Liturgical Colors

Green - is the color of the Season of Epiphany and the Season after Pentecost. These two Seasons are also called ‘Ordinary Time’ because the Sundays have no names, just ordinal numbers.

 

Purple/Violet – in antiquity, was very expensive; so purple is to signify wealth, power, and royalty. Therefore, purple is the color for the Season of Advent and Lent, which celebrates the coming of the King. Since, as Christians, we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, purple has also become a penitential color.

 

White – is the color for the Seasons of Easter and Christmas. Angels announced Jesus’ birth (Lk. 2:8-15) and His Resurrection (Lk. 24:1-8). The New Testament consistently uses white to describe angels and the risen Lord (see Matt. 17:2, Matt. 28:3; Mk. 9:3, Mk. 16:5; Jn. 20:12; Acts 1:10 and throughout Revelation).

 

Red – is the color of blood, and therefore also of martyrdom. Red is the color for any service that commemorates the death of a martyr. It is also an alternative color for the last Week of Lent, which is called Holy Week. Since red is also the color of fire, it is also used for Pentecost Sunday.

 

Black – is the color of formal occasions and is sometimes the color for funeral services and for Good Friday.

 

Rose – is sometimes used on the third Sunday in Advent, to signify joy.

 

Gold – is an alternative to white.

 

Blue – is an alternative to purple, especially during Advent.

 

 

*Metropolitan J. Delano Ellis, II

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