www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall On Priests and Cassocks

MMD, you are correct. Most of the diocesan RC norms for "permanent" deacons call for shirt and tie when representing their diocese outside of a liturgical service which calls for them to be vested.

The norms for Orthodox and Greek Catholic vary between eparchies. The liturgical norms are generally specific, but outside of liturgical services again the "dress code" is subject to the desire of the bishop.

I believe the deacons in Atlanta cut an upside down V in the bottom of their collar. That tells everyone they are a deacon.

Here is an example of the collar that you described, worn not by a deacon but by an RC LaSalle Christian Brother (may he rest in peace):

http://www.cbmidwest.org/cbmid.nsf/pages/96C18DCC5833B3DF86256E2E005D05B8

Eleison me, O Theos!
Dear Alice,

Take heart. A few Greek-Catholic priests of my acquaintance went to Brookline for a conference about something or other, some ten years ago, and were absolutely appalled to realize after a day or to by the realization that the Greek Orthodox clergy took it for granted that the women accompanying the Greek-Catholic clergy were, ah, "girl-friends". Finally, someone who knew people on both sides of what was rapidly becoming a highly ugly situation successfully urged the Greek Orthodox clergy to apologize, quickly, before things got any further out of hand.


One reason may have been that the Greek Orthodox clergy were all dressed like Protestant ministers, while the Greek-Catholic clergy were all dressed like priests.

Incognitus