www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall On Priests and Cassocks

I thought this was interesting. I found it on typikon list..never thought about some of it.

Orthodox Heritage

On Priests and Cassocks

By Fr. Epiphanios Theodoropoulos (+1989), from the book �Ἄρθρα, Μελέται � Ἐπιστολαί� (�Articles, Studies � Letters�), vol. 1, pg. 414, translated from the Greek by the staff of St. POIMEN Brotherhood

Orthodox Christians, even those who are of a worldly mind and spirit, find little, if any, spiritual comfort among the �progressive� and �modern� priests of our days. We thus make the following odd and strange observation: Priests who are strictly traditional, while serving as the ideal image for our conservative and traditional laity, also enjoy at the same time the immense respect, I dare say even admiration, of worldly laity. The latter even treat them with a great amount of respect which one might say it borderlines on the awe and fear that is usually directed towards our saints.

On the other side of the spectrum, �modernized� clergy exclusively provoke the anxiety and extreme uneasiness of traditionally-minded laity. Furthermore, while they are gladly accepted by the like-minded laity, they actually never gain their esteem and respect which is instead enjoyed only by priests who live a strict, spiritual life and have a traditional appearance.

The phrase �this is a holy man� has often been directed towards the strict and traditional clergy, irrespective of whether this clergy was married or celibate. Additionally, such characterization has been made not only by pious laity but even by those of a secular mind or others who are even indifferent towards religion or religious things. However, it has never been made by anyone, irrespective of their religious devotion, for the �progressive� and �modernized� priests or generally for any clergy that chooses, through their appearance, lifestyle and behavior, to exemplify �the spirit of our days.� This distinction carries many implications�

At this time, it would be proper to note the following: A lay theologian with progressive tendencies conveyed to me the following observation that he made during an American, non-Orthodox, clergy conference that took place in Athens, Greece.

�What can I tell you Father?� he asked. �You are absolutely correct in your thinking. I can not possibly consider these people as any kind of priests! You greet them and feel a complete lack of desire to show any respect, to spontaneously bend down and kiss their hand. You see them on the bus and you develop complete indifference towards jumping up and offering them your seat. Looking at them, I get the impression that I am staring at fancy restaurant waiters!... How very different I feel, though, when I see one of our priests, even if it is a simple monk!...�

One, of course, could easily misinterpret these words as the result of habitual observations, because in Greece we have been accustomed to see only cassock-wearing priests. For this reason, I must also mention a casual observation made during an interview of a well known European scientist (and published within the columns of the newspaper �Ἕθνος� -- �Ethnos� � several years ago, on February 17, 1970):

�It is so beautiful,� he said, �to watch a Greek priest and to pick him out from a distance; our clergy, on the other hand, must be literally sitting right next to you to distinguish them as such.�

These words must be repeated and heard over and over again by all those who for �aesthetic� reasons wish to abolish the use of cassocks. This testimony was made by a distinguished scientist and (interestingly enough) reported by a newspaper columnist who is well-known to be in clear favor of �ridding our clergy of their cassocks.� The subject scientist is surely accustomed to seeing his clergy with an outwardly appearance that parallels that of laity; nevertheless, he is inspired and exclaims upon seeing the cassock-wearing Greek priest, that �it is so wonderful to observe a priest dressed in this manner.�

One could, at this point, tell us:

�OK! Let us have different and peculiar attire for the clergy. Such garb, however, must not be so very unique and different from the dress code of laity. Let it be somewhat contemporary. The cassock is so �out of step with our times.� Why should we thus not abolish it? The spirit of our times considers it as completely repulsive��

Oh, this ancient and everlasting �spirit of our times!� It is exactly because every century and every generation has this same �spirit� (and the same thought process) that our clergy must be imposed upon a world that is flowing forward within a rapidly moving stream, constantly evolving and ever-changing. Science and technology are realizing dizzying leaps on a daily basis. Things of yesterday are unrecognizable by the people of today; things of today will be correspondingly unknown to the people of tomorrow. Thus, a little time passes and everything new and exciting becomes old and boring� It is within this unrestrained flow, these continuous alterations, this perpetual motion, these uninterrupted waves and oscillations, these terrible vibrations of the world that our clergy exists unaltered. Let us permit God�s priest to stand accordingly, as an unmovable rock and a sky-high column of light. He has neither a name nor an age. He is the one and the same from Jesus� time (if not from the age of Malchizedek) and will be the same through the end of time! He, of course, has flesh, is born, lives and dies and is replaced by others. However, he is the same with the One Whom he represents on earth, even though he exists and has existed at millions of altars. The priesthood is one and the same, and emanates from Him.

This, therefore, is the Orthodox priest, the one and only that lies above place and time, binding together earth and heaven, uniting past, present and future, having been assimilated with the Son of God, possessing an infinite and eternal dimension, and whom we now wish to subjugate to the commands of the �spirit of time� of various generations. At times our priest may change but that is a process which occurring �naturally� through the forceful and violent nature of generational changes, for even he is subject to the illnesses of our �times.� However, is it not highly improper and awful to insist upon theoretical changes to the very foundation of clergy?

The Orthodox priest is the incarnation of the absolute, the expression of whatever is permanent, stable and motionless, the trumpet of heaven on earth, an icon of incorruptibility, and he who points out to all of us the pathway to eternity. Let us allow him to remain identical and unchangeable throughout the centuries, even in his external appearance, thus serving as a reminder and a symbol of the eternal and immutable Truths that he represents and upon which any type of change or the overshadowing of a social trend can carry no impact.

Let the world�s countenance be altered, let nature�s appearance be infected, but allow our clergy�s form and appearance (yes, their form and appearance) remain unchanged. Let Christ silently proclaim, through our priests, to the intoxicated, staggering, and continuously vibrating and evolving world: In the middle of this universal relativity and fluidity, in the middle of successive turnabouts, alterations, and changes, in the middle of corruption and extreme uncertainty, I remain. The Absolute and Ever-Lasting, the Incorruptible and Unaltered, the One and Only God!
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Dear Pani Rose,

This was an interesting religious and cultural perspective...In this country, Greek Orthodox priests have so many different clothing choices, officially and on off hours, and just as many different reasons for those choices.

I DO know that it is comforting to know (by the collar or robe) if a priest is in your midst.

I also know that it really does feel 'right' somehow to see a priest in raso or with collar (in the U.S.)

In Greece, one sees priests with their kalimavkis and rassos going about daily life everywhere. It is nice and very charming to see, and I hope that it never changes...however--- I do feel for their discomfort, as it is VERY hot under the incomparably strong and brilliant Greek sun during the summer months, and black as well as long sleeves are definitely NOT a good choice in the heat of that sun!

On the other hand, I guess they should be given even more respect by the faithful for this, as they are definitely suffering physical discomfort for their vocation!

God bless all priests everywhere!

Just some thoughts!

Alice

I like the article, but does it apply only to Orthodox priests? Would the same be true for Byzantine Catholic priests?

Dear Nicholas,

I believe that the same would hold for Byzantine Catholic priests. Do you know if they also still wear a long robe (rasso) in the old countries?

In Christ,
Alice

I have seen a number of priests with them on at different times. Here our other deacon always wears his no matter where he is going. I suspect my husband will too, when he retires. I somehow don't think the post office would go for it.

I have often heard it said that when the nuns came out of the habits, it changed society.

To me this part was so important, and I think even those of us who are very active in our faith and in church all the time, tend to forget or take for granted:
It is within this unrestrained flow, these continuous alterations, this perpetual motion, these uninterrupted waves and oscillations, these terrible vibrations of the world that our clergy exists unaltered. Let us permit God�s priest to stand accordingly, as an unmovable rock and a sky-high column of light. He has neither a name nor an age. He is the one and the same from Jesus� time (if not from the age of Malchizedek) and will be the same through the end of time! He, of course, has flesh, is born, lives and dies and is replaced by others. However, he is the same with the One Whom he represents on earth, even though he exists and has existed at millions of altars. The priesthood is one and the same, and emanates from Him.

This, therefore, is the Orthodox priest, the one and only that lies above place and time, binding together earth and heaven, uniting past, present and future, having been assimilated with the Son of God, possessing an infinite and eternal dimension, and whom we now wish to subjugate to the commands of the �spirit of time� of various generations.

That was my favorite part of the aticle.
Pani Rose

Pani Rose, that was a comforting article. There is something about seeing clergy in uniform that lowers the blood pressure! But, I wonder how a priest can change a car tire or run a tractor safely in a cassocK? Also, though it was sad, many nuns were glad to get out of the habits for sanitary reasons. (Though I still can't get the image out of my mind of some young nuns I saw on a bus wearing habits and red lipstsick!)

We have to remember though that not all who've worn the cloth have been holy and good. But it does seem that clerical attire would be a constant reminder to relgious of their vocation.

In this day and age a conscientious clergy person in North America would have to be aware of the need to behave as befits his attire in order to be takaen seriously.I'm afraid the clerical scandals (in all denominations)of the past twenty years have caused many to look upon clergy with a jaundiced eye.

How do priests nuns view the matter?

Peace

Comments have been made (here and elsewhere) on the practicality of clerical garb. I agree that a cassock is not the most convenient thing to wear while climbing ladders, changing tires, etc. BUT it can be done. The life of a cleric isn't 'practical' in the modern world, while should the garb differ? Honestly, how much of what clergy do is would be extrememly difficult do to wearing a cassock?

What's depressing is when the clerical 'uniform' becomes something worn only when serving. At my parish it seems the clergy only don cassocks immediately before they come down to serve. At other times they are in civvies. This includes when they open up the church. Quite often there will be people waiting outside the gate. Then appears a man in jeans and a polo shirt. Custodian, or perhaps sacristan? No - the pastor.

I live in a very multi-ethnic neighbourhood. Muslims, Sikhs, etc., have no qualms about walking around town while dressed 'appropriately'. Our clergy, OTOH, will more than likely be found in civvies, ('collar' if you're lucky) unless out on "business".

Oυτις ημιν φιλει ου φροντιδα | Nemo Nos Diliget Non Curamus

One problem is that an awful lot of cassocks and riassas are constructed as "choir" rather than "functional" garments. (As are a buncha Religious habits these days - seems we had a thread on this awhile back.) They tend to be made out of fabrics inappropriate for daily dawn-to-evening wear, non-washable, non-robust, too stinkin' hot, or any combination of the aforementioned. I think if they were better made (the ones that aren't hand-tailored and cost a fortune, I mean) and more life-appropriate, they'd have a better chance of being worn more. Trouble is, most priests don't sew, and most of 'em don't have a real clue about fibers, nor the time or resources to track down better options.


Just a thought...

Sharon

(who has made a pretty decent greek-style cassock more than once starting with Simplicity's "Civil War General" costume pattern.)

And in a lighter vein, from the Wenchoster Cathedral Hymn Book which regulary spoofs the Anglican Church,
vestments [pharisaios2.scriptmania.com]

And all kidding aside, it's reassuring and comforting to see priests who dress like priests.

ByzTn, thanks for the laugh. The music really makes it work.

Sharon, you're probably right about the uncomfortable fabric.You are right about the costliness of vestments. I had occasion to thumb through a vestment catalogue once and, boy, were they pricey! The variety of patterns was interesting. I kept looking for a faux leopard spotted piece but I must have missed the page!

I think the old switcheroo number is disconcerting because it gives the impression that being a religious is just like a regular 9-5 job with timeclock hours.Though it is normal for a cleaning woman to change clothes before and after performing her duties, it is weird to see a clergyman do the same.

Peace

Well. My husbands jebbe is made out of a wonderful polyester that gets thrown on the back seat and never looks wrinkled. Then I had his cassoks made out of micro-fiber, that works wonders for coolness and comfort.

Pani Rose

Without making any judgements, because I am aware that we live in a very complex and ambiguous culture, the excuse I got from an Antiochian priest for not wearing collar (forget 'rasso', Antiochians are probably the most protestantized of the Orthodox jurisdictions and would like to be even more so: Metropolitan Phillip vocally advocates married Bishops), was that he was sick of the 'dirty looks' he would get when he was out eating at a restaurant or any other activity with his wife. It is a fact, that when Americans see a priest, they assume that he is RC and thus, should be, without a lady! (I have to admit that once we took out our then, new parish priest and his wife to a restaurant, who at the time was quite a tall, relatively young and strikingly attractive woman, and Father did have his collar on...the Maitre d' looked at Father and then the Presvytera and had a totally disgusted look on his face. If this is what priests and presvyteres have to go through, I can see that Antiochian priest's point of view).

In Christ,
Alice

It was once reported to me by an Orthodox priest that he took his small son to a playground (the priest being in collar) and was approached by an adult demanding to know what he was doing with that child and where his parents were.

Since married priests are not common in North America then the priests might consider using the opportunity to educate people. In the case of priests going to restaurants they might notify the maitre'd ahead of time that they are OC or EC priests and as such are allowed to marry and will be accompanied by their wives. The maitre'd can then inform the waiters who may have the opportunity to enlighten an outraged patron.they could also tell them about their crosses or other distinctive clothing so that folks learn to recognize the difference.

Yeah, they shouldn't have to do this, and of course every situation won't lend itself to this, but a smile and an short explanation could also be form of evangelizing. Who knows?

Peace

I feel that it is unfortunate that many (if not most) RC dioceses direct their "non-transitional" deacons only to wear distinctive attire during liturgical or sacramental ceremonies, but not at other times, even when engaged in some form of ministry. (I believe my understanding is correct on this.)

During Mass, RC deacons most frequently are attired in alb and stole, but not usually dalmatic. Outside of church, even when visiting the sick or at a funeral home, graveside service, etc., they will wear "street clothes" (usually a suit and tie) and not even the Roman collar.

I seem to remember reading that the RC Archdiocese of Atlanta approved the use of the "Christian Brothers'" collar with a black suit for deacons to wear in such ministry, so that they might be distinguished from priests, but also so that they might properly be identified as clergy. Seemed like a good idea to me.