On Headcoverings and Modesty of Women in Church

[Arsenios]

"You gentlemen can wear them and not give it a second thought. The effect that they have on WOMEN doesn’t even enter into your mind. The view from behind as you make those prostrations is at times…for lack of a nicer word… interesting. Then there are those knit tee shirts, which accentuate all those loverly, and not so loverly, masculine features. Modesty works both ways."

I agree with this totally however I must say that I do not see many guys in tight jeans or shirts showing their muscles. Then again being a guy I do not look for those things! so maybe they are there to be seen but I just don't see them. I have had to look at the side wall more than once during an entire service however when girls a few rows in front of me had tight and very short dresses on. I could have moved but since I stand at the same place every time it just would have caused too much commotion and brought to much attention to me as people would have wondered why in the world I was moving to the other side of the Church. Besides, that might have led me into judging the person, "I cannot believe I had to move because she dresses badly!" and so forth. It is my problem that I have to deal with lust so much, I admit that, still I would like to say that some help from the lady folk wouldn't hurt my efforts! But as you said it works both ways and we could all probably do better to watch our habits and behavior.

[bogoliubtsy]

However, it is a scientifically known fact that men are more visually stimulated while women are auditorily?(spelling) stimulated.

For this reason, my priest has forbid me from speaking in or around our church, lest I tempt someone with my eloquent speech.

[Justin Kissel]

Rofl.

[JohnMarq]

If one examines the Bible, one will find that God also told MEN to cover their heads when they pray. The church chose to abandon this practice because it was too Jewish and since they wanted to distance themselves from the Jews…. there went the head coverings for men.

I'm curious as to what this was refering to. Did you mean the headgear the priests were to wear in the temple?

A couple years ago I read somewhere of a Rabbi's mum who had a vision of men honoring God by praying with their heads covered, and that this started the whole prayer shawl/yarmulke practice, but as I recall this was around the 2nd century or later.

Just wondering what practice it was that "the church chose to abandon"

-John

[Mhm]

I am new to this site and am a convert, now three years. Regarding women wearing head covering, what I have found in my church is that almost everyone of the women who are converts to the Orthodox faith wear head coverings while only a very, very few "craddle" Orthodox wear head coverings. And this is not only true of head coverings but of other things such as venerating the Holy Icons, almost all converts do before serivce starts while only a few "craddle" do. It is also interesting to note that when attending Vesper services or Feast day weekday services almost all there are converts with maybe one or two 'craddle' Orthodox there. My Priest stated this has been an on-going problem for him with many "craddle" Orthodox who something take things for granted while those who are converts became judgemental, which I have been westling with. It would be great if more older Orthodox would set the example for all of us as it appears the young are not being taught the importance of our faith.

[Natasha]

Mhm, I would have to agree, sounds judgemental indeed.

[Justin Kissel]

--PS. I edited my post since I'm not going to, again, get into such a discussion. I should have stopped before I posted to begin with. Where will such discussions get anyone? :(:(

You're right Natasha, I'm wrong.