What Is an Embroidered Liturgical Stole?
An embroidered liturgical stole is a long, narrow band of fabric worn around the neck by ordained ministers — priests, deacons, and bishops — during liturgical celebrations. It is one of the oldest liturgical vestments and the primary symbol of ordained ministry, which is why it most clearly identifies someone as a priest or deacon. The stole represents the yoke of Christ and the authority of Holy Orders. When a priest puts it on, he prays: "Restore to me, O Lord, the stole of immortality which I lost through the deceit of our first parents."
Priests wear the stole hanging straight down in front, crossed or uncrossed over the chest depending on the occasion. Deacons wear it diagonally across the body, from the left shoulder to the right hip. Bishops wear it uncrossed, hanging straight down. Embroidered stoles add beauty and solemnity to the liturgy — the decorative embroidery, often featuring crosses, IHS or XP monograms, wheat and grapes, or other liturgical symbols, elevates the stole from a simple vestment into a work of sacred art.
What Types of Embroidered Liturgical Stoles Are Available?
Our embroidered liturgical stoles come in several options for priests and deacons:
Priest stoles — worn straight down, typically about 2.5–3 inches wide and around 8 feet long. These are the standard stole for priest celebrants at Mass and other sacramental celebrations.
Deacon stoles — designed to be worn diagonally across the chest. They are the same length as priest stoles but sometimes slightly narrower. Deacons wear the stole over the left shoulder and secure it at the right hip.
Seasonal stoles — stoles in specific liturgical colors (white, red, green, violet, black, rose) for different times of the church year. Many priests and deacons own multiple stoles to match the liturgical calendar.
Embroidered stoles — feature decorative embroidery on the front and back panels, often with orphrey bands running the length of the stole. The embroidery may include crosses, IHS or XP monograms, wheat and grapes, or other Eucharistic and liturgical symbols.
How the Stole Is Worn With Other Vestments
The stole is never worn alone over everyday clothing. It is worn over an alb (the long white tunic) or a surplice, and under the chasuble at Mass. Over the alb, a priest may also wear a cincture (the cord belt) to gather the alb at the waist. For sacraments celebrated outside Mass — baptism, confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation), anointing of the sick, and Holy Communion brought to the sick — a priest may wear a stole over an alb or surplice without a chasuble. Deacons wear the stole over the alb but never under a chasuble. A priest's stole is also worn when giving a blessing with the Blessed Sacrament, and when carrying the Eucharist in procession.
The stole and the pallium. The pallium is a distinct vestment: a white woolen band worn over the shoulders by archbishops and the Pope as a symbol of their office and of unity with the Apostolic See. It is not a stole and is never embroidered in the way a stole is, but it is worn in the same region of the body — which is why the two are sometimes confused. A bishop or archbishop wears the pallium over the chasuble; a priest wears the stole under the chasuble.
What Liturgical Colors Are Available?
Embroidered stoles are available in all liturgical colors: white, gold, red, green, violet (purple), black, and rose. The color changes with the liturgical season, just like the chasuble. Many priests and deacons own at least one stole in each of the four main colors (white, red, green, violet) and add black and rose as budget allows.
Green is the most common color because Ordinary Time makes up the bulk of the year (about 33–34 weeks) — it symbolizes hope, growth, and the ongoing life of the Church. Violet is worn during Advent and Lent, the two great penitential seasons, and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and funerals. White and gold are used for the most joyful celebrations: Christmas, Easter, the feasts of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the non-martyr saints. Red is worn on Pentecost, Good Friday, and the feasts of apostles and martyrs. Black is customary at funerals in many parishes. Rose appears on only two Sundays: Gaudete (Third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare (Fourth Sunday of Lent). For a complete walkthrough of the liturgical calendar, see our guide to stole colors by liturgical season.
The stole in the sacraments. The stole marks the sacrament being celebrated: a priest uses a white or violet stole for confession, a white stole for baptism and marriage, and a violet stole for the anointing of the sick. This is why most priests keep stoles in several colors ready for any occasion.
How Do I Choose the Right Embroidered Stole?
- Match your chasuble. If you have embroidered chasubles, get matching stoles for a unified look. Many churches buy chasuble and stole sets.
- Check the embroidery. Look for secure stitching that will not unravel after repeated use and cleaning. Quality embroidery will last for years.
- Consider the fabric. Silk stoles look elegant but need dry cleaning. Polyester blends are more durable and easier to care for. Wool blends are warm and traditional.
- Think about length. Make sure the stole is long enough to hang properly over your chasuble. Standard length is about 8 feet.
- Consider the width. Standard width is 2.5–3 inches. Wider stoles are more visible but may feel heavier.
| Type | Width | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard priest stole | 2.5–3 inches | Daily Mass, regular use | $38–$90 |
| Embroidered stole | 3 inches | Sunday Mass, solemnities | $90–$160 |
| Deacon stole | 2.5–3 inches | Deacon ministry | $70–$135 |
How Do You Care for an Embroidered Stole?
Stoles are relatively easy to maintain. Store them flat or rolled — do not hang them by one end, as this can stretch the fabric. For cleaning, check the care label. Most embroidered stoles should be dry cleaned. If you are traveling, roll the stole in a garment bag to prevent creasing and protect the embroidery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stoles
Can a priest wear just a stole without a chasuble?
For sacraments outside of Mass (like baptisms or confessions), a priest may wear just a stole over a surplice or alb. But for Mass, the stole is worn under the chasuble.
How many stoles does a priest need?
At minimum, one stole in each of the four main liturgical colors. Many priests have multiple stoles — a simple one for daily Mass and an embroidered one for Sundays.
What is a priest's stole called?
It is simply called a stole (in Latin, stola). The name comes from the Latin stola, a long garment; the liturgical stole is worn by priests, deacons, and bishops as a sign of ordained ministry.
Why does a priest kiss his stole?
Kissing the stole is a sign of reverence for the vestment and, through it, for the priesthood and the sacramental ministry it represents. A priest kisses the cross on the stole when he puts it on and when he takes it off — the same way he kisses the altar and the Gospel book.
Does a priest need a stole for confession?
Yes. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest wears a stole — violet (or white) — because the stole is the sign of the priest's authority to absolve sins. The confessional stole is normally kept in the confessional.
Can a deacon wear a priest's stole?
A deacon wears a deacon stole diagonally across the body, not a priest stole straight down. The two are cut and worn differently, so a deacon uses the diagonal deacon stole. See our deacon stoles for the correct style.
What colors do stoles come in?
Stoles come in every liturgical color: white, gold, red, green, violet (purple), black, and rose. Priests and deacons keep several colors on hand to match the liturgical calendar and the sacrament being celebrated.
Browse Our Stole Collection
View our embroidered chasubles to match, explore the full guide to stole colors by liturgical season, and see our deacon stoles and Roman stoles. Find the stole that fits your ministry.
Related Reading
Many of our copes include a matching inner stole; see the cope collection for sets and color matches.
Related: Our stoles are made to match our Marian chasubles — 92 designs from $139.
Matching stoles for the Latin Mass: every Roman chasuble in our collection includes or offers a matching stole.
Marian stoles: for the feasts and devotions of Our Lady, see our Marian stoles — 29 embroidered designs with the Immaculate Heart, Our Lady of Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Częstochowa, and Perpetual Help, from $96.
