www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Camo Vestments

I was just watching a special about the Military Archdiocese on EWTN, they showed Masses in the Field. There were held in ordinary tents as one would expect but what I though was rather unusual was that the vestments and altar cloth were camo! Now I don't post this as a criticism, it may be something dictated by the Army because they are in the Field. I just thought it was different.

I met an Orthodox military chaplain who said that he had a set of vestments made out of camouflage fabric. He was also very proud that they were high backed "Ukrainian" style as he called them (since they came from Kiev, ya know).

Dave

Since vestment color is determined by the Liturgical season, I imagine camo is for the Hunting Season.

I don't know why one couldn't just make a set out of a solid fatigue green or khaki or something...

Oh, the aforementioned priest also wanted to get a camo riassa, but I don't know if he did.

Dave

Greens for weekdays, and Khakis for Sundays? Would this fit our Bright/Dark prescriptions?

There are different shades of camo, too. They could use the desert/sand camo for Sundays and the darker green camo for weekdays.

Dear Friends,

So no one here has ever heard of "camo-hair" I suppose?

And, Chtec, Big Guy, it's KYIV!

Alex

I'm just saying what this priest said... you don't like it, take it up with him.

I think I recall this priest telling a story that when he started serving on the field, he wore a set of gold vestments. His commander said to him after the service, "Look, we are TARGETS so WHY are you wearing bright flashy gold robes?!" After that, he switched to more subdued camo vestments.

He also served Liturgy on the hood of of a Hum V. Sometimes you just have to improvise.

Dave

Hi Dave,

During WWII and the Korean War many Masses and I would presume Divine Liturgies were offered on the hood of a Jeep. I understand that Latin priests used Eastern antimensions to substitute for the required Latin altar stone containing a saint's relics.

Camo vestments? Better camo then dead. Sometimes the rules must be changed to serve the people.

I am not a liberal.
I am not a liberal.
I am not a liberal.

I must maintain my conservative credentials. :p

Paul

Yes, camo in the time of war (police action)... absolutely.

Black and gold Sunday vestments for the Steelers during football season... I don't think so. [The priest who had these vestments was actually a media item in the P'gh area back in the 70's when the "Stillwers" were in the win column.]

I've also been noticing in the photos published in recent ECL's that the vestment's worn by our Eparchy's priests are becoming more elaborate (for lack of better word). They seem to be getting away from the simplier Byzantine style of solid color with a cross on the back...which is okay by me.

Yes--it's a shame to see all those polyester, double-knit, off the rack vestments go! Where is the tradition???

Dear Chtec,

It's O.K., Big Guy!

Also, the knotted cord rosary that I was talking about some time ago is also given to U.S. servicemen by chaplains and these are worn around the neck.

They obviously cannot be detected on metal detectors etc.

And they make these in camo too!

Alex

Hey folks, don't forget white (winter/arctic) camo for the Paschal season!!!

I wonder if the priest has to paint his face Black and green for a perfect camo and are priests alowed to cut their hair "Mohawk" style?
Lauro

HUUAAAAH!

Friends,

God bless priests who serve in the military. They offer spiritual support for the men and women of the armed services.

Amen.

Dear Paul,

My grandfather was a Greek-Catholic priest and served as a chaplain.

He once told me he buried more than 200 dead soldiers in a single location and in a single day.

Alex

God bless military chaplains of all denominations. They are a close-knit group with great respect for one another and for the religious traditions of their fellow men and women, Christian and non-Christian alike. They regularly meet the spiritual needs of all denominations and are specially trained to do so. There is an expectation that chaplains, regardless of denomination, will minister to the spiritual needs of all those w/in their command. If you have never been in the military, particularly in time of war, you can't possibly understand how unimportant it can be that the person giving you spiritual succor has a Star of David on his lapel, rather than a Cross, or vice-versa.

As a young officer in Viet Nam 35 yrs ago, I learned that soldiers in battle zones are very aware of God, but much less particular about who talks about Him than we are. I have watched a priest recite the Kaddish into the ear of a dying Jewish soldier, a minister recite the Act of Contrition for a Catholic, and a rabbi pray the 23rd Psalm for a Protestant soldier. I have no doubt that each of them felt closer to the God Whom they were about to meet because of these ministrations by one who did not believe as they did, but respected their spiritual needs.

February 3 of this year marked the 60th anniversary of the WWII sinking of the USS Dorchester, when Lieutenants George Fox, a Methodist minister; Alexander Goode, a Jewish rabbi; John Washington, a Catholic priest; and Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister, all members of the Army Chaplain Corps, handed
their life jackets to others - never asking to Whom anyone prayed or what form the prayers took - and stood, arm-in-arm, on the deck, praying aloud together as the ship sank, taking them to their eternal repose. May their memory be
eternal.

Their sacrifice was dramatic but no more heroic than that made by many other chaplains and chaplains' assistants of every denomination and sect in the military of the US and every other nation.

Many years,

Neil

Dear Alex, Neil,

Your stories bring tears to my eyes.

I'm not a theologian, but I would say that heroism and service of country is rooted in love (agape).

To our war dead: Eternal Memory.

To our veterans: Thank you.

Paul