Jewish and all Christian Orthodoxies regard hair as having special significance, and beard hair in particular. This is shown in the popular story of Samson, the strongest man in the world. This is originally a Jewish story that made it into the Bible. It showed that wearing a beard led to being favored by God. Samson was the strongest man in the world, who just happened to be Jewish. The Gentile King did not like him. She told him it was in his hair.
So, as he slept, she shaved off his beard and his head. Samson woke up weak as newborn kitten. When his hair grew back, he had his revenge. For Christian Orthodoxies like the Greek and Roman churches, a beard takes on special significance.
Jesus was thought to have had a beard, since he was part of a sect called Nazarenes. This sect was notorious for not shaving. They were called this because of verse in the Biblical book of Nazareth:. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Priests in Christian Orthodoxies try to emulate Christ as much as possible. Also, some traits are impossible, such as raising the dead, some are much easier, such as wearing a beard.
Many Orthodox priests also wear their hair long, as Jesus was thought to have done. Just as Orthodox priests have a long tradition of wearing long beards, modern society has a tradition of being scared of people with beards. In popular literature, bad guys like bikers or pirates wear beards. This is thought to go back the days of the Roman Empire, where good Romans were clean-shaven and often kept their hair short.
In modern times, beards have been associated with rebellion. During the s, hippies and those trying to change old traditional ways almost always wore beards. Some biblical verses are only relevant in their original context.
Thirdly your statement that the priests who trim their beards should be termed as apostates is misplaced for apostacy, is as a result of herecy or contradiction to church dogmas. I also would like to remind you that the orthodox church is a universal church hence ecumenical and so whereas the beards in Greece or Russia may be a norm in other parts of the world it may not be practicalIn other words your above paper is not based on theology but on some misplacement of facts and.
I agree that beards and long hair is the traditional Orthodox attire for clergy, but it is neither a dogma of the Church nor canonically required. While we need to respect and continue Orthodox traditions alongside Holy Tradition wherever and whenever possible, there are instances, when it is not feasable for Orthodox clergy to wear beards and long hair such as army and some institutional chaplains ; or not appropriate in certain circumstances or situations such as the many Orthodox clergy who work secular jobs in the west to support themselves and their families.
Above all things, let us worry about the love of Christ shining through our clergy, much more so than through any attire. Many occupations in the 20th century required, for safety, that long beards and hair be made shorter or gone. In the West priests often have secular occupations to provide for thier families.
Society has loosened its rules, but after WWII military-style short hair for men and clean shaven was the dominant dress code.
A priest without lng hair and beard would have never been employed. Also…in the US, old photos from the 19th century show priests with shirt hair, and short facial hair. Personal preference towards hair long or short does not matter. The main goal of a priest is to help others towards a spiritual ascent. So whether having long or short hair best serves with this goal in mind helps others the most he should appear in this fashion. Not with a vain self judgement.
Good people come on all shapes and sizes. I think you can do it in America and have a job if you want to and the Lord also wants you to be separate.
Are orthodox jews precluded from working in america or is their religion respected? Your email address will not be published. Thanks for visiting! Tags: ancient tradition , apostle james , beard , beards , belongship , christian priests , confirmation , court , ezekiel , godly man , HEAD , historian , idol , information , Islam , jewish priests , jewish rabbi , jewish rabbis , jewish religion , Long , lord jesus christ , mark , Monks , moses and aaron , muslim , muslim priests , Nazarite , novice , Old , old testament , orthodox christian icons , orthodox priests , priest , Rabbi , reason , religion , Roman , roman catholics , specificly , Spirit , testamen.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 19th, at pm and is filed under Christianity , Everyday Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. As a Muslim, it is obligated on us to have beard, as all the Messengers, Prophets and Men of God wore the beard. You mentioned that. It is a beautiful practice of the Men of God that is looked down upon.
Thanks for writing such a wonderful post, bringing out the more authentic tradition practiced by Jesus, peace be upon him. If you are on Facebook, please check this page out, I hope you will join it and contribute the Christian perspective. Yes Muslim wear beards, because they took it from Christian tradition.
Its quite ungodly to say peace be upon the Lord Jesus in my view. How can it be that you wish peace to the one that is the essence of piece and the one by whom the world was created?
Therefore Jesus as being un-separate one with the Holy Trinity is God in essence as well our personal Saviour. Considering all that it is very wrong and even an insult to say to a Christian, peace be upon Jesus and is one and the same thing like saying peace be upon God. Thanks for sharing the truth about the real meaning of wearing a beard.
I really appropriate your post. It is not the beard that shall influence or assist in the salvation of our soul. Many non believers and atheists do have beards. Many evil doers and sinners do have beards. Wild and rough bikers of numerous biker gangs have long beards.
Our judgement will be influenced by our behaviour and the condition of our heart. Perhaps a beard may serve us as a humble reminder of what our true purpose in life is and allow us to focus deeper on pleasing our Father in Heaven rather than our own self.
A Priest willl also be judged according to his actions and not his appearance. No commandment enforces the beard upon any man. Tradition and culture that has been created by man himself, is what enforces and encourages certain profiles or factors. Name required. Mail will not be published required. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved. Why does Orthodox Christian priests and monks wears long beards and why Roman Catholics does not Thursday, 19th May Here are the few reasons: 1. Long beards wearing's tradition among Orthodox Christian priests and monks comes after Christ Christ himself had a beard as it was normal and considered proper for a man to wear long beard.
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