www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Headcoverings -- more info please!

I noticed that another topic mentioned women's use of headcoverings. Generally, it's advisable to do as you see others doing, I don't have a problem with that. I happen to wear long skirts everyday, so being modestly dressed is no problem. But I don't cover my head.

I never really thought about this until lately. I have a friend who keeps her head covered all the time, not just in church. And it's not because of hair loss, or illness or anything like that.

Part of me likes the idea of deliberately covering my head as a sign of meekness and respect. Without getting anyone upset, could those of you who know tell me a little bit more about the tradition of women's headcoverings in the church, and any teachings about the use of women's headcoverings that seem relevant? If I am going to adopt this custom, I really want to know why, rather than just mimicking other people thoughtlessly.

I've found info about women's headcoverings online, but mostly it seems geared toward orthodox jews and muslim ladies, and I don't really intend to cover my head all the time, but if it seems like it would be a good thing, I think it might be a good personal observance.

Thanks!

Pook,

You might want to search the backlogs first. There've been some very englightening discussions concerning this very topic! Just search "headcovering" or "veils" or some such word and see what you come up with.

Logos Teen

Not mandatory. Headcoverings were an ethnic hold-over from the Early Church communities.

That being said, you are correct to, as a general rule do as others do an respect tradition.

Now, that being said, what do you want to do?

Personally, I enjoy the modesty of seeing women in veils. Then again, there are other expressions of modesty (such as long dresses and skirts and modest shawl shoulder wraps as you mentioned). I just like veils. I just do and that is me and that is what I like. Just a preference.

I sometimes stop and think about the things that could be done. For instance, if you are the wife of a priest or deacon, why not have an ornate veil? Maybe even one that goes along with the Liturgical Color. Why not have a variety or plain or elaborate veils. Why not long or shorter.

Why not? Merely because it is not seen as necessary or practical or needed or all the other reasons we can come up with.

Bottom line: Its up to you whether you veil or not Ther are so many ways give physical expression to Sanctity
Why veil?
Why not veil?
Up to you.

"if you are the wife of a priest or deacon, why not have an ornate veil? Maybe even one that goes along with the Liturgical Color. Why not have a variety or plain or elaborate veils. Why not long or shorter."

Sounds a bit like what one priest we know might call it a liturgical fashion show.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I wouldn't call headcoverings an "ethnic holdover", and actually for Roman Catholics they are technically *still* mandatory-- nothing in Vatican II changed the requirement for women to cover their heads.

Headcoverings-- when used for the right reasons-- show respect and humility, two characteristics sorely lacking in most Roman Catholic parishes nowadays. I've seen many women at Mass wearing low-cut tops, spaghetti straps, and short skirts, and behaving as disrespectfully as they are dressed... so I don't think it's necessarily advisable to "do as you see others doing." As Christians, we frequently have to do the *opposite* of what we see others doing, and set a good example.


God bless,

Karen

https://www.byzcath.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=002850

Here's the link to the thread I started a while back when I was looking for an article on headcoverings.

Vie

Though I am RC I always cover my head in Mass, as a form of respect to Our Lord. When I went to my first Byzantine Mass recently I wore a hat, as did some of the other women. Many of them also wore scarves. There were also women there who didn't cover their hair. The ones I thought were the most beautiful were the women who wore the traditional scarves--I find them so beautiful and reverent. In my home RC parish very few women cover their hair, but I am devoted to the practice! Many blessings to you all.

Welcome.

The great thing about head coverings is that it doesn't matter how your hair looks that day.

What did you think of your first Byzantine liturgy? I'm a former Latin riter, and I was just blown away.

God bless,

Karen

Russian Orthodox Churches often advise women to wear head scarfs and to avoid hats and mantillas when in church (too RC).

ICXC
NIKA

One priest's liturgical fashion show is another woman's display of humility and modesty. IMO, I don't think it would be edifying to say such things.

Sorry, what I mean is that headocverings come from some other place than the US and were brought over under societal conventions due to modesty and social norms. This is all within the context of somewhere other than the US.

Dear Laka Ya Rabb,

(I wish I knew what your 'name' means. )

Anyway, you are indeed correct. I will give you an example:

Some years ago I was planning to visit the St. Nicholas OCA Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. I had heard somewhere that in OCA churches, long skirts and scarves are the norm. So I respectfully e-mailed an OCA priest about this--because I wanted to be respectful and mindful of the sensibilities of the Church I was going to be visiting.

I received a bit of a terse and touchy response. He conceded that, although some old women from Russia (as well as some younger American women) do choose to follow this 'dress code', that it was by no means the norm, anymore, he went on to say, than a visitor to a Greek Orthodox Church would need to wear a black head scarf, black clothes, black stockings and black flat shoes or slippers like the old widows from Greece wear!

I took his point to mean that while appropriate dress and modesty are one thing, an ethnic type of costume borrowed from the villages of the old country of yesteryear is another thing.

In Christ,
Alice

P.S. This history of religious clothing is actually fascinating. Did you know that the garb one sees Orthodox Jewish men wear is actually the lay clothing style of 17th century Poland?
Did you also know that the black women's monastic headdress and garb one sees in Orthodoxy was also the lay dress for widows in 19th century Greece? In my husband's ancestral home, there are many photos of elderly women relatives dressed like nuns that were simply widowed at the time, and not nuns.

Alice,

Thank you for you wonderful reply!

I am fasincated by religious cultural dress and its history. I did not know any of what you mentioned!

Forgive me Alice, I forgot tp reply to your inquiry about my 'name'.

'Laka Ya Rabb' is the Arabic reply in the Divne Liturgy, 'To You, O Lord'.

If it has spiritual meaning to you, then by all means cover your head, Pook, and certainly obey the prevailing tradition of churches you may have occasion to visit. (When in Rome, as they say.)

The outward postures of humility are supposed to remind us all of the inward virtues we are striving to cultivate, after all.