www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Married priests are not real priests.

>>>Wasn't there actually aprohibition as to what arms a bishop could carry back in the day? I thought that they couldn't carry a sword
because it had an edge.<<<

From the beginning, there was a prohibition on clergy and religious bearing arms of any sort. In the East, this appears to have been followed with great rigor. In the West, particularly in the Norman realms, a peculiar legalism was applied that defined only edged weapons as "arms". Thereafter, a number of bishops (even popes) who were also major feudal magnates, took to wearing armor and leading troops in battle, albeit armed with a club or mace, rather than with sword, spear or axe. Bishop Odo of Bayeux can be seen laying about with gay abandon in several panels of the Bayeux Tapestry. When the First Crusade arrived at Constantinople, the sight of priests, monks and bishops wearing armor and carrying weapons caused grave consternation and scandal among the Byzantines, and reinforced their belief that the "Franks" were truly barbarians and not quite Christians. For their part, the Franks probably came away with the impression that the Byzantine clergy, married or celibate, were squeamish and effete for their refusal to take up arms against the paynim.

Dear Stuart,

Yes, judging by your writing, you sound like you partook of the experience of the Transfiguration! Perhaps we should send you on more of these!!

I have one more question for you and for Dr. John, if he would like to provide his own invaluable perspective here as well, and this has to do with the use of the braided belt among Slavs.

Is there a religious significance to the belt and what is it? I was taught to wear the tassled belt to Church early on, but stopped.

Thanks!

Alex

It must be a Slav thing. Most Greek Orthodox priests I've seen both here and in the old country use a string/rope/??? to fasten the inner riason; the string is oftentimes stitched onto the back of the garment and is then circled around the waist. I've also seen the string attached to the "buckle" area of one side of the garment, and then circled around to tie with its other half in front.

I believe that some Athonites use a leather belt, but I think that that may be more of a fashion statement than anything else. (And I think that our Melkite and Syrian brethren dress as the Greeks do.)

Blessings!

Dear Dr. John,

(Love that Pope!)

Yes, I have seen Psalm 90 written on some of the Athonite belts.

But lay people too wear a tassled belt to Church in Slav countries.

Is that something that is necessary and what is its meaning?

(Love that Pope)

Alex