www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Orthodox Church in 90's

The revival of the religious life in Russia in the early 90's shown in photos by Gennady Mikheev http://www.pravoslavie.ru/foto/set626.htm

Thank you for sharing, Nataly!

The only picture that raised my eyebrows was of the orphanage at a women's convent. Why dress little girls like nuns?

I assume that the nuns clothing was just evolved from whatever the locals wore. They probably didn't think they were dressing them like nuns, just dressing them in smaller clothes of what they wore.

Hi Michael,

This is the photo I'm referring to. Even in Afghanistan little girls are not forced to wear all black. I think this may cause psychological difficulties for future women who will live in the world, but I may be wrong.

[Linked Image] [imageshack.us]

I always think about how penitential wearing black is for nuns, monks and widows in traditional Christian societies.

Elder Porphyrios said that mothers should not wear black when they are pregnant, even if they are in official mourning (in Greece, traditionally, the women in a family wear black for a close relative for atleast 40 days and up to six months to a year). He said that it is a sad color and it will bring sadness to the unborn baby.

I agree. In fact I keep black to a minimum in my own wardrobe (except for career pants, about which I do not care). All my church headscarves and mantillas are white or ivory only! Unless I'm in mourning, black doesn't go on my head.

That's an interesting cultural observation. In India, they where white for funerals. Black is only worn by the priests.

Alice and Mariya,

Your comments are very interesting to me, as my own experience has been so different. For years, I have worn a lot of black, partly because it makes me feel calm. I've never found it sad or depressing. In fact, to me, it even has something of a comforting or protective quality to it. Plus, I love the simplicity of wearing black.

Sorry Alice, I mean no disrespect, but this sounds more like the superstitious nonsense ocassionally pronounced (with great authority) by our local old Cretan ladies.

Colour meaning and perception can be very culture-specific. I am not a believer in colour-psychic unborn-babies and in utero colour therapy.

Dear Father Mark,

Evloyeite!

Of course I take no personal offense. To each his own!

However, and please forgive me if I am assuming wrongly, perhaps if you knew more about the keen spiritual insights and wisdom of the Elder ("Wounded by Love' is the best book about him and often recommended by monastics) you would know that he was anything but senseless and superstitious!

Many believe that he will one day become a saint, so perhaps I am remembering his words out of context--

Thus, I am keen on believing that what he was trying to do is to take *away* the superstition from these superstitious ladies who do not dare to remove black clothing when in mourning.

I would not want to shed any negative light on this most blessed and holy man of God if I have miquoted him or his intent in any way...


In Christ,
Alice

Here are some beautiful pearls of wisdom of his which I was able to find online: