In the following chapter we shall submit the truth of this theory to a test. If the genesis of ecclesiastical vestments actually took place in some such manner as this, then the vestments as we find them described in the earliest writers ought to bear conspicuous points of resemblance to the civil costume of the Roman people during the first three Christian centuries. We shall now inquire whether this be so.
[1] Mishneh Torah, VIII, section de vasis sanctuar., viii 19, where some other particulars are to be found regarding the textures of which the Jewish vestments were made, etc.
[2] Ὑπὲρ δὲ τῆς κεφάλης φορεῖ πῖλον ἄκωνον, οὐ διϊκνούμενον εἰς πᾶσαν ἀυτὴν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὀλίγον, ὑπερβεβήκοτα μέσης· καλεῖται μὲν μεσναεμφθής. τῇ δὲ κατασκευῇ τοιοῦτός ἐστιν ὡς στεφάνη δοκεῖν, ἐξ ὑφάσματος, λινέου ταινία πεποιημένη παχεῖα, καὶ γὰρ ἐπιπτυσσόμενον ῥάπτεται πολλάκις. ἔπειτα σινδὼν ἄνωθεν ἀυτὸν ἐκπεριέρχεται διήκουσα μέχρι μετώπου, τήν τε ῥαφὴν της ταινίας καὶ τὸ ἀπ᾽ ἀυτῆς ἀπρεπὲς καλύπτουσα—Translation from Whiston.
[3] Ὑφανθεὶς ἐπὶ βάθος πηχυαῖον ἔκ τε χρωμάτων παντοίων καὶ χρυσοῦ συμπεποικιλμένου, ... χειρίσι τε ἠσκημένος, καὶ τῷ παντὶ σχήματι χιτῶν εἶναι πεποιημένος.
[4] Ὑπὲρ αὐτὸν δὲ συνεῤῥαμμένος ἕtερος ἐξ ὑακίνθου πεποικιλμένος, περιέρχεται δὲ στέφανος χρύσεος ἐπὶ τριστοιχίαν κεχαλκευμένος. θάλλει δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ κάλυξ, χρύσεος τῇ σακχάρῳ βοτάνῃ παρ᾽ ἡμῖν λεγομένῃ απομεμιμημένος, ὑος δε κύαμον Ἑλλήνων.
[5] I, cap. xiv et seq. (Migne, 'Patrologia,' vol. cvii, col. 306).
[6] Such a vestment as the talith is not here considered, for this is worn by all the worshippers alike, as well as by the officiating minister.
[7] Hieron. in Ezek., cap. xliv. 'Religio divina alterum habitum habet in ministerio alterum in usu vitaque communi.'
[8] Εὐξάμενος οὐν καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἅμα τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ λαμπρὰν ἐσθῆτα μετενδὺς καὶ στὰς πρὸς τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ τὸ τρόπαιον τοῦ σταυροῦ κατὰ τοῦ μετώπου τὸν χειρὶ ποιησάμενος εἰπάτω κ.τ.λ.
[9] 'Per quae discimus non quotidianis et quibuslibet pro usu vitae communis pollutis vestibus nos ingredi debere in sancta sanctorum sed munda conscientia et mundis vestibus tenere Domini sacramenta.'—Hieron. in Ezek., cap. xliv.