Pectoral Cross for all?

[4givemeasinner]

Eastern Rite priests tend to wear a pectoral cross, where as Latin Rite priests tend to limit the wearing of a pectoral cross to bishops. Why? And would it be inappropriate for a Latin priest to begin wearing a pectoral cross?

 

[andy92]

I don’t know much about the Eastern Rites but in the Latin Rite, the pectoral cross is a sign of the authority of the episcopacy (Bishop). Wearing one states you are a bishop! So yes it would be very bad for a latin priest to wear one.

 

[chaldobyzantine]

Eastern Rite priests tend to wear a pectoral cross, where as Latin Rite priests tend to limit the wearing of a pectoral cross to bishops. Why? And would it be inappropriate for a Latin priest to begin wearing a pectoral cross?

In the Byzantine Russian tradition, priests wear a silver pectoral cross, archpriests and archimandrites wear a golden pectoral cross, and bishops wear an engolpion, also called a Panagia, due to it having an icon of the All-Holy Mother of God holding Christ on it.

Each church has its own traditions, I’m not so knowledgeable about Latin vestments, but I do notice that only bishops wear the pectoral cross. It might be inappropriate for a Latin priest to wear one as its not part of their tradition.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectoral_cross

God Bless.

 

[5Loaves]

Eastern Rite priests tend to wear a pectoral cross, where as Latin Rite priests tend to limit the wearing of a pectoral cross to bishops. Why? And would it be inappropriate for a Latin priest to begin wearing a pectoral cross?

The pectoral cross for priests is a Russian, maybe Slav, thing. Greek Orthodox parish priests typically do not wear pectoral crosses. Their bishops do.

Why would a Latin priest wear a pectoral cross, unless he’s serving as a bi-ritual priest?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

If memory serves me correctly, in the Greek tradition the pectoral Cross is worn only by Archimandrites (heads of monasteries) and bishops (including archbishops, metropolitans, and patriarchs). It may be worn by hieropriests (monk-priests) as well, but I’m not sure on that one.

 

[twf]

It should be noted that in the Latin Church abbots and even abbesses wear a pectoral cross - so its not strictly limited to bishops.

 

[Aramis]

The Greek Tradition makes the silver pectoral cross the sign of an archpriest. †

In most Byzantine Traditions, a decorated pectoral cross (Jeweled and/or enameled) is an award for exemplary service. There are historical photos of exquisite enameled crosses within the Slavic Tradition, not all are jeweled.

Note that a second cross may be awarded to a priest entitled to wear one as a reward.

Note that the Russian tradition has a bunch of rewards, and the gold cross is before Archpriest; just because he has the gold cross doesn’t mean he’s an archpriest. ‡
Likewise, there are historical examples of decorated silver crosses for priests who were not archpriests, but the decorated gold pectoral cross is usually indicative of longstanding service as an archpriest.

† orthodoxwiki.org/Archpriest
‡ orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards