ISBN: 9004645195 9789004645196

Category: Design / Textile & Costume

Page count: 310

Christianity in the Near East shows a variety in rites and churches, each with its own traditions. Ecclesiastical dress is an important part of these traditions. In the course of the centuries liturgical and monastic vestments have developed from basic — often civil — clothes into a most complicated system where symbolism has been mixed with practical purpose.<br><i>Ecclesiastical Dress in the Medieval Near East</i> provides the reader with a survey into the liturgical and monastic dress of the most important Near Eastern Churches. The motive and starting-point for this investigation were the questions surrounding the liturgical costume of the Nubian Church. Through a method of comparison of Nubian dress with Coptic, Syrian, Armenian and Byzantine costume the author not only throws light on the Christian culture of Nubia, but also traces influences, similarities and differences between the costumes of these churches.