www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Beards and traditional monastic dress

In the Byzantine News group, we had a discussion about the rejection by the Greek Church to a modernizing proposal by Greek priests. Perhaps the following may shed some light on the beard requirement.

During the coffee social after the DL, the discussion at the table turned to the report. One of the OSBM sisters remarked that beards were required of the monks in order to tell them apart from the nuns since the traditional monastic habits and veils were similar for both men and women. Sounds far fetched? What about the stories of the women who entered the male monasteries in order to become monks only to be found out at their death? Anyone else heard that line of reasoning?

I remember an Orthodox archimandrite was on EWTN some years ago with Mother Angelica. Wearing the tradition garb and sporting moustache and beard, he commented that while he was walking down a hall in the studio someone approached him from behind and adressed him as "sister". Mother Angelica retorted that he must have been mistaken for an Italian nun with that facial hair.

Dear Bisantino,

I've never heard of that explanation!

It is true that there is an Eastern monastic head-cap with flaps on either side that covers up most of one's face.

This is worn in honour of St Methodios who was struck in the face with a dagger for his defence of icons.

He wore the flaps to cover up the wounds so as to prevent people praising him for his suffering . . .

Alex

Dear Friends,

Having spent some time around Eastern monastics, let me make these comments.

I think that the beard issue is like the clothing issue. We all (and especially monastics who are somewhat freed from some of the world's distractions) are expected to dress modestly and to live humbly. Adornments for the sake of personal beauty are like Solomon in all of his raiment: vanities. Iconographically, males would seek to be as the Lord that we saw on earth, clean and presentable, but not overly adorned or overly trimmed.

The other explanations are good practical explanations, but not as important as the thoroughly simple one that I'm emphasizing here.

Regards.

I suppose if you had a shorter monk and larger nun...hmmm, maybe.

This quote by Metropolitan Sheptytsky at the Synod in St. Petersburg in 1917 is interesting:

"We wear the beard according to the ancient custom, and we follow the apostolic prescription concerning the hair, without any worldly vanity such as different coiffures, perfumes, and so on".

He didn't mention the mistaken identity issue.

Beards and pidriyaznyks are making a comeback in the Uk.GC. clergy.

Generally only the "older generation" of clergy wear roman collars and clerical suits.

The young turks sport beards and pidriyaznyks.

Of course in itself it may mean little. But usually it is an indication of Orthodoxy. Just as for some amongst Uk.GC clergy, being clean shaven and roman collars means a definite rejection of Orthodoxy.

[not true in every case, but often is indicative...]

Is this a trend in other OrthodoxInCommunionWithRome Churches too?

herb.

I hope our priests are reading their Pastoral Guide (Archeparchial Statutes) for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the USA:

Article Art. 42 - The form of clerical garb shall conform to the traditions of our Church, as re-established by the Holy See, and as modified by local circumstances. Wherefore, the following regulations shall be observed:

1. Preferably, the cassock should not be in the style of the Latin Church, but rather in the style of the Eastern Church.

It should be clear according to the particular law of the UGCC in the USA that the podriasnyk is the appropriate clerical garb.

In my UGCC diaconal program we were required to be in podriasnik for not only all services but for all classes and meals.