SACRED VESTMENTS. – These are the garments worn by the sacred ministers during liturgical functions.
To render divine worship more solemn and to show greater reverence to God, the Church has decreed that special sacred vestments be used during sacred functions. These vestments were not derived from those used in the worship of the Old Testament, nor from those of the pagan cults of classical antiquity, but were chosen from among those worn in civil life (excluding those of a military character) in the Roman world by the more serious and distinguished classes. The clergy wore a long white tunic (v.), called a *talare*, over which the higher clergy wore the chasuble or *casula* (v.), a sleeveless garment that covered the entire body. By the 6th century, the dalmatic (v.) was already in use and soon became the distinctive outer garment of deacons. Other vestments and ornaments were gradually introduced into liturgical use. This practice remained consistent even in the face of the adoption of more or less scanty garments that came with the barbarian invasions; the Church remained faithful to the ancient usage of the upper classes. Apart from the rochet (v.), which is not considered a sacred vestment, there is the surplice, whose name *superpellicem* indicates its purpose: it was a loose white linen garment worn by lower clergy over their everyday attire (cardinals and bishops wear it over the rochet when they don the cope).
The lower or under-liturgical vestments in the Latin rite today are: the amice, the alb or *camice* with the cincture; the upper vestments are: the chasuble, worn by the celebrant at Mass; the dalmatic and tunicle for the sacred ministers; and the cope for services outside of Mass. Among the major liturgical insignia are: the maniple, worn by all higher clergy including the bishop; the stole, worn by the deacon (across the chest), the priest, and the bishop; the pallium for the metropolitan archbishop and the Pope; and the *rationale*, worn over the chasuble only by five bishops in Germany, France, and Poland. Pontifical insignia include: the mitre, the crozier, the ring, and the pectoral cross. Other episcopal accessories are gloves, sandals, and buskins. The Pope wears the *faldetta*, a wide undergarment that covers the person from the waist down to beyond the feet; the *fanone*, worn over the chasuble, with white and gold stripes; and the *succintorium*, attached to the right side of the cincture (see the respective entries).
VESZPRÉM. – Two Apostles. A 13th-century fresco in a chapel of the Cathedral of Veszprém.