Really what is customary? Do most women where dresses Saturday evening mass? Do you call it mass? I guess i can stand in the back or middle and just observe once.... RC but think I'm more traditional than my diocese.
Laura

Laura,

Wear something that you would normally wear for Mass - something clean and modest - oh and comfortable shoes [ you will probably be standing for far longer than you are used to ]

Are you intending to go to a Byzantine Catholic Church or to an Orthodox Church ?

Is the Service Divine Liturgy or is it listed as Vespers or perhaps Vigil ?

Sorry for the questions but a wee bit more information will help us help you

Welcome to Byzcath

Laura,

We attended a Byzantine Catholic Church for a year some time ago when there was one near where we lived, but we still visit another when we can drive the distance.

Most, but not all, of the women in the first church wore dresses and skirts/ blouses/sometimes jackets at least for the Divine Liturgy on Sundays...this included the teenage girls. Some even wore scarves or shawls on their heads...but very few. However, for Vespers (prayers) on Saturday nights and most other functions women usually wore slacks or casual dresses.

I have noticed that where we visit now about half of the women wear dresses and the others wear nice slack outfits. I haven't seen women or men wearing jeans or shorts...or anything like that except maybe at picnics and then these are worn modestly.

I like to wear dresses to church myself. It does give me good reason to wear my dresses as they don't get worn often enough. I grew up in a time when women always wore dresses or skirts to church (veils and hats too) and girls wore skirts to school. That seems like eons ago and to share it I feel a little like a dinosaur.

I think in most parishes it is up to you. Probably the key words are: conservative and modest and, of course, often...according to the weather.

Mary Jo

Dear Porter,

I like that we dress up for Church on Sundays in my tradition. Life is so casual these days, that it makes Sunday still feel like a special day, which ofcourse it is, for many reasons.

My experience has been the same as yours regarding dress at evening vesper services, etc.

One thing though about pants that my young priest brought to our attention: a woman's backside in some types of dress pants can be extremely provocative and distracting for men, so something like a coat or long jacket should try to be worn over them.

I will never forget one beautiful, tall, young, woman one Sunday, standing two pews directly infront of us...in lovely dress pants with heels. She was actually conservatively dressed, but her figure in those pants was so distracting that even I noticed! (pity my poor husband who practically had a stiff neck from trying to keep his head turned away throughout the Liturgy!)

Ofcourse, having a teenage daughter, and remembering my younger days, most young women don't intend to be disrespectful...they just need some guidelines.

Alice

When we girls were young, before we were married and had left home, my dear mother insisted that before you wore a new dress anywhere, it was to be worn to church on Sundays.

Now that I think of it ... it was pretty clever of my mother making sure that the dresses we bought were presentable for church.

Ok I'm going to wear slacks. They aint tight and i aint no pretty thang My mom always accused me of being overly modest. So, I aint worried about that. And by the way what's good for the goose is good for the gander guys shouldn't be wearing anything that leaves nothing to the imagination either. And any priest/pastor that doesn't state it both ways had better learn. This is not the day when women were so different from men it made no difference. LOL ok, I do know how to speak proper English, but chose not to do it.
Laura

Dear Laura,

My priest is by no means a chauvinist, I assure you. I have not seen one young man or older man in my tradition wear anything inappropriate or distracting in any way. The majority dress in slacks, shirt, tie, and often jacket too on Sundays, and nothing at all innapropriate at other services.

I guess you can say that we are a pretty traditional bunch!

I hope you enjoy your first Divine Liturgy.

In Christ,
Alice

In Pittsburgh, on Steelers Sunday, "formal" wear is black jeans and a Steelers jersey. Can't get no more formal than that! By the way, we're going to the Super Bowl!

And a towel to wave as well! Love it!

For men, I have seen the spectrum from Brooks Brothers suits to blue jeans and a T-shirt. The vast majority, however, wear business casual. This means Dockers and a shirt with a collar.

I can't give you any advice on women's clothing, except stay away from skirts several inches above the knees as well as blue jeans the first time you attend Divine Liturgy. I don't know the difference between pumps (Is that what its called?) and heels. You should stay away from wearing running shows, at least on your first visit.

What are running shows ?!?

What are Dockers???

What is this Christian Gent doing looking at young ladies knees in Church. I say get back over to the mens side of the Church and keep your eye to the front.

ICXC
NIKA

JFYI,
If you are going to Liturgy in a ROCOR Church DON'T wear pants. They will not let you in or they will make you put a skirt over your pants.

And ladies don't forget your scarf either - heads must be covered.

What is a ROCOR Church? I can not believe people concern themselves with what others wear to Mass or Liturgy. I wear a business pants suit everyday and still turn heads with that get-up on.

On Ash Wednesday I went to a local parish filled with Hispanic families. Those people were so pleasant to observe. Who cares if they wore jeans and sweatshirts? The love they showed for one another and the reverance they had for the Mass was what I noticed.

People are probably scared off with all these crazy dress code rules. I wonder what Jesus would say about that.

You asked it's an Orthodox Church - the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Here they do have a dress code - women in modest attire , skirts preferred and of a reasonable length in order to preserve your decency when making bows and prostrations. They also expect women to have their hair covered and usually scarves will be provided if you do not have one. Oh and when I have been to a ROCOR Service the women stood on the left of the Church and the men on the right . It's their tradition and I as a visitor there respect that.

I'm glad you felt that the people you observed on Ash Wednesday were pleasant to observe I don't think that people are scared off by I feel that Christ Himself would expect us to respect the views of others .

After all - if you join a club or organisation you have to abide by their wishes

I hope I don't sound harsh - it certainly is not my intention