Many Orthodox people believe that girls and women are forbidden to wear trousers to church. This is dictated by Christian canons, tradition, culture and public opinion. Wearing items other than a long skirt is often frowned upon and prohibited. This article examines how justified this ban is.
Aesthetics
For Orthodox people, beauty is very important. The scriptures encourage self-care to reflect inner beauty in outer beauty. According to Christian laws, one cannot pay too much attention to appearance, but one cannot fail to take care of oneself. Representatives of the fairer sex should show their main qualities in clothing: femininity and tenderness. Therefore, from an aesthetic point of view, appearing in trousers will be incorrect. In addition, in all Christian churches people wear standardized clothes, and the pants on the girl will stand out from the overall picture.
What does the Bible say
The Old Testament clearly defines the position regarding clothing.The New Testament confirms all provisions. But most people interpret the words from the book incorrectly and too literally. The Bible says that women are prohibited from wearing men's clothing and men are prohibited from wearing women's clothing. In this case, this adjective means “belonging to a man,” his own. We are talking about the so-called “mummers”, as well as various pagan rituals that were strictly prohibited. Part of these rituals was dressing up. Any manifestations of magic and paganism are not accepted by Christian teaching, which is why the Bible contains this phrase, which has nothing to do with the functions of the current wardrobe. In addition, at the time the book was written, there was a different understanding of trousers than today. Currently, trousers have become a full-fledged element of a woman's wardrobe; their models are not worn by men: they simply do not suit them, such clothing is considered directly feminine. Therefore, the biblical principle does not apply to it.
The opinion of the priests
The clergy do not see eye to eye.
Some understand that clothing is an element of culture that has nothing to do with faith. The teaching was written a long time ago, so it needs to be adapted to modern times so that strict rules do not push people away. They urge not to judge young girls who come to the temple for help, but receive complaints about their appearance and jeans. Others call for strict adherence to the dress code. It is IMPORTANT to know that now there is no strict ban on trousers: it all depends on the church, the clergyman and the parishioners.
The basic requirements for things to wear when going to church: modesty, minimalism, restraint, simplicity, absence of flashy elements.
Recommendations:
- The head should not be left “uncovered”. Be sure to use a scarf or headscarf.If they are not available, use a hood or other available means.
- Preference is given to skirts and dresses.
- Long sleeves: open shoulders and back are read as an indecent gesture. The person's body must be covered with clothing.
- Colors that do not attract attention, jewelry, and dull cosmetics.
- Requirements for a skirt: long or medium length (below the knee), loose fit.
All rules are not considered mandatory and subject to strict execution. Their observance can be called desirable. This is how respect for other parishioners is expressed. Some men note that girls in short skirts or dresses distract them from prayer. Therefore, the choice of dress code depends entirely on individual preferences and desires. There are no clear regulations.
IMPORTANT: the strictness of following the rules varies from person to person: in some churches, open conflicts may arise over appearance. The parishioners or the clergy will show a negative reaction. This does not apply to monasteries, where the use of a skirt is mandatory, the rules there are much stricter.
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