Definition

1. Noun:
   • A garment worn by clergy or other participants in religious ceremonies within a Christian church context: An "ecclesiastical robe" is a specific type of attire designed for and appropriate to church services, rituals, or official clerical duties. It signifies the wearer's religious role or function.

Usage

• The term is used to describe the formal, often ceremonial, vestments worn during worship or official church functions.
• It distinguishes religious attire from everyday or secular clothing.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The bishop donned his elaborate ecclesiastical robe for the Easter service.
  • The choir members wore simple white ecclesiastical robes.
  • Different orders and denominations have specific traditions regarding their ecclesiastical robes.

Advanced Usage

• "In full ecclesiastical robes": Wearing the complete set of official vestments.
  • The procession entered the cathedral, with the clergy in full ecclesiastical robes.

Variants and Related Words

• Ecclesiastical vestment: A more formal term often used interchangeably with "ecclesiastical robe," though "vestment" can refer to a specific item within the full set of robes.
• Cassock: A type of ecclesiastical robe, a long, close-fitting garment worn by clergy.
• Surplice: A white liturgical ecclesiastical robe worn over a cassock.
• Chasuble: The outermost ecclesiastical robe worn by clergy celebrating the Eucharist.

Synonyms

• Liturgical vestment: Attire prescribed for use in liturgy.
• Clerical robe: Garment worn by members of the clergy.
• Church vestment: General term for official church attire.

Antonyms

• Secular attire: Everyday, non-religious clothing.
• Lay clothing: The ordinary clothes worn by people not holding a specific religious office.

Related Phrases

• To robe / to be robed: To put on or to be wearing an ecclesiastical robe.
  • The priests robed in the sacristy before the ceremony.
• Vestments of office: The robes symbolizing a particular ecclesiastical position.

Noun

1. attire that is appropriate to wear in a church