A surplice is a liturgical vestment of Western Christianity. The surplice is in the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton fabric, reaching to the knees, with wide or moderately wide sleeves.
Seminarian vested in a pleated Roman-style surplice with lace inserts, holding a thurible.
An Anglican priest wearing a black cassock, white English-style surplice, academic hood, and black tippet as his choir dress.
The Death of St. Bede, the monastic clergy are wearing surplices over their cowls (original painting at St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw).
portrait of abbess Joanna van Doorselaer de ten Ryen, in choir dress. Waasmunster Roosenberg Abbey.
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially by Eastern Churches, Catholics, Lutherans, and Anglicans. Many other groups also make use of liturgical garments; among the Reformed (Calvinist) Churches this was a point of controversy in the Protestant Reformation and sometimes since, in particular during the ritualist controversies in the Church of England in the 19th century.
Clergy of various ranks in vestments at a Mass according to the Neo-Gallican Rite of Versailles Elevation of the chalice.
Illustration of liturgical garments from Acta Eruditorum, 1713
Ornate vestments which are used by the Catholic clergy: A chasuble, dalmatic, cope, and a biretta
Gold-embroidered epitrachilion (stole) dating from 1600, in the Benaki Museum, Athens
