Christianity and fringed garments

Tzitzit (Hebrew: Biblical ציצת Modern ציצית) are fringes or tassels worn primarily by observant Jews on the corners of four-cornered garments, including the tallit (prayer shawl). This practice is derived from commands found in the Biblical books of Numbers and Deuteronomy (

In practice

While much of traditional Christianity has not considered Torah commands such as tzitzit applicable to Christians, there are Torah-submissive Christians who wear tzitzit out of obedience to Torah, imitation of Jesus, and in remembrance of Jesus' miracles. Like Karaites, Torah-submissive Christians generally do not feel bound to Jewish oral law, so tzitzit may vary in appearance and may contain blue which is not halakhically derived. However, because of practicality and convenience, traditionally Jewish tzitiot and tallits are often used.

Liturgical use

In Christian liturgy, the stole and other vestments worn by priests and bishops traditionally have fringes on the edge, in remembrance of the Old Testament prescriptions.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, when the priest or bishop puts on his stole he reads a prayer taken from the Psalms of Degrees: "Blessed is God Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like unto the precious ointment on the head, which runneth down upon the beard, even the beard of Aaron, which runneth down upon the fringe of his raiment." (Cf. ).

ee also

*Biblical law in Christianity
*Expounding of the law

External links

* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=254&letter=J&search=Jesus#999 Jewish Encyclopedia: Jesus] : "Jesus wore the Ẓiẓit (Matt. ix. 20)"
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06307b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Fringes (in Scripture)]
* [http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2899&Version=KJV Strong's Exhaustive Concordance G2899]