Appropriate Modest Clothing in Church

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Theodora Elizabeth
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Post by Theodora Elizabeth »

Etienne wrote:

I visited one Church on the island Aegina in Greece, to find on the entrance door a notice asking people only to enter if dressed modestly.

The notice outlined what was unacceptable, this included 'nudity'. I was somewhat non-plussed so asked the local police only to learn that some tourists thought it was perfectly okay to walk in and wonder around completely naked :o

That anyone could do this is beyond belief. I even took a photograph of the sign :cry:

Oh, my! :ohvey:

Theodora Elizabeth

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Tessa
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Post by Tessa »

As for myself, I go ankle-length with the skirts and modest 3/4 sleeve shirts, although I must say finding maternity shirts with sleeves at all is close to impossible. My husband wears slacks and nice shirt and usually no tie, he says they feel like he has a noose around his neck, and I think they're stupid anyway. My dad will sometime go overboard with ties and Tommy Hilfiger suits and to me that's as bad as wearing jeans because instead of being disrespectful, you seem like you're trying to show off. As for me 3 1/2 year old daughter, I can't get her to wear hair berrettes let alone a scarf so I would say that's my only pitfall.

In Christ
Tessa

Господе Исусе Христа, Синe Божји, Помилуј ме грешну!

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Liudmilla
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Post by Liudmilla »

I'm sorry but putting choke hold scarves on babies and small girls is gotta be one of the most ridiculous things we have ever come up with. They are God's innocents, for goodness sakes. Why are we trying to punish them?

I don't know where this comes from but I was always taught that a young pre-menstral girl does not have to wear a scarf. Once her menses start or she reaches the age of 12, then she is supposed to start wearing the scarf.

It would be better to teach them belief and reverence and everything else. Personally I hate the stupid things, they don't stay on my head and I find I do nothing but fuss with it, instead of devoting the time to prayer. I mean really!!!!!!! Hats are better anyway, but not by much.

milla

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TomS
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Post by TomS »

LIUDMILLA wrote:

Personally I hate the stupid things, they don't stay on my head and I find I do nothing but fuss with it, instead of devoting the time to prayer.

Then stop wearing one. It's a cultural tradition that is no longer relevant. St. Paul only says it because during that time of history woman were second class citizens.

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尼古拉前执事
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Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

TomS wrote:

Then stop wearing one. It's a cultural tradition that is no longer relevant. St. Paul only says it because during that time of history woman were second class citizens.

Nyet! Tom, read the other threads on this and maybe even the verses and you will why women are to wear a headcovering when they are at prayer.

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Liudmilla
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Post by Liudmilla »

Tom:
I'm not adverse to the idea of a head covering.... I hate scarves. The idea of covering ones head during pray has been around for a long time, even men used to do it. (Funny how that practice stopped just so that we should not imitate those "other people" :roll: ) I have my own issues with St. Paul, personally I think he should have stopped and thought a bit more before making some of his pronouncements, but then that's just me.

Nick:
Head covering for adults I understand.....for babies ...sorry ain't no way! it just doesn't make sense to me.

Milla

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Tessa
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Post by Tessa »

As far as my toddler daughter covering her head, it's more getting her USED to it than anything. But not wearing one until menses was just to signal in some cultures that the girl was ready for marriage, so I think the sooner they start the better.
Look at the icon of "Mala Gospoyna" (The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple). The Mother of God was how old? Do your research.

Why is that western women are so against something that is actually so liberating? I don't think Saint Paul considered women second class citizens. Quite the contrary, women are beautiful and can distract men in our fallen state, so by covering our heads and in fact conceiling our beauty we can even try to even the playing field.

I will be honest, I am young (21) and many men find me attractive depsite the fact I am married and have kids. Guys try to flirt with me all the time "around" church, like in the hall at dances or social events. When I started to cover in church SERIOUSLY, about a year ago I got some of the weirdest looks and some guys couldn't even look at me in the face, like when I would go to buy candles. Considering it's only me and two other women that are like 80 that regularly cover now, they must think I am some kind of fanatic. Needless to say, I get hardly ANY unwanted attention from men now in or outside of church, and a lot of them have even expressed warmth towards me for my outward display of piety. I get treated more like a "sister" now than a sex object. SOme women scoff anf make fun of you and joke for "looking like a Turk" and not having a hairstyle, but that's always the case when trying to do something that's right-people hate you for the sake of Chirst.

Also when I come in contact with other women who cover, mostly Russian who visit our parish, we automatically flock to one another and have something to talk about being the only two or three in scarves.

As far as the scarf bothering anyone or distracting them from prayer. HA!
Maybe you're just not tying it right! :lol:

Covering my head in prayer.
In Christ,
Tessa

Господе Исусе Христа, Синe Божји, Помилуј ме грешну!

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