www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Head Covering for Women?

PPJ,

Thank you for the explanation - and thank you for posting. Although there are a few Syro-Malankara, Malankara Jacobite, Malankara Orthodox, and Syro-Malabarese members, all of the Indian Churches (and those of the Oriental Communion generally) are under-represented here.

Many years,

Neil

Bless, Father Mark,

It's wonderful, as well, to see you posting again. You've been missed. Prayers that you are well and know that your balanced, thoughtful comments on this and other recent threads are very much appreciated.

Many years,

Neil

jDC, who mentioned anything about tossing away an outward sign vs. the inward and holding onto the emply mere external, for a time, gives the chance to develop deeper goodness??? You will forgive me but, I truly cannot comprehend what you are saying.

Unfortunately, I dont understand your example of a man who looses interest in his wife, the there are other people involved, etc., I truly ask your forgiveness, I really cannot get a line or understand the meaning of your response.

Ah....the Arians, forgot about them........

Well, then, why are men not wearing robes and head coverings also in Church?!? They have deviated from the time of Jesus!

How about we put an end to this squabbling?

Agreed Alice, WHJT.....

I am fine with ending this thread.

Well said, believe it or not, on another board last year there was actually a spirited debate started by a convert who wanted to wear a robe to Liturgy even though he was neither a cleric nor a choir member. Thankfully, most comments were, politely put - negative!

Seriously though, I agree that this should be put to rest. I would only note that if you are attending Fr. Mark's parish, it would be appropriate to wear head covering as a sign of respect for the traditions of his parish. If a women were to refuse to do so in that case, I would argue that her motivations to do so were 'personal' in nature and not 'spiritual.' Yet, on the other hand, if in her home parish - as is the case in my parish - head coverings are no longer the norm - I have no problem. My mom and my wife always wore hats, but that was their choice based on what they were taught.

I see pictures online from time to time where only the convert women are wearing what we would call 'babushkas' - including their minor daughters. While I understand the sentiment, I do feel for the kids who really look odd next to their peers. Sometimes making a statement for good reasons isn't really a help to one's spiritual journey. If one believes that making a little girl look like my great-grandmother is necessary for her spiritual well being - I have a problem with that. The teasing that the child may receive to my mind is a bigger problem. Better to teach men and women to respect each other, love each other, be honest with each other on a daily, on-going familial and parish based basis than to rely on superficial external symbols such as a scarf. Again, if it is the parish custom or you are at a monastery or on pilgrimage - that is another matter altogether.

I know that I am being somewhat inconsistent, but if a woman wearing or not wearing a head covering is causing discomfort to some folks in the church, I know that my priests over the years would view the problem as being with the person 'upset' about this, rather than with the woman - again, unless the woman is doing it 'out of the norm'for purposes of 'making a statement.'

LOL--thanks for sharing that!

It tickled my funny bone for some reason..I mean no disrespect to that person, and I am sure that his intentions were pure and beautiful....God bless him, but the thought of it is a little funny.

Anyway, you summed it all up very well in the rest of your post, DMD.

(BTW, I have seen a little toddler girl at a monstery, where it is the custom to wear headscarves, wearing a scarf, and she was *the* most adorable creature ever! She looked so cute, and not like a babushka at all. On the other hand, when my kids were young, they were fooling around with the family dog--a sheltie--and put a scarf around its head, and THAT dog looked like a babushka or yiayia! We were all hysterical! )

In follow-up to the well-said comments of my friend and brother, David, ...

Can we all please work at being a bit more consistent with the nature of the Season? It was what, 10 days ago, that we observed Forgiveness Sunday?

At the going rate, we would need a calendar change which allowed it to be again observed, if we wished to lay any claim to having observed both the spirit and intent of it, rather than merely observing the letter of it.

And, no, I'm not being facetious. Think about it!

This thread is closed. Thanks to all who participated in it charitably, civilly, and with the intention of understanding one another's viewpoints, educating others about their own viewpoint, and becoming educated and informed.

Many years,

Neil