Orthodox Priests

I heard from one of my theology teachers in college that there was a serious debate in Russia in the 18th century as to whether or not men with out beards were able to get in heaven. Oh course it has been a long time since I took that class so I can\'t cite any evidence. Maybe some one else has heard of this?

The priest should be the image of Christ in behavior and looks to the best his ability. So yes a beard and long hair would combined with good moral character and humility would be Christlike!

Thanks for your post. And yes, all the priests at my church have a beard.

How do we know Jesus had long hair?

In olden times, people used to respect something because it was their grandfather’s, and they used to safeguard it like an heirloom. I once met a very good lawyer. His house was very simply furnished, and it relaxed not only him, but his visitors also. He told me this, some time ago : “A few years ago, Father, my acquaintances made fun of me because of the old, family furniture that I had. Now they come and admire them as valuable antiques. While I make daily use of them and enjoy them because they remind me of my father, my mother, my grandparents, and I am always emotionally touched, those acquaintances now go around collecting various old pieces of furniture, to the point that they have turned their lounges into curiosity shops, in an attempt to take their minds off their problems and forget their secular stress.” In the past, one would hold on to a tiny little coin of insignificant value as though it were a vast fortune, only because it was given to him by his mother or his grandfather. Nowadays, if someone has an expensive coin – a gold Pound for example – that was given to him by his grandfather, and that coin’s value is slightly higher than its original value, he will give it away to be sold. He will not show any respect, nor will he be concerned about any mother or father. It’s that “European spirit” that is slowly creeping in and is sweeping us all away.... I recall the first time that I visited the Holy Mountain – in one of the retinues, the Elder was a little old man, who was very pious. Out of piety, he had preserved from generation to generation, not only the stoles of his (spiritual) grandfathers, his predecessors, but also the moulds that had been used to make the stoles. He also had several old books and various manuscripts that he kept beautifully wrapped in his book-case, which was carefully closed so that they wouldn’t collect dust. He never touched those books; he kept them wrapped up. “I am not worthy to read such books” he would say. “I will just read these simpler ones – the Gerontikon, the Ladder...”. Then a young monk came along (he finally didn’t stay on the Mountain permanently) who had asked the elder: “Why do you keep all this junk here?” He made a move to take away the moulds and dispose of them – to burn them. The poor old man begged him with tears: “that was from my grandfather – why do you mind my keeping it? There are so many other rooms here – leave them be in a corner.” Out of the piety that he had, he not only held on to the books, the heirlooms, the stoles, but even the moulds! When there is a respect for small things, there will be an even greater respect towards the bigger things. When there is no respect for small things, then neither will there be for the bigger ones. This is how the Fathers maintained Tradition. ELDER PAISIOS OF MOUNT ATHOS

I got a chuckle from the fez comment as the Turks adopted the fez (giving it their own name) from us Greeks to begin with. :grin:

I figured as much. I had yet to research this particular point. I remember eyes rolling in class when Fr. Hopko made this very assertion. It was probably a good thing there were no Greek students in that particular class! :)

Easy. Every icon, including the catacomb art of the first century, shows Him with long hair.

[url=http://solzemli.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/writings-related-to-beards-in-orthodox-christianity/]Beard Quotes[/url] Make of it what you will; I just thought I\'d post pro-beard stuff. If any of you have any problems with the quotes, please don\'t bother me, take them up with the people who quoted them (unfortunately they\'re all reposed in the Lord, but I\'m sure something is possible).

I have heard from sources that presbytr ment \\"Bearded Ones\\" Which begs the question what does Presbytera mean? My thinking is that it means \\"the Unfotunate woman married to the guy with the beard\\"

It has also been said, \\"If beards made one holy, then goats would be saints.\\" This is yet another example of the simple fact that in the the Orthodox Church there is room for a wide variety of opinions on many subjects.

\\"Presbyter\\" means \\"elder.\\" Remember that the related word \\"presbyopia\\" is the eye condition we develop with age, which requires correction with multi-focal lenses.

Actually, Fr. Hopko is expressing the common opinion about the origin of present-day clerical dress. This is the reason the priest\'s cross has a long hangin chain in the back, because otherwise from the back they were indistinguishable from the jurists whose costume they imitated. I\'m sorry to say, but you will not see a rasso or kalymavki in the mosaics at Ravenna. The only clergy pictured in Ravenna, the mosaic of the entrance with Justianian in San Vitale shows the clergy vested for Liturgy. In the 6th century, there was no fundamental difference between Roman street dress and even the clerical vestments for Liturgy.

very true father it is rather fascinating how there were little differentiations between the laity and the clergy, now a great chasm exists between the priest and the people (in regards to dress, practice, and even communication).

Our bishop told our then deacon (now our priest, that his beard was to long and he needed to trim it back.