturgy, the cassock is likewise violet.)


Private Chaplains and Private Chaplains of Honour of H.H.
Violet cassock and toga.


Chamberlains of Honour and Nobles of the Patriarchate (civic dress)


Patriarchal Grooms (church habit)
Scarlet cassock (Roman purple cuffs and trimming) with scarlet mantellone.


Civil Uniform of the Patriarchal Grooms
Scarlet uniform of the Nobles of the Anticamera with red trousers.


Bussolante (Usher)
Violet cassock with scarlet toga, with scarlet cappuccio. 


Cursori Patriarcali (Patriarchal Cursors)
Violet toga worn over court dress. (See Private Chaplains above for example of toga.)
(If worn while serving at the altar during liturgy, the cassock is likewise violet.)


Scopatori Segreti (Private Attendants)
Black toga, with elbow-length sleeves, with violet cassock..

Civil Uniform of the Lay Private Chaplains of HHE & the Chief Usher
(Shown: Patriarchal Cursor)
Black tailcoat with red collar, cuffs, and buttons, black trousers.


Officials of the Stephenian Curia (Lay or Clerical)
Black cassock with violet mantellone. Prelates entitled to a cassock of higher rank make use of it.
Prelates entitled to the rochet wear it at liturgical functions.


Civil Uniform of the Scopatori Segreti (Private Attendants),
Assistants of the Anticamera, and Facchini (Porters)
(Shown: Facchino)
Black tailcoat with red collar, cuffs, and buttons, red trousers.


Service Uniform

The service uniform is black with black trousers, gold buttons, 4 inch red cuffs, red collar, and red waistcoat with gold buttons. The tie is black, four-in-hand, or else for black-tie evening use, a black bow tie. The Nobles of the Anticamera add two stripes of one-half inch wide gold lace on the cuffs, evenly spaced. Those entitled to the diplomatic uniform instead have one stripe of oak leaves centred on the cuff. The Nobles of the Anticamera and those entitled to the diplomatic uniform use black trousers with gold lace.

Diplomatic Uniform

The diplomatic uniform is identical to that of the Nobles of the Anticamera with the following modifications:
1.On the cuffs, instead of the regular gold lace, are two rows of gold oak leaves.
2.On the lapels all one layer of gold oak leaves.
3.The collar is edged with ½ inch wide gold lace.

The diplomatic uniform is authorised for the following officials:
1. The Prefect-General and Senator of Florence
2.Lay Prefects
3.Pontifical Nunzios
4.Pontifical Delegates

Roman-Ruthenian Household Uniform

Authorised for the Grand Dukes of Rome. 

     The regular version is identical to the service uniform, except that the collar and cuffs are royal blue, and there is no gold lace. For laity, there are four gold buttons on the cuff, and a gold button at the base of the lapels. For clergy, there are five buttons on each cuff, as well as one on each side at the base of the lapel. Those buttons are in black, purple, or red according to the buttons used on the waistcoat. The black trousers are without gold lace. Clergy wear the black clerical waistcoat. Prelates of all grades use the black clerical waistcoat with red or purple piping and buttons according to grade. For the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia, the waistcoat is black with red piping, but white buttons. Clergy may equally use the standard form of the uniform, however, with the cloth buttons on the jacket as usual and matching cloth but-tons on the red waistcoat - black in general, Roman purple for bishops and other prelates so entitled, scarlet for cardinals and other prelates so entitled, and white for the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia.  

     The full dress version is idential to the service version, except that a black tailcoat with royal blue collar and cuffs is used, with cuff but-tons identical to those of the regular jacket. Also, three buttons of the same style as used with the regular jacket are placed along the inside edge of the coat under the lapels, and two on the back as usual. No other buttons are used. The waistcoat is the same as used for the regular uniform. Clergy may equally use the standard form of the uniform, however, with the cloth buttons on the jacket as usual, but the buttons on the white three-button waistcoat are always white. 

 

 

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