Dresscode in Church

yeah, the word Orthodoxy means \"there is only one right way to do it,\" and of course, we all do the one right thing differently! :) Whatever the rule, we are to be \"the Mod Squad\"...modesty above all fashion concerns. I want to help you focus on God, and not on my fashion sense or lack of it, or \"what is that intoxicating perfume\"..and other such diversions. Opps, I just gave a way a blog I'm working on. Oh well.

No one should come to church indecent. We have two churches on the same street. One casual or comfortable and one dresses or skirts proper shoes no sandles. Even Jesus wore sandles. What if you budget didn't allow for the extravagance of fancy Sunday clothes, should that keep you from God's love? No one wears head scarves. If I had to dress like all the other's, I'd have to dress like an old lady. Give me a break, don't we have enought rules to keep people away? I am short and don't look good in skirts, why should I be made to wear something I don't like or need. Forcing people to wear head gear or tie clothes on them somehow does not sit well with me, nor suggests the freedom of worship in any courntry.

cantor wrote: No one wears head scarves. If I had to dress like all the other's, I'd have to dress like an old lady. Give me a break, don't we have enought rules to keep people away? Cantor, what do you mean by that?

Wonderful .... Then its okay if I dress comfortably in shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops ?!?! :grin:

Wonderful .... Then its okay if I dress comfortably in shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops ?!?! :grin: [/quote] only if thats ok with you! :crazy: sadly that is the reality in some churches. I dont think that rules should be put above love for one another or hospitality but in my opinion i dont think we should loosen the rules just because people and time change (God doesnt change!), we should humble ourselfs when we step before Him ,regardless if a skirt and a headscarf is flattering to our look or not. If it has been like that for 2000 years, why should it change now? As i said earlier, i only present my opinion. I truly hope i dont offend anyone , and if i do, please forgive me!

When we first converted I was 16 (I'm now 27) and I remember thinking, \"Oh come on! Why do I have to wear this stupid thing? Why are they making me wear this?! I should be able to wear what I want. I want to look cute, not frumpy!\" Although at the time this seemed more forward thinking, I soon realized that it came from pridefullness! I realized that when, one day in church I was looking at all the icons of the Mother of God and the women saints. I noticed something, they all had their heads covered. I was dumb founded. Now of course one would argue that some were nuns and others lived in times where that was the dress code....but it made me reflect on their ultimate humility. Then it made me feel really stupid....I was complaining about putting a piece of cloth on my head for 2 hours, while they suffered in so manys ways and were so humble! Prideful me! I realized that I needed to do it, because of the fact that I didn't want to. Plus, its not like it was killing me, or hurting me. In fact it became my way of humbling myself, for those few hours every week. It was a way to put aside my pride and vanity, as short as it is. I also had to learn too, not to judge other woman in the church that don't. Because by doing that, it defeats the purpose of it in the first place.

if you wish to dress well out of a sense of modesty, then I think that is good. but I think most important is to bring a modest heart to church. kind of like the old saying about fasting - it's better for a man to fill himself with meat, than to devour his brother in gossip. I don't think a bunch of Tanzanians wearing shorts, going to the only mission church within 100 miles is inappropriate... they're there - that's what's important. I think that most people can't see past what we're wearing, and that's why we should dress modestly - so as not to cause our brothers and sisters to stumble. Afterall, St Mary of Egypt wandered the desert in her birthday suit - and only covered up when approached by the monk (what's his name? I forget... it started with a 'z' I think...) anyway, don't take my words as meaning very much... my efforts within the church are rather laughable.

I did gladly embrace the longer skirts, and a headscarf, for attending services. I have been Orthodox only since 2006. I did it because I wanted to be like the early Christians. It seems to mean a different thing to each one of us, but it should be done for personal reasonings, and maybe not so much because, \"you are told to do so.\" If you know what I mean.

I think the idea here is to praise God. If we look only at what everyone else is wearing we are glorifying those who have the almighty dollar. There are many people in my parish who cannot afford the nice clothes to wear to church should we kick them out or show mercy?...

That's one thing I like about Orthodoxy. It made me realize how much I was worrying about stuff that really wasn't or shouldn't have been my concern. Being new to the faith, I was wondering. I always read about the head pieces for the women, and bought one before going to the church for the first time. Mine isn't a full head scarf though. It's like a doily that fits on the top back of my head. Is that okay, or does your whole head need to be covered to be significant?

i don't believe @ looking @ others. but i do believe how GOD looks @ me. DON'T keep up w/the joneses. as we say here in America.

I never meant to come across as if i wanted anybody to wear fancy clothing in church, in fact i meant the opposite. I think it is more appropriate to wear modest clothing like skirts that are below the knees and shirts that cover at least the shoulders and , what is most impotantly to me, no lipstick if you are going to venerate any icons or the cross! I It doesnt require much money. This kind of clothes can be bought at any thriftstore. But of course if someone just doesnt have a skirt or long pants or longsleeve shirt, that should never stop anyone from going to church. Everybody is always welcome!

tough luck getting the old ladies to stop wearing lipstick at my parish :( our icons are encrusted with hazy layers of pinks and lavenders around the hands and feet.

A little history on the headscarf: in the time of our Lord harlots would keep their heads uncovered; a head scarf was the sign of a virtuous woman. I've never been one to dress fancy; i wore clean jeans and a polo shirt to my sister's wedding! If you wear a suit then good for you! If all you have is shorts and flip flops then good for you! If all you have is a green leopard skin jumpsuit then good for you(okay, that may have gone too far...)! Fact is people have always worn the best of what they had to Liturgy. If i owned a suit i might be inclined to wear it; as i don't anyone expecting me to wear one would be(and have been) sorely disappointed. Same with a hair cut or a shave-hate both frankly, and have never been terribly interested in how i look. Now should someone wear tank tops or halter tops? If it's the best you have then you have to though i might suggest a shawl for cover, or offer my jacket for some! If flip flops are the best you have then wear them; ignore the looks. Liturgy shouldn't be a fashion show anyway-that's what coffee hour is for, right!? Nor is it the best time to be judging someones devotion to God based on dress-we may not know their circumstances; miss halter top lady may only own that halter top after all. Artinel brings up the perfect point of thinking dress is part of Holy Tradition. Lord have mercy! I'd have to get my full kilt for every Sunday at the very least; hope no one minds my dirk! Everyone ready to bring sheets for togas!? It makes no sense really. Headscarves are a personal choice in my opinion. They hold no significance in society today. Even if one was to pull out St. Paul and Corinthians it was to be covered only while prophesying anyway, and there is no standing Canonical statement about it that i know of; if anyone knows please let me know. My wife wears one, but my daughter has decided to forgo it. Are you acceptable before God? Who determines it? What determines it exactly? Our dress? Our attitude? The parishioners around us? The bus driver? A fish? I could go dressed in silk and gold, and my unworthiness would spell me out to God even before i reached the door; \"my garment accuses me for it is not a wedding garment..\". Am i really that worried about what i'm wearing!? Worse, am i really worried about what my brother or sister is wearing!? May God forgive me!

Americans wear what they wear in \"in the world\" to Church, because they (generalizing) dress that way for everywhere. That is to say, they don't dress \"up\" for other events, so why should church be different? That said, buckets of years ago, back in my Charismatic Days, I attended a small church, and there was one guy who always came in bib-overalls (those were all the rage back then) That's all, just a pair of bib overalls. But they were clean and neat - I suspect they might have been all he had. Which has been my position: clean and neat over \"fancy\". As for head-scarfs on women - some do, some don't. Friends daughter varies between the standard \"cowboy\" bandanna to the \"doing\" her hair with a Spanish mantilla, combs and the whole megillah. Whatever. I'm more concerned that they are here, in Church and participating. Eventualy, God willing, they to will realize that they need to be \"wearing their best for Jesus\" (as I heard one priest's wife put it.)