A Glossary for Acolytes

Acolyte Vestments

• Vestments: Outer clothing worn by Priests, Acolytes, Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Choir during the church service.
• Cassock: Long black garment with sleeves which is worn over street clothes when serving at the altar.  It snaps or buttons in the front and should cover the ankles and break across the top of the shoes.
• Cinture: The rope that is worn tied around the waist, knot on the left hip.
• Cotta:  White garment worn over the cassock.  The cottas are the short white garment worn by the youth choir.  It should break across the top of your hips.
• Surplice:  Long white garment worn over the cassock.  Surplices are worn by the adult choir and the lay ministers. This garment breaks below the knee.
• Alb: The long, sleeved, white garment worn by the priest during worship. At Saint Paul’s acolytes also wear albs.
• Stole:  Along strip of material worn about the neck of bishops and priests.  Deacons wear one across the shoulder. The stole is the sign of ordination.
• Chasuble:  The colorful sleeveless vestment worn by the priest who is celebrating Communion.

The Roles of the Acolytes

• Acolytes:  The people who attend or serve the priest in the sanctuary during the church service.  This can include torchbearers, crucifers, servers/gospelers, and thurifers.
• Crucifer: The Acolyte who carries the cross for the church service.
• Server:  The Acolyte who serves with the Priest at the Altar for the Communion.  At St. Paul’s the Server also bears the Gospel book for the priest at the Gospel procession and extinguishes the candles at the end of the service.
• Torchbearers:  The Acolytes who carry the two candle Torches for the church service.  The Torchbearers carry the Torches for the Processional and Recessional and also for the Gospel Procession. At the Gospel Procession they stand on either side of the Gospel Book and they hold the Torches to light the Book.
• Thurifer:  The Acolyte who carries the thurible (incense) for special services.

Articles Acolytes use during the Service

• Book of Common Prayer (Red Prayer Book):  The red book that contains the prayers and worship for the church service.
• Bread Box:  The silver container (box) that holds the wafers (bread) for Holy Communion. The Bread Box is brought from the back of the church and taken from the people who bring it forward by the Verger or Deacon then placed in the hands of the Priest or Deacon at the Altar.  Its formal name is “the ciborium.”
• Candle Lighter/Extinguisher:  The long pole with two-pronged end used to light and put out the Altar Candles.  One side is a tube that holds the wax taper used to the light the candles.  The other side is bell-shaped snuffer used to put out the candles.
• Candlesticks (Altar Lamps): These are the two candles on either side of the Altar.  We also have 2 other candlesticks that sit on the Altar table.
• Chalice:  The silver cup which holds the wine for Communion.  St. Paul’s has several chalices for Communion.  One is placed on the Altar at the beginning of Communion.  The others are kept on the Credence Table until the Priest asks for then after the bread and the wine have been consecrated (blessed) for Communion.
• Cross:  St. Paul’s has two crosses which can be carried during in the Processional and Recessional of the Church Service.  The Crucifer (cross-bearer) leads the both the Procession and Recession carrying the cross.  Sometimes two crosses are used in the procession.  The second Cross goes in procession after the choir and before the clergy.
• Cruets:  The silver and glass containers that hold the water and wine for the Holy Communion.  The Cruets are kept on the credence table.
• Flagon: The large silver pitcher that holds the wine brought from the congregation to the altar along with a ciborium.
• Elements:  A term used when talking about the bread (wafers), water, and wine used for the Holy Communion.
• Gospel Book:  The book containing the Gospel readings.  This book is placed on the Altar before the service; is carried in the Processional, Gospel procession and the recessional and the Priest or Deacon reads from it at the Gospel reading.
• Hymnal (Hymn Book):  The service book containing the hymns sung during the church service.
• Liturgy:  A term used to mean public worship in a church following a set form.
• Alms Basins (Offering Plate):  The large brass or silver plates kept at the side of the Altar table for receiving the offering from the people.  The second Crucifer takes these to the ushers and receives them back.
• Paschal Candle:  The tall candle that is kept in the Sanctuary next to the first prayer desk.  The candle is first blessed and lit at Easter every year.  After the Easter weeks it is lit for occasions such as Baptisms and Funerals.
• Paten:  The silver plate used at the Altar by the Priest to hold the bread (wafers) for Communion.
• Thurible:  The brass container that is used to burn incense during special services.
• Torches:  The candles on long poles that are carried in the church service by the Acolytes.

Parts of St. Paul’s Church

• Altar: The marble table at where the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) is celebrated.
• Baptismal Font:  The marble basin where people are baptized during Baptismal Services.
• Credence Table: The shelf in the Sanctuary wall near the altar where the bread box, cruets (silver containers for water and wine), and second chalice are placed before the church service.
• Lectern (Eagle):  The stand in front of the right pews that holds the lectionary (the book containing the Old & NewTestament lessons.
• Narthex (vestibule): The area in the back of the church between the outer front doors and the inner doors where you enter the church.
• Pulpit:  The podium where the priests preaches the sermon during the church service.
• Sacristy: The room next to the altar where the vessels, linens and candles are kept.  This is the room where the Altar Guild prepare for worship.
• Sanctuary: The area in the front of the church where the altar is placed.  At St. Paul’s the sanctuary is the area behind the brass and wooden rail.  This is the area where the priest, deacon, lay ministers and acolytes are located for the church service.