Why you can't wear trousers to church
By studying the Old Testament in detail, you can find the following answer: a woman should not wear men's clothing, and a man should not dress in women's clothing.
But there is an unclear point in this answer: the clothing at the time the Holy Book was written was significantly different from modern clothing. During the Middle Ages, trousers as we understand them today did not exist.
This wardrobe item has its origins around the 19th century. The Bible notes that clothing for the opposite sex is a comic image. The use of clothes that were not their own was an attribute of people of other faiths to perform rituals related to magic. And magical actions have not been accepted by the church since ancient times. Therefore, it cannot be unequivocally stated that the lines of the Bible are the fundamental document that approves the ban on trousers for women when going to church.
We should not forget that the issue under study also applies to aesthetic issues. For Orthodox people, beauty is a special concept that requires a reverent attitude. Therefore, believers strive to reflect beauty both spiritually and in their outer appearance.
Clothes should not be made too important a part of life, but not taking care of yourself is not acceptable. Based on this reasoning, a woman should not visit a temple in trousers, because this wardrobe item does not personify femininity and tenderness.
If suddenly you didn’t already know, then we advise you to read about how to light a candle for health in church.
Do jeans interfere with salvation?
Among the questions asked by readers of our website are those related to various church rules and customs. Not long ago, the question “Can a woman wear men’s clothes?” Abbot Kirill (Semyonov) answered.
Several days passed, and the editors received the following unsigned letter:
“To Olga’s question about clothing during prayer, you answered this way: “If you wear men’s clothing out of necessity, well, wear it, just go to church in what is appropriate for a Christian woman.” I wonder where it is determined that jeans are indecent for a Christian woman? The skirt and trousers are components of culture, not faith. Modern culture is not the culture of Israel two thousand years ago, and it is not surprising that the Church, drawing from ancient culture, will not be able to address modern people in a language they understand.
The culture will never be able to accept Christ if the Church shuns it and ignores it. A church that does not keep up with the times will remain a thing of the past. And Christ is just as present in the culture of the past as he is in today’s culture. Why impose on a person something that has nothing to do with faith (a headscarf, a long skirt), why consider indecent something that does not at all contradict life in Christ (for example, jeans)?
Is it really so difficult for the Church to distinguish between that which contradicts the Gospel and that which does not at all interfere with living as a Christian?”
Vladimir Legoida, co-editor of the Foma magazine, answers our reader:
Dear N!
Thank you for such an emotional and sincere reaction to Olga’s answer.
I’ll start by saying that I absolutely agree with you: skirts, trousers and other clothes are an element of culture, not faith. Theologically speaking, trousers in themselves do not carry any soteriological (i.e., saving) meaning. As well as the whole culture as a whole - because It is not in her that salvation is accomplished. Our salvation is accomplished by God looking at the human heart. Thus, salvation occurs outside the space of culture.
On the other hand, does this mean that cultural phenomena are not at all important and do not play any role in the life of a believer? I don't think that means. You yourself write: “The culture will never be able to accept Christ if the Church shuns it and does not take it into account.” In other words, culture is important. It is important as a shell, as a presentation of content. Of course, when we bring a person a gift on his birthday, the main thing is attention, it is the gift itself, and not the wrapper, which plays, perhaps, the very last role. But he also plays.
I work as a teacher at an institute and I understand perfectly well that the way I dress at a lecture does not affect its content. Roughly speaking, I can come to a lecture in torn trousers, a tie on my naked body and a sombrero hat. And say the same things I say when I’m “usually” dressed (suit, tie). My clothes will not affect the content of the lecture, but they will also affect its perception. Will students perceive me as normal or will they become distracted by my appearance? The question is rhetorical.
In general, we often tend to underestimate the symbolism of appearance. But is this right? The entire culture of humanity is essentially mythological (in this case, by myth I mean not fiction or a distortion of reality, but a special form of human consciousness, conditioned culturally and historically). Any uniform is mythological, which means symbolic. And although it is not what makes a person a professional, its importance cannot be underestimated. Imagine a traffic cop standing at an intersection in checkered trousers, a police cap and waving a loaf of doctor's sausage, trying to regulate traffic! You may say that I am exaggerating, that I am talking about something else. Not at all. Why, when we get ready for work, school, etc. (i.e. to places that are much less significant and important for us than the temple), then we pay attention to every little thing, and when we go to church, we immediately dismiss everything external with indignation: “For God this is not important!” Of course not. But it’s important for your neighbor!!!
For me, as, I think, for any man, it is much more difficult to concentrate on prayer in the temple when women in short skirts and stylish trousers are standing around. You will say - it's my fault, my lust. Again I agree. But is it really because of this that women should refuse to help me overcome my weaknesses, should they really want to become a temptation? The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians directly says that food sacrificed to idols cannot defile a person who is free in faith, since “Food does not bring us closer to God: for whether we eat, we gain nothing; if we do not eat, we lose nothing” (1 Cor. 8:8). But he immediately stipulates: “Beware, however, that this freedom of yours does not serve as a temptation for the weak... And therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to stumble” (1 Cor. 8:9, 13). The same can be said about clothes.
Clothes are indeed part of culture. And the cultural area must also be treated with respect. For example, in a Russian Orthodox church in London, many women come to services in trousers, and few people there are embarrassed by this. But almost all of them, when they get to Russia, wear skirts when they go to church. It seems to me that this is correct. Recently in our church (Kazan Cathedral on Red Square) I observed young Catholic children. One of the girls, seeing that the women were standing in headscarves, put a headscarf on her head herself, although, apparently, she was unmarried, and even in the strict canonical Orthodox sense, she might not have done this. But for some reason it seems to me that there was much more genuine Christian love and humility in her action than there would have been in a demonstrative reluctance to submit to cultural tradition. After all, Christian love is manifested, among other things, in the correct understanding of cultural traditions, respect for them, and condescension towards human weakness. It turns out that culture also has something to do with our salvation!
And one last thing. In your letter you yourself point out the importance of culture when you say that the Church must keep up with the times, otherwise it will remain in the past. And again I agree with you - regarding the form of preaching, the language of communication with doubters. But here you also need to clearly understand this: the Mystical Church, the Church of the Sacraments, in which Christ Himself is present, cannot remain in the past and should not keep up with the times, since only this constantly changing world of human culture is temporary. The peace of the Kingdom of God to which we are called is eternal. And there is nothing wrong with not keeping up with the times on the eve of entering this world.
Once again thank you very much for your sincere letter.
Continuing the discussion with readers.
How to properly dress for church as a woman
The primary requirement for women's clothing is modesty and cleanliness. Shorts and T-shirts that reveal a woman's shoulders and arms are not respected by priests.
Recommendations when choosing clothes for women are as follows:
- the head should be covered with a scarf; if a scarf is not available, you can use a hood or other available items;
- give preference to skirts and dresses whose length is below knee level;
- clothing models should have long sleeves and a closed collar; it is important not to show shoulders and chest;
- You should avoid high heels and use flat soles.
- the colors of clothes should not attract attention;
- It is better to give up bright cosmetics and provocative perfumes.
Women should not attract men's attention with their appearance and distract from communication with God. Even closed clothes can be stylish. Decorating your body is not prohibited, the main thing is to avoid vulgarity. It is important to remember that people come to church to find God, to find peace; distracting the attention of believers is an unworthy activity.
Question: “Is it obligatory for a girl to wear a skirt to church?” has no clear explanation. But it is important to use the right style when choosing this type of wardrobe. The skirt must be either below the knee or as long as possible. Tight-fitting fabric should not be used; a discreet cut is recommended.
A short skirt can cause confusion among both servants of God and parishioners. The purpose of a visit to the temple can be any, but the choice of clothing should always be taken with great seriousness.
Female look
Some Orthodox believe that women can wear trousers to church. There is also a completely opposite opinion. This ban on wearing them is not as clear as it may seem at first glance. Some Christian women observe it too zealously, not wearing trousers not only when visiting church, but even in everyday life. Other women say that if we compare trousers and miniskirts, the first option looks much more modest.
No matter how paradoxical it may sound, there is no consensus among priests about whether a woman can wear trousers to church.
Trousers as a masculine element
Is it possible for a woman to wear trousers to church? Now few, besides historians, will be able to remember that wearing this item of clothing when visiting church was previously strictly prohibited even for men. In the 9th century, the Bulgarian prince almost refused to baptize the country due to the fact that the Byzantine superiors demanded that his subordinates be prohibited from wearing trousers even outside the walls of the temple. This form of clothing was called pagan.
In later times, no one saw anything in trousers that did not correspond to the Christian faith, and until modern times, women did not wear trousers. Thus, trousers were only a male attribute.
Other reasons
But some priests still adhere to these norms and prohibit women wearing trousers from attending church. They say that such clothing dictates clear forms of behavior that run counter to Christian principles. A girl in a skirt will not be able to afford to be in an inappropriate position, but in trousers it’s quite easy. When you change your demeanor, you can observe previously unusual behavior and character traits.
Is it possible for a woman to wear trousers to church? The degree of severity may directly depend on the mood of the parishioners and the priest from a particular parish. In some places, girls in pants are treated quite tolerantly, in others not, but in any case, you shouldn’t take the risk, especially if you decide to visit the temple for the first time. In addition, such actions can lead to conflict situations. Even if the parishioners are not inclined to be indignant on this score, they will understand that the woman who came in a skirt not only understands, but also respects the established rules. Thus, it will be possible to immediately establish fairly warm relations.
