www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology PROPER ATTIRE FOR ORTHODOX CLERGY

Here is an article worth reading.

http://www.apostle1.com/attire_for_orthodox_clerg.htm

"Some are just a few of the highlights that particularly grabbed my attention:

1) The 27th Canon of the 6th Ecumenical Council states: "None who is counted with the clergy should dress inappropriately, when in the city, nor when traveling. Each should use the attire which was appointed for clergy members. If someone breaks this rule, may he be deprived of serving for one week.


"Here everything is clear. If you do not wish to wear a priest's clothing, do not dare to stand before the altar of God."

The round white collar, bib, and business suit which you call "Roman Catholic" clerical dress is neither Roman Catholic in origin nor much more than normal street garb with a special collar. Papist priests, like Orthodox clergy, dressed in cassocks and special headgear well into this century. Only in the last few decades have they adopted what is actually Protestant clerical clothing or simply street clothes.

"As for the issue of deposition, let us note, first, that Orthodox clergy have, indeed, been suspended and even deposed for abandoning traditional clerical dress. St. Evalalios, a predecessor of St. Basil the Great in the See of Cappadocia, deposed his own son for abandoning traditional Priestly garments for "unsuitable" attire."

I presume St. Basil the Great's "Son" was a Spiritual Son.

I don't doubt the information given here

BUT

I do wonder about the group

http://www.apostle1.com/thaddean_fathers1/index.htm

on that page is a wonderful ornate little sign saying North American Orthodox Church , surrounding a double headed eagle.

Elsewhere on the Site I came across these words



Hmmmm - am I rite to be suspicious ?

Anhelyna

Best avoided, these are not Orthodox at all. They are one of the many false churches that have to attempt to lay claim to having a valid Apostolic succession through through all sorts of strange people.

ICXC
NIKA

Incogneat,

Understand your point, but as our Dear Anhelyna points out, your footnote is from a currently non-canonical organization.

I also would love to see the day of our holy men and women of the cloth re-embracing their traditions and garments and wear them with pride, evangilizing to all and so that all may see the Glory of God.

When my father was in Hospice, during his last days on this earth, my parish priest visited with him. He wore his Cossack with purple stole. It truly was amazing how everyone noticed him and wanted a moment of his time. Especially in a Hospice environment, I am certain he freed the way for many to be closer to Our Lord and Savior.

Point is, yes, if you are in a society that you are permitted to wear your clerical garments, then it would be so nice to see it. It would be great to see our Roman presbyters going back to their regular clerical dress all the time. I do see one of our local Greek Clergy in his cossack when (this is for Alex) "out and about".

In Christ,

Michael

I am so pleased the ancient custom of the steppe has been revived of wearing Cossacks. I wont look so strange now as I throw one over my shoulder.

ICXC
NIKA

Dear Pavel,

Forgive me. What is the proper term then? See, I am just a big dumb old boy.



Michael

Pavel

tsk tsk - I had been giggling at that - but not saying anything

"the appearance of an Orthodox priest, that is, should have long hair, a beard, a riasa, wear a cross of a proper style" Please have mercy for me saying this but I still can't believe the priests are supposed to wear their hair like hippies...I dont disagree with it..but there's such an irony to it.

It's so ingrained in the west to be "clean shaven" and all that. In my catholic high school I received demerits if I didnt shave! And now I receive demerits if I DO shave...so..thats life..either way is fine with me. I am neutral, I can take it either way. However, my father's had a beard his entire life. I don't know what he looks like without one. In the 70's he couldn't enter through customs into Costa Rica because they thought he was related to a Che Guevera revolutionary.

Dear Criostoir,

The idea behind the long beard and long hair of Orthodox priests is rooted in monasticism. It basically tells the world that one does not care about vanity.

On the other hand, Western sensibilities being what they are (as you so aptly articulated), many people will be turned off by this appearance.

Therefore, MOST Greek Orthodox priests in the U.S. have modified this Eastern tradition. They have beards, but short, neat and groomed ones, and they don't have long hair. Others do not have beards at all.

In Greece, where Western sensibilities did not rule, all priests followed the traditions.

However, in the past decade there has been an outcry from young priests, and there has been some modification, though not as drastic as we see here.

The reason behind this outcry was (Western sensibilities creeping into this newly modernized EU country) that the young seminarians said that they could not find wives if they kept the long beards!

In the Risen Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

The priest at the Greek Orthodox church I went to on Good Friday had long hair, pulled back in a ponytail, and a long beard. He's from Cyprus, as it turns out... do you think he might know Bishop "Maximos"?

God bless,

Karen

Christ is Risen!

Orthodox clerical garb is always an interesting subject, especially among priests in this country, because you'll get the full range of opinions on the subject. And it can get very heated!

FWIW, whenever I am doing any type of church function or business, no matter what or where, I wear my podriasnik (cassock) and cross. Hosptial visits, home visits and blessings, driving to church (and if I'm filling my car with gas or stopping at the market on the way), and of course anything at church (then I usually also wear the riassa over the cassock), even riding on an airplane (for church business), I generally wear my podriasnik. However in other activities, like taking the kids to soccer or whatever, I don't. I do know a few priests who do, and I don't condemn them at all.

I will say however (not meaning to start any kind of a firestorm), I almost never wear a roman collar. Maybe once a year, if that. I just don't like them. Depending on the jurisdiction, many priests do wear collars, and are even discouraged, if not forbidden, to wear traditional garb (cassock/riassa) anywhere but in the church. I think that is sad.

Much of it depends on the bishop. My bishop, Archbishop KYRILL of Pittsburgh, is never seen anywhere without a cassock. Ever. I don't think I've ever seen the man in 25 years in street clothes.

In the OCA, priests sign an oath at their ordination, and one of the promises is to dress in accordance with your priestly office.

Priest Thomas

Although in this particular culture, at this particular time, in this particular country (get the picture?) we *might* associate long hair with "hippies," that's seems to be a very myopic view of things. Orthodoxy, with a world-wide 2000 year tradition transcends that.

Plus, of course, our Lord and Savior had long hair and a beard.

And that's the predominant reason why Orthodox clergy are encouraged to do the same.

But our Lord was also said to be quite physically fit, and some of our priests would do well to immitate our Lord in this respect also!

Priest Thomas
(Who has a trimmed beard and short hair - although I want to grow it long, but my wife said no... I'll have to wait until the kids are out of the house! )

Dear Fr. Thomas,

I'm all for priests wearing their cassocks in public. I even think they should wear their hair long and have beards. (But I love all the "Pomp and Circumstance" and things like that. You could even go around in your Liturgical vestments all day and I wouldn't mind. )

I have seen a few GOA priests who have kept this custom, they definitely are recognizable as priests. I think of the pictures of St. John of Krondstadt that I have seen. I hope your wife changes her mind!

What about guys like me who only have that annoying Phil Collins strip of hair in the front?

Then you could say you're immitating St Paul!

PT

Christ is Risen!

I think I'm pretty much in the Fr. Thomas camp. IMO Orthodox clerics should not wear roman collars. This is actually a personal pet peeve of mine.

Andrew