The question of how a woman should dress in a church torments many parishioners. Some emphatically refuse to wear all black or gray, saying that it’s better they don’t go to the service. Others do not like to wear a skirt on the floor, which prevents movement. Still others testify that all this is necessary. But is it? In fact, there are 4 main rules that Orthodox women must adhere to:
- Do not look vulgar and catchy;
- do not wear tight things;
- Do not wear catchy jewelry (a cross is required from jewelry);
- the head must be covered with a scarf.
Otherwise, Christians can fully rely on their own taste and style. No one has the right to forbid them. But let's move on to how a woman to dress in church properly.
Outerwear
Tops, T-shirts with short sleeves, T-shirts with a deep neckline and foreign inscriptions, in order to avoid absurd situations and distract believers from prayer, it is forbidden to put on the church. Do not forget that the whole body of an Orthodox woman who came to the temple should be hidden under her clothes. Therefore, loose blouses or hip-length shirts would be an ideal choice. They should have sleeves and a high collar and be opaque. The same goes for dresses.
Women's underwear
Christian women asking a question about how a woman should dress in a church are often also interested in whether they can go there in trousers. In fact, it is undesirable, since you will distract the parishioners from prayer, especially those who supposedly know everything about everything. But if there is no other way, you should put on special skirts with ties over the trousers, they are now sold in many stores, and sometimes they are provided to the parishioners directly in the church for the duration of the service.
But still, the best choice would be spacious skirts below the knee, not necessarily on the floor. You should pray and turn to God during the service, and not think about how to stand uncomfortable and not be afraid to fall. Miniskirts are strictly prohibited! Do not divert the thoughts of men, including priests, in the wrong direction.
Headdress
One of the important rules of how a woman dresses in the church is that her head should be covered. There can be no exceptions in this case! Another thing is that instead of a scarf, in some churches it is allowed to wear a hat, a shawl, a beret or a hat, the main thing is that these products should be chosen correctly, and not cut eyes with their own inappropriateness. But you should learn about the possibility of replacement in a local temple.
Women's shoes
The church service is very long, but you have to stand during it. Therefore, anyone interested in how to dress a woman in church in summer or winter should know: shoes for visiting the temple must be comfortable and closed. No sandals, open sandals, high-heeled shoes that hit the floor hard! If you cannot wear flat shoes for any reason, wear shoes with a 2-3 cm heel, to which the heels are nailed.
Wardrobe color
Some, answering the question of how a woman should dress in the church, answer: in dark or even better black. This is a very mistaken look! Patriarch Kirill himself, answering a question from one of the parishioners, said that the color of clothes and other wardrobe items has nothing to do with good looks, nor with modesty, or with Orthodoxy in general. However, this does not mean that you can wear a clown costume and go to the temple in it. An Orthodox woman should look cute and modest, as if she really gathered for a great holiday, and not for a party with her friends. But in what style her clothes will be sewn - whether in modern, rustic or urban, it no longer matters. I wish you success!