 The stole is an embroidered band of cloth, formerly usually of silk, about two and one-half to three metres long and seven to ten centimetres wide, whose ends are usually broadened out. The word stole is derived from Latin stola, from the Greek stole, 'garment', originally 'array' or 'equipment'. The stole was originally a kind of scarf that covered the shoulders and fell down in front of the body.
After being adopted by the Church of Rome about the seventh century, the stole became gradually narrower and so richly ornamented that it developed into a mark of dignity. Nowadays, the stole is usually wider and is made from a wide variety of material. |
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