Cope

This page is about religious garments. For the evolutionary principle, see Cope's law and for its originator see Edward Drinker Cope)

a priest wearing a cope

The cope is a liturgical vestment, which may be of any liturgical colour, and is like a very long mantle or cloak, fastened at the breast by a clasp.

A cope may be worn by any rank of the clergy. If worn by a bishop it should be accompanied by a Mitre. The often highly ornamented clasp is called a morse.

Use of the Cope in the Roman Catholic Church

It is generally worn by the Officiant at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, at Vespers and at the Asperges at the end of a funeral service. Its use is generally prescribed for processions, and at any solemn ceremony at which the chasuble is not worn. In the Sarum Rite, the Cope was also prescribed for members of the choir at various times.

Use of the Cope in the Church of England & Anglican Communion

An Anglican priest wearing a cope over cassock, surplice and stole.

In the Church of England, and in the Anglican Communion as a whole, the cope is worn by High Church Anglicans in the same manner as that of the Roman Catholic Church. In the Broad Church (rarely in the Low Church), the cope is worn by bishops and other prelates, usually over a cassock and either a surplice or rochet, in place of the chasuble for services of Holy Communion. In the Church of England itself, the cope is worn by the Archbishop of Canterbury and all other members of the Lords Spiritual during the coronation of the Soverign.

Use in other Protestant denominations

The cope is usually worn only for processions and Services of the Divine Office (morning & evening prayers) in most Lutheran denominations. In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is similar to the Anglican Communion and the Scandinavian Lutheran churches, the cope is usually worn by the bishop when not serving as the presiding minister for Holy Communion services. It is rarely worn by clerics in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or other German-based Lutheran denominations.