So, a situation arose when you were invited, say, to a wedding sacrament in a temple. If you are not a frequent visitor to church, then you will have a pressing question: “What to wear?” Most casual clothing is not very suitable for visiting a holy place, however, the choice of what remains is huge - every woman will find something suitable for herself and that suits her taste. It is interesting that parishioners who attend church regularly often turn to the priest with questions: can they wear this or that item, jewelry, or choose a different style. To resolve all doubts, all the prohibitions and rules in attire for going to church are listed below.
- General rules
- Orthodox clothing for women
- How to dress for church as a man
- What to bring your child to church in
- Where to buy
Woman in trousers
In recent decades, when the Russian Orthodox Church began to revive, the question became relevant for many: how should a woman dress for church? During the period of Soviet power, serious changes occurred in the appearance of not only women, but also men. It is impossible to imagine a young lady 150 years ago walking around in trousers. Or a man from the same era who left the house in shorts and a T-shirt.
Woman and temple
At the beginning of the last century, women actively fought not only for equal political and social rights with men, but also for the opportunity to wear trousers. The length of skirts has also noticeably shortened, and their loose silhouette has given way to tight-fitting models. In modern society, freedom of expression through appearance has reached its apogee. No one is surprised by a woman in short shorts or a revealing dress anymore. Therefore, the position of the Church, calling for modesty and restraint in clothing, is perceived with hostility by many.
Men's clothing for the temple
Not only for women, there is a whole set of regulations on what is appropriate to wear to church. Men must also adhere to certain rules:
- No sweatpants, suits, etc. A woman would never think of coming to a holy place in sportswear, but with a man who is less scrupulous about choosing clothes, this may well happen.
- Shorts and anything that even slightly exposes the legs (Bermuda shorts, breeches, etc.) are prohibited. Here both women and men are equally strictly controlled by church regulations.
- Closed shoes. Spanking is prohibited. Sandals are sometimes allowed in some churches, especially in the South (socks must be worn underneath).
- Inscriptions and pictures that carry a negative message are prohibited.
- The shirt should be buttoned up with all the buttons (if it’s stuffy or tight at the collar, you can undo one top button).
- The headdress must be removed.
The ideal clothing for a man is trousers and a light shirt. Previously, they tried to wear a tie and jacket, but now they don’t require this.
The Bible on Women's Clothing
In church canons there is a strict prohibition on wearing clothes that do not correspond to one’s gender.
“A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not put on a woman’s clothing, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deut. 22:5).
That is, neither a woman nor a man should intentionally wear clothes of the opposite sex. Whether it will be some kind of protest against society, a way of self-expression, positioning of one’s non-standard sexual orientation is not important. The Church does not approve of this in any case.
“Women now dress either in miniskirts or trousers! Choose one of two! While in the Old Testament this is stated absolutely clearly and with such details! “It is unlawful for a man to dress in women’s clothing, and for a woman to dress in men’s dress.” This is the law. But apart from the law, wearing clothes of the opposite sex is obscene. Since in the Old Testament there is a commandment from God forbidding women to wear men's clothing, then what else do they need?
But you see, they argue: “Why can’t a woman wear trousers? Why can’t atheists be included in parish councils - after all, the Church and the people are one and the same?” But in this way, the fate of the Church will depend on the decision of the atheists! So they will turn churches into libraries, warehouses and the like, since they approach everything with their own “why”. And what do you have to say?” (Reverend Paisiy Svyatogorets).
In pre-revolutionary Russia, the question “how a woman should dress for church” did not exist in principle. When going to church for worship, women wore their most elegant dress and tied a beautiful scarf. They went to meet God in their best clothes, trying to look neat and beautiful. Unfortunately, now this good tradition is being forgotten. And often you can observe two extremes. Or the person is wearing baggy, dark, unkempt clothes. Or a deliberate, sometimes aggressive reluctance to comply with certain church rules. On the part of women, this may be the deliberate wearing of trousers to the temple of God - knowing that this type of clothing is not welcome.
What is allowed and prohibited in the temple?
- Conversations
There is a myth that you only need to be silent in the temple. As it turned out, you can talk in church, but only when there is a need for it (you need to ask something, help). Conducting empty conversations, speaking loudly, making noise and laughing is prohibited.
It is also important to remember that when a service is taking place, it is necessary to behave quietly and reverently, and to delve into prayer.
- Unbaptized in the temple
It is bad to think that people from other religions or unbaptized people should not enter the temple. This myth is ridiculous. After all, the doors of the church are open to everyone: everyone can venerate the icons, pray, and light a candle.
Now when the Liturgy or the Holy Sacraments are performed, you cannot be present.
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Does “Orthodox clothing” exist?
Unfortunately, an unchurched person most often understands “Orthodox women’s clothing” as a shapeless, black blouse, the same “floor-length” skirt and, to complete the look, a carelessly tied scarf. There really is such a trend. Sometimes you get the feeling that deliberate negligence and otherness in clothing are deliberately demonstrated, as if “everything external is alien to me.” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' repeatedly in his sermons called on parishioners to look modest, but at the same time neat and beautiful:
“We must set an example for the people, including with our appearance. Orthodoxy is not squalor, it is the beauty of life. Orthodoxy does not force us to dress in dark colors.”
There is no “Orthodox fashion” as such. The Holy Fathers and church canons do not contain a list of what can and cannot be worn in church. Likewise, there are no specific instructions on how a woman should dress for church. But a believing woman should look decent, without seducing the opposite sex with her appearance. This applies not only to wearing trousers, which can be loose-fitting and not form-fitting. We are also talking about the length of the dress, the depth of the neckline and the silhouette of the skirt. Clothes must be neat, fit, and not just black or gray.
It is not without reason that they say that clothes indicate a person’s internal state. Therefore, it is natural for believers to look beautiful, one might say elegantly, tastefully. Christ said that even during fasting there is no need to be outwardly despondent, like the hypocrites (Matthew 6:16). There is no need to try to be presentable and express your faith in front of people through negligence in clothing. This is the desire to show imaginary detachment from the material world. When it comes to “Orthodox fashion,” one should stick to the golden mean. Now there are no problems with the assortment of clothes. You can always choose a beautiful dress for visiting a temple that would comply with the norms of church etiquette.
How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple or church with your own hands: patterns, photos
How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple with your own hands: patterns, photos Many people are sure that if it is modest, it means ugly and old-fashioned.
But you can also dress stylishly and tastefully when going to church. How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple or church with your own hands? Here are some patterns and photos: The godet skirt is always in fashion. Sew it from discreet, dense or light material. Get a stylish outfit for going to church.
How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple or church with your own hands: patterns
Here are several models of skirts and patterns: straight cut, semi-flared, flared, circle skirt.
How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple or church with your own hands?
Skirt-year with counter pleats. Choose an interesting combination of fabrics and create your own unique outfit for going to the temple.
How to sew a long beautiful skirt for visiting a temple or church with your own hands: photo
How a woman should dress for church
There is a generally accepted culture of behavior in different places. So, it is not customary to wear shorts and a T-shirt to the Bolshoi Theater. It’s strange to show up to a business meeting in an open sundress. Certain rules of behavior and dress code also exist when visiting church.
Handkerchief
“...Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is the same as if she were shaved. For if the wife does not want to cover herself, then let her cut her hair; and if a wife is ashamed to be shorn or shaved, let her cover herself. So a husband should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; and the wife is the glory of the husband... Judge for yourself, is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? ..” (1 Cor. 11.10)
The Apostle Paul points out the obligation for a married woman to wear a headscarf. And although this rule is practically not observed outside the church fence, a woman should wear a headscarf to church. It is worth mentioning that only married women are required to cover their heads. But in Russia there is a tradition that a headscarf is desirable for all female representatives. And in order not to embarrass parishioners, especially the elderly, unmarried people should also wear a headscarf. In recent years, a box of scarves has appeared at the entrance of almost every temple. They can be used by those women who came to the house of God without their own headscarf.
Skirt
The dress or skirt should not be above the knee and not too tight. We come to the temple to pray. Therefore, clothing should not attract attention, seduce or distract from prayer. It is from this principle that one should proceed when choosing an outfit for visiting church.
Makeup
Makeup can be present on a woman’s face, but it should not be too bright or flashy. It’s better not to paint your lips: when we come to church, we kiss icons, and lipstick leaves marks on holy images. Given a reverent attitude towards the image of God, the Mother of God and the saints, such deliberate negligence is unacceptable.
Trousers
The Russian Orthodox Church does not encourage women to wear trousers in sacred space (in a church, on the territory of a monastery). If you are preparing to visit the temple in advance, it is better to wear a skirt so as not to embarrass the parishioners. If your visit to the temple is unplanned, you can enter in trousers. As many priests say, “it’s better to come in in trousers and without a headscarf than not to come in at all.”
One day, Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh after a service came out to the flock with a sermon:
“Yesterday evening a woman came to the service with a child. She was wearing trousers and no headscarf. One of you reprimanded her. She left. I don’t know who reprimanded her, but I order this person to pray for her and this child until the end of his days, so that the Lord will save them. Because because of you, she may never come to the temple again.” Those were his only words that day.
Conclusion: if a visit to the temple is prepared in advance, then you need to treat the feelings of believers with understanding and respect and not allow yourself “provocative” images.
If visiting church has become a necessity during the day, then you can go into the temple and pray even in an “inappropriate form.” The absence of a headscarf and the presence of trousers should not become a barrier between the soul and God.
Customs associated with the headscarf
What kind of scarf should I wear to church? It can be any color except black. Black is a sign of mourning. It is worn when mourning for the deceased. A long time ago in Rus' they followed this custom: to wear scarves of the color that corresponded to the colors of the church calendar to services:
- For Easter it was red or white and was worn for all 40 days of the holiday.
- A white handkerchief was prepared for Christmas.
- For Lent, dark blue and purple colors were chosen.
- On the Feast of the Life-Giving Trinity and on the Day of the Holy Spirit, green was worn, signifying the color of life.
- On other Mother of God holidays, they wore a headdress the color of the sky.
- Yellow scarves were worn for regular services.
It is believed that a man is closer to God, so a man can stand in the service without a head covering. a headdress is mandatory for her .
If you find out exactly where the custom came from - a woman to have her head covered, but a man not, then it is worth remembering the words of the Apostle Paul, who said that a headscarf on a woman’s head meant her submission to her husband and his power over her.
Previously, married women even wore a headscarf on the street. If a husband sees his wife without a headdress, then the matter could lead to divorce. With this behavior she disgraced him in front of people. Only harlots walked around bare-haired.
How a woman should dress for church - the opinion of priests
Priest Evgeny Chebykin
“I think that those saints whom you mentioned in your letter formulated an ideal that one must strive for one way or another. Moreover, it was related to a specific cultural and historical context in which wearing inappropriate clothing could have very serious consequences. The change in fashion, moreover, was akin to a revolution, and it was not only about clothing items, but also about a general change in the way of life.
You see, in the Church, and in life in general, the external is always an expression of the internal, the same history of fashion is also the history of certain ideologies, economic changes, crises and upsurges, and so on. And it wasn't so much the item of clothing itself, but what it was talking about. However, we live in the world we live in and, unfortunately, we do not always have the opportunity to strictly follow this ideal. I think that if you humbly ask the Lord for forgiveness of your sins (in this case we are talking about sins in general, and not about wearing trousers) and strive to lead a genuine Christian life, then He will definitely hear your prayers and will not leave you without His mercy.”
Archpriest Igor Fomin
“How should a woman dress for church? Indeed, in the Holy Scriptures there is an indication that a woman should come to the temple in clothing appropriate to her gender. There is a certain culture of behavior in one place or another: in the theater, at work, in church. The Apostle Paul prescribes the wearing of a headscarf or any other head covering for a woman, speaking about the veil of humility on the head.
And yet it is better to enter the house of God in trousers and without a headscarf than not to enter at all. On more solemn occasions - for a festive service, for communion - it will be great if you dress in women's clothing. But even if you don’t have a skirt and a scarf, it’s okay, still come to church, take part in the service, confess, and receive the Sacraments.”
Archpriest Alexy Mityushin
“As it was said in the film “17 Moments of Spring”: “It is difficult for a pastor to go against his flock.” Therefore, no matter how much we call people to God-like existence, parishioners have their own character and are self-willed. If the clergy kick out all women wearing trousers from the temple, then almost no one will remain. It should be remembered that trousers can be different: some are modest, and some are not modest. If a woman goes to church to receive communion, she should wear a skirt and headscarf. Of course, no one will kick out women in trousers and without headscarves. But a headscarf is mandatory in Russian Orthodox churches. You should look appropriate when participating in the sacrament.”
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What dress to choose for going to church
The dress or skirt must be loose-fitting, without high or deep slits, and below the knee length. As for the bodice, its cut should be closed, and the sleeves should be long or short (just above the elbow). Shoes should also be discreet, meaning high heels are inappropriate. By the way, if you stand in heels the entire time of the service, it will be very difficult; you will think about your feet, and not about spirituality.
Photo above - AG, ALC, ALEXACHUNG Photo below - Alessandra Rich
Of course, there should be no bright colors, flashy prints and inscriptions in clothes for visiting a temple. Sparkling rhinestones, and especially their abundance, will look defiant, because you have not come to a carnival or New Year's holiday, but to a conversation with God.
All these recommendations do not mean that a girl should be dressed in all black, brown or gray. No, your clothes just shouldn’t attract the gaze of others. While in a temple, not everyone and not always manages to concentrate their attention on prayer, and therefore your clothing should not help distract the parishioners of the temple. If you think about it, choosing the best dress won't seem so difficult.
Adam Lippes, Alessandra Rich, ALEXACHUNG Boss, Celine
Since negligence, and sometimes even untidiness, is in fashion now, one should object to this that such an attitude towards one’s clothes and appearance is not a necessity for Orthodox women.
Clothing says more about us than we realize. Therefore, try to dress in accordance with the recommendations of the temple you come to, and be sincere in this, and not hypocritical, so that your long and closed dress looks as simple as possible, and not indicatively modest. In this case, clothes must be clean and ironed.
Celine, Derek Lam, Andrew Gn Johanna Ortiz, Luisa Beccaria
