The Dalmatic
The vestment of a deacon; in red, the colour of the martyrs.
The dalmatic is a wide-sleeved tunic, named after the province of Dalmatia on the Adriatic, where the Romans first wore it. The Church kept it as the vestment of the deacon, worn over the alb at Mass.
The deacon martyrs. St Lawrence and St Stephen, the first martyr, were both deacons, so they are shown in the dalmatic. Red, the liturgical colour of the martyrs, is the usual choice for both.
The bands. The two broad bands of gold running down the front, called orphreys, and the tassels at the shoulders are taken from real dalmatics.
Where you’ll see it
Habits and colours
All symbols →
The Franciscan Habit
The rough robe of the poor, tied with a cord of three knots for the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
The Carmelite Habit
The brown habit and scapular, white mantle and black veil of Carmel, the order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Marian Blue
The blue of heaven, given to the Mother of God; with white for her purity.
A statue with the dalmatic?
Every statue is made from scratch in our studio in Mangalore.