The greca, or more properly the douillette, is a clerical double-breasted overcoat worn over the
cassock
The cassock or soutane is a Christian clerical clothing coat used by the clergy and male religious of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, in addition to some clergy in certain Protestant denomi ...
. The greca is slightly longer than the cassock so as to entirely cover it.
The greca is black except in the case of the Pope who wears a white greca. The black greca may have either a plain or velvet collar. The greca is usually worn in place of the manto, the clerical ankle-length cloak, with or without shoulder cape, worn over the
cassock
The cassock or soutane is a Christian clerical clothing coat used by the clergy and male religious of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, in addition to some clergy in certain Protestant denomi ...
.
The greca, or douillette, came into the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
through France, was adapted from civil wear for the clergy in 1812, and has changed little since.
The douillette came to be called a "greca", the Italian word for "Greek", as it reminded Roman clergy of the long black overcoat worn by Eastern priests.
{{Clothing
Catholic clerical clothing