A crosier (also known as a crozier, paterissa, pastoral staff, or bishop's staff) is a stylized staff carried by high-ranking Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran, United Methodist and Pentecostal prelates. Other typical insignia of many of these prelates are the mitre, the pectoral cross, and the episcopal ring.  A crozier staff is a part of the tradition of Jewish Christianity.

 

Popes carried a crozier at times in the first centuries of the church. This practice was phased out and disappeared by the time of Pope Innocent III in the thirteenth century. In the Middle Ages, much as bishops carried a crosier, popes carried a cross with three bars, one more than the two bars found on crosiers carried before archbishops in processions. This was also phased out. Pope Paul VI introduced the modern papal pastoral staff, the papal ferula, in 1965. He and his successors have carried a few versions of this staff, but never a croise.

 

Crosiers used by Western bishops have curved or hooked tops, similar in appearance to staves traditionally used by shepherds, hence they are also known as crooks.  A bishop usually holds his crosier with his left hand, leaving his right hand free to bestow blessings.

​

The selection below is suitable for Bishops and are exclusively hand made around the world using the finest materials and craftsmanship. 

 

By special order only and non returnable...  Leadtime is circa 4-6 weeks on our special order Croziers.