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Are there any canonical statements about women wearing head coverings in Orthodoxy or Catholicism?

It seems that every time I try to defend male-only ordination with Sacred Scripture, they basically say Paul was mysogynist (sp?) and always throw back, "Well what about head coverings," in an attempt to relativize the issue with historical and cultural circumstances.

Thanks for the help.

your brother in Christ,
Marshall

In practice, American Byzantine women are not required to cover their heads buring communal worship.

The practice is widespread enough that any contrary ancient canon dug up can be considered moot.

K.

From Parish Life, August 1994

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dis�honoureth her head. (I Corinthians 11:5).

Orthodox women, according to the words of the holy Apostle Paul, go to God's church with covered heads. For nearly two thousand years now, this custom has been kept by faithful women and has been handed down from generation to generation. It is a custom not only of the local churches, but also of the Universal Church, and, therefore � whether we be in a Greek, in a Serbian or Russian church � the women in the church have their heads covered. Not long ago, we happened to talk with a woman who had only just been in Russia. On a feast day, she went to church with her head uncovered, and when she came forward to venerate the Cross, the priest refused to give her the Cross. To her protests and excuses, that she had come from abroad, did not know the local customs and thought that it is necessary to cover one's head only for Communion, the priest replied to her that this is no excuse, that it is always necessary to have the head covered in church, and that he could not allow her to kiss the Holy Cross.

When taking into consideration the rule that women in church must cover their heads, it is completely incomprehensible why in many churches of the Russian diaspora one may see women with uncovered heads. The reasons and justifications for this are usually the following: kerchiefs are not in style; a kerchief spoils the hair�do; they say that there is no basis for covering the head; they ask why the Apostle Paul says that it is necessary to cover the head: why is it necessary for us women to cover the head, but not necessary for men? And sometimes it simply makes no difference to people what the Church directs, and even when given a well�grounded response to the foregoing arguments, they remain of the same opinion. Below, we shall try to respond briefly to all of these points.

Worldly fashions should not have any kind of influence on our Church life. If we were to give in to fashion, then our services would last fifteen minutes, we would sit in our churches and there would be the playing of musical instruments. Perhaps the head� covering does spoil one's hair�do; but at the same time, for example, women wear high�heel shoes for the sake of beauty. It seems that one can endure discomfort for the sake of beauty, but to do so for the sake of God is impossible.

We find the basis for covering the head in Sacred Scripture itself, in the New Testament. The Most Holy Virgin Mary covered her head in the holy temple from her young years. According to tradition, her head�covering in the Jerusalem temple was light blue; therefore, on the feast days of the Theotokos our clergy wear light blue vestments. The Most Holy Theotokos wore a kerchief as a sign of her humility and submissiveness to God's will, which was manifested on the day of the Annunciation. In wearing a kerchief, the faithful woman recalls the image of her who was vouchsafed to carry the Saviour Himself. If the Most Pure and Most Blessed One herself had a covered head, shall we really consider the imitation of her as an abasement. Every outward action, accompanied by the correct Christian inward disposition, brings benefit to the soul. The Holy Church knows human nature and the effect of symbolism on man perfectly well. The Saviour frequently taught by means of parables and images, so that His teaching would be more understandable and intelligible to the people. And His Church teaches us by means of images and symbolic actions (the sign of the Cross, bows), in order to bring us closer to His Kingdom.

But why should only women cover their heads? � This is not entirely true � look at the hierarch; is not his head covered with a klobuk, and during the Divine services � with a miter? The right to wear a head�covering is considered an award and an honor by the clergy. However, women, in coming to church with a head�covering, should not take it off; whereas clergy and monastics should take of and put on theirs at various times during the course of the Divine services.

And so, we have no basis for breaking the Church's statute. When Greeks, converts or just Church people come to our church and see women in church with uncovered heads, this disturbs them and leads them into perplexity! And there is nothing we can say in reply. For a thousand years Russian Orthodox women have prayed in Russian churches with covered heads. Let it not be us who neglect this profound custom. Let us remember the words of the Lord that he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10).

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I personally believe that the injunction of Paul was not just a cultural note but was given for a special hallowing reason. The parish I go to does not refuse the cross to a woman whose head is uncovered but has conspicuously available head scarfs and I note that most converts , almost all of the teenage girls, and many of the ethnic orthodox seem to avail themselves of this holy tradition. If the priest is asked about this holy practice, he uses it as a teaching opportunity and the usual result is the woman chooses to wear the head covering. My parish does not force the issue but definitely the head coverers are winning --- this is in new mission with about 50 families that is GROWING!

Oddly enough it is our older, ethnic orthodox women who tend not to wear a head covering. perhaps as JPII has said about the Catholic Communion being spiritually revived perhaps the Orthodox Communion likewise is being revived by the power of the Holy Spirit upon its yournger and new members.

Your brother in Christ,
Thomas

[ 01-26-2002: Message edited by: Thomas ]

Dear OrthodoxyorDeath,
I couldn't agree with you anymore. I believe we have problems with our modern day women. Like Thomas said, the female converts tend to cover their heads. I look at my ethnics and I look at my converts. The converts put the ethnics to shame and I'm glad they do. They serve as a spectacle in our eyes. I am not saying because the converts wear them and the ethnics don't that they are better people. I know in the Old Calendarist Churches these problems don't exist. If I say I would prefer to see head coverings or no pews I might be labelled an extremist. Some woman think coming to Church is a fashion show. I can tell by their appearances. I know others have complained and the priest has at various times strongly condemned the clothing worn to Church. However, he will not enforce the head covering. I think he would like to see it worn but is not going to reject anyone that doesn't. Ethnics can cause alot of commotion between each other. They can get carried away. I have seen it.

Hey guys,
I am trying to understand the word "shorn" in 1 Corinthians 11:6. Does anyone know what St. Paul was saying or what it means in the Greek?

A far as I understand, there never was any statement that women could stop covering their heads in Church. It just sort of happened over a period of time. I recall in the late 1960s my mother and sisters still wore hats or veils over their heads, but by the 1970s only a few very old ladies were wearing them. Today I know only one woman who regularly wears a scarf over her hair.

"Shorn" means cut off very short, like a sheep after the shearing. It is the past participle of the infinitive "to shear".

Dear Friends:

I am surprised that this is an issue in the Orthodox Churches.

In the Roman Church, headcoverings for women were gradually discontinued in what I would assume was the Spirit of Vatican II.

When I was growing up every woman in the Church wore a lace veil.

These came in black, white, gold, silver; in fact one could match them to any outfit.

The veils tended to be about 18 inches wide and about 50 inches long.

They were not tied but draped over the head.

A woman could look very spiritually beautiful in one.

In fact, I believe the first time my brother-in-law saw my sister in church [Greek Catholic]; he was impressed that a young woman could still wear a veil.

Some years ago, Her Imperial Highness, The Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, wore a very fine black veil at the dedication service for the Imperial Martyrs shrine in Ekaterinburg.

It's a beautiful custom, I hope that it is not discontinued.

P.S.
My Mother Still wears one and all Portuguese women, whatever their practice during life, will be buried in one.

Sincerely
defreitas

In ROCOR and Greek Old-Calendarist churches, veils are still mandatory, but what's nice is that they have a basket of "loaners" veils and wrap around dresses at the door for women who forgot one. However, in Russian and Ukraine, you will definately find women in church without head coverings or dresses.

If I am not mistaken, St. Paul ordered head coverings for women to cover their hair, which was a sign of beauty and vanity and a distraction.
So what do we do when a woman goes to church with her head covered but wearing a low-cut, revealing dress? This happens very often. Today, hair can still be a sign of vanity and a distraction, but so can certain clothes of bright colours.

What are we to do?

Daniil

Dear Daniil:

Excellent point.

My old parish priest used to keep a spare men's jacket in the sacristy and if he saw an indiscreetly dressed woman he would have her put it on.

Them were the days.

I know that the Swiss Guards will not allow you into St. Peter's if you [man or woman] are improperly dressed, they even have cartoon signs to indicate what is appropriate and what is not.

One thing that really bothers me in Church is seeing clothing with text on the back.

Sometimes the slogans are really lame and who wants to see designer labels on the outside.

Rant, Rant, Rant.


defreitas.

I agree with you completely!

Daniil

PS Shouldn't you be asleep? You need those 8 hours of sleep.

My dear young Master:

I hope you don't have classes tomorrow.

This forum is so inviting one forgets.

The struggle is hard and the road is long but salvation is granted to those who persevere.

Good night, and may God and his Saints keep you in their regard.

sincerely
defreitas

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: defreitas ]

Do head coverings/veils qualify as "sacramentals"? For example a scapular is a sacramental because it denotes a spiritual reality. The same is true for icons or rosaries. They are physical reminders of metaphysical realities, dependent upon the faith of the user.

It seems that Paul is saying that headcoverings are necessary "because of the angels." (1 Cor 11:10). The headcovering represents a spiritual disposition (whether the one who wears it is spiritual is debatable, just as those who wear scapulars and lights candles before icons may not truly be disposed to the love of Christ). Thus, the headcovering is a sign of faith and submission to Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church.

So what do you think, is the headcovering a sacramental? It's too bad women see headcoverings as a sign of enslavement. In reality, the concept is a compliment to femininity - women are so glorious that they must be covered "because of the angels". Wow!!!

love in Christ,
Marshall

Dear Marshall,

Happy King Charles the Martyr's Day to you, Servant of Christ!

This is an excellent question, you know . . .

I've never seen or heard of a blessing for a head covering or scarve, although, as you say, I don't see why there shouldn't be one.

Scapulars belong to monastic dress and so they are blessed as such.

The Eastern embroidered belt that both priests and laypeople wear, the embroidered shirt (made from the "Kryzhmo" or white cloth used at baptism), the pillow or poddruchnik that some bring with them to Church on which to make prostrations and the head covering are considered as semi-religious objects at best, I think.

I don't see any reason why they couldn't be blessed, except that many women (in the "old country") would also wear them outside of Church, but then so what?

I wonder what Reader Sergius would say to this?

You just have me stumped, Big Guy, stumped . . .

Alex

Rum O,

My father always told me, "when the head coverings go, so goes the Church".

At this point in my life, I see exactly what he means; it is not the head coverings specifically, but the spirit of the people who don't want them.

And now today, oh boy, people think it is just absolutley ridiculous, at least in America.

We often have visitors who slip in without head coverings and of course nobody says anything, they quickley figure things out on their own. But when a women comes in with pants, that is absolutley forbidden.

The men who have those hiking style boots which many times have small crosses for traction cut part of them off so it no longer resemles a cross. Sounds a little extreme but I resepect the deep sense of love for God.

God bless!