On Headcoverings and Modesty of Women in Church

[TomS]

I don't understand why in the US Orthodox women can go to church dressed anyway they please, but if we were in a historically Orthodox country, it would not be acceptable.

I asked the Chanter in my Church about this (he comes from Greece) and he said that most of the younger women there (at least in Athens area)DO NOT cover their heads anymore.

Should we tell all the babushkas that they are pharisees?

Yes, to mind there OWN business.

Like the monk who corrected my husband, was he wrong? Should we have told him to mind his own sins?

No. Because he has a title bestowed by the Church and therefore represents the Church. And if he is a TRUE monk, he is knows this and is fighting his sins.

Outside of some churches/monasteries in Russia, there are signs that say not to enter if you are dressed inappropriately. Would we dare challenge them there? Why should we act different here? What gives us the right?

Please. They live there, so have a right to ask you to respect their traditions.

I always wear a scarf in church, even if no other women are wearing one, because I believe that is what we are instructed to do as women.

And that is good if that is what you feel that you need to do.

It is extremely disturbing to me that in a time span of 10+ years, so much is changing.

Life is all about change.

For example, I remember being taught at a summer church camp that our role as Orthodox women was to either a) get married and have children and bring them up in the Faith, or b) become a nun and serve God. This was at an OCA camp when I was about 11 years old. I highly doubt that is being taught at the same institution today!

And I hope to God it is not!

[Miriam]

Ever try venerating an icon that has an imprint of someone's lips and globs and globs of lipstick....shudders violently.. :ohvey: ...all I can say is YECH! and I head straight for the windex and paper towels....PLEEEEEASE!!!

[TomS]

Ever try venerating an icon that has an imprint of someone's lips and globs and globs of lipstick....shudders violently.. :ohvey: ...all I can is YECH! and I head straight for the windex and paper towels....PLEEEEEASE!!!

This is true! And I want to go on record to say that I don't think men should be allowed to wear lipstick!

[Daniel]

Outside of some churches/monasteries in Russia, there are signs that say not to enter if you are dressed inappropriately.

At St. Panteleimon's (ROCOR) here in Minneapolis, there is a sign right on the front door admonishing people to dress appropiately, but unfortunatly it seems very few read it.

[Natasha]

Ok, if I am to understand you correctly, if I am in Russia, in the Russian Orthodox Church, I am to adhere to their traditions, but I am not supposed to adhere to the tradition when I am in a Russian Orthodox church in the US? I am to obey the monk, because he represents the church, but not to obey him once I step onto foreign soil?
Just because the women are not covering their heads in Athens does not make it a correct practice.

And the idea, to tell some babushka to mind her own business, one of those old ladies could verbally slash you better than anyone on a message board!

[Natasha]

Natasha wrote: "For example, I remember being taught at a summer church camp that our role as Orthodox women was to either a) get married and have children and bring them up in the Faith, or b) become a nun and serve God. This was at an OCA camp when I was about 11 years old. I highly doubt that is being taught at the same institution today! "

Tom S: "And I hope to God it is not!"

And if in your mind that isn't our role as Orthodox women, that our role should not be to serve God and our family, what exactly should our role be in life?

[Daniel]

I remember being taught at a summer church camp that our role as Orthodox women was to either a) get married and have children and bring them up in the Faith...

This has worked out great so for for me, my wife, and our 1.5 children (one's still in the oven )