Helmet of Salvation: A Defense Against Scandal, Suspicion, and Envy (On Headcoverings)

[@catherineforster109]

I have wore a head scarf since 1997. I wear my for my love for christ, respect for the church and because I want to. I had people throw stones at me, women would see me and start talking about you. I just keep walking , and pray for them .I will always wear my head cover ,for my love for christ for respect church.

[@serafinadd6437]

I have been waiting for a good commentary on this. I veil in church and sometimes in public and I notice the respect toward me is completely different (positive). I started wearing it so that people would not talk to me during liturgy! For some reason everyone leaves you alone and you can focus on prayer. It's feminine...it's in honor of being in a holy place in front of Almighty God!

[@ruhmuhaccer864]

Very common testimony. The veil soothly is powerful.

[@mango38628]

Oh wow you do it in public? I wish it was the norm but haven't had the confidence to do it out. What kind do you use?

[@serafinadd6437]

@@mango38628 couple times I am out of the church and I still wear it…veils by lily…. Liturgical time and even Amazon- just searched Orthodox Christian head scarf

[@mango38628]

@@serafinadd6437 will do, thank you love!! 🙏🏽

[@WhoKnoweth]

I worked with a young Muslim woman who was well-educated and appeared culturally to have been raised in America. I had a lot of respect for her because she did that even though no other woman at my work did that.

[@szudy76]

I’m becoming a Catechumen in my Orthodox Church this weekend. I’m soooooo excited about it. All the ladies wear head coverings, even the children.

[@Bun_andpip]

It’s the same for us at All Saints Las Vegas ❤

[@irenevass6581]

That’s amazing. They don’t wear head coverings at my church, so it’s unfortunate.

[@Toomanybooks75]

I’m so thankful for this. I’ve lately been questioned by several ladies at my parish about why I wear a head covering when it’s not mandatory (or the norm at our parish) and have only been able to say that it feels better and right to me when I am in church. I’m looking forward to listening to the lecture and reading the booklet.

[@Orthokosmas]

Just say I’m here for god not for people

[@paulr5246]

The Old believers and Old Rite communities here in Alaska keep this practice, and I have always thought it was very dignified, honorable.

[@cerafima1]

Amen. It has always been about modesty and obedience, not an enslavement to it, but a crown. A crown given at the alter of marriage. A crown bowed continually to the ground at the feet of Christ...that is the Orthodox way of life. Much love.

[@Angie-fn8op]

I'm not Orthodox but I appreciate this teaching. 2 years ago my then 15 yr daughter brought 1 Corinthians 11 to me and said "Mom, I think we're supposed to be head covering". I did a lot of research then decided to just believe the Bible no matter what everyone else does. Nobody ever asks us about it 🤷🏼‍♀️ It's was challenging up until I realized this in scripture... Ephesians 3:10 says that God's purpose is to use the church to display His infinite wisdom to the rulers and authorities of the spiritual realm. And 1 Corinthians 11:10 says a woman ought to cover her head as a symbol of authority "because of the angels".

[@FacingTheView]

Thank you for sharing these scriptures! Meant so much to me. Beautiful. Thank you so very much🌈💗🙏🕊💖☺️

[@YannisH]

I started to wear a headcover since 2018, because God put it in my heart. It has been a blessing to my whole family including my son and his future wife. That's before I was a catechist in the orthodox church. I have just come to Orthodoxy the beginning of this year (Feb or so)

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Glory be to God!!!

[@mrsnkg7904]

Thank you for clarifying and encapsulating this important topic. I've always covered at church even before becoming Orthodox. In 2020 it seemed obvious that this was a time of intensified spiritual warfare. I decided to take my spiritual life more seriously & headcover full-time. This is definitely an era when I want to be counted on the side of the angels. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner. 💖🙏🇦🇺

[@Mark-i9k5i]

Such a symbol of respect of presence of God in church, has nothing to do with worldly conserns

[@hh8222]

The headcovering aids watchfulness! Glory to God!

[@orthodoxboomergrandma3561]

Thank you Father Peter and EO team!

[@mariavlahochristos7756]

Amen. A crown is the covering. Ευχαριστώ Πάτερ

[@cindymiller5771]

Your Blessings. Father, it’s true, we’ve already heard it but you provided great encouragement and much needed explanation. I just basically wore it because St Paul says 😊…and, of course, because beautiful hair can be a great distraction to men.

[@jasonsworld333]

Thank you Father.

[@patriciagray484]

I am not yet accepted in Orthodox Church. But God has urged me for 48 years to wear veil. I do and all time. Not because I am good but because I want to be obedient. To keep from being mistaken for Muslim wear a cross in my veiling

[@ruhmuhaccer864]

Though it gladens me that our women's resilience in obeying their Lord has made the head covering somewhat symbolic of them, I feel equally sad that the masses of rest have become so inconceptive to the idea of a Christian or even modest secular woman hiding her beauty so much that you have to distinguish yourself by a cross. May God not rain stones and fire upon us soon.

[@QuinnFisher-j6y]

Thankfully in Oriental Orthodoxy we still preserve this comandment and havnt abandoned it. Ofc its not as strictly adhered to as it once was but ive never been to one of our liturgies and seen less than half of women veiling. And i live in Los Angeles of all places.

[@ajtsanvk]

I was in Greece now for 2 weeks on Peloponnese. I am Serbian Orthodox.. Its so sad to see NO VEILING in Greek churches. I saw only one actuslly.. Not even old women had veils.

[@Hannah-if3cn]

B) Always have, always will!

[@AlecMajerison]

God bless our Bishop, the Right Reverend Alexei.☦️

[@j.rebekah8605]

St Mary of Egypt is the only female saint I can think of who is not painted with a head covering, perhaps because she was in such poverty she didn't have one and maybe that's the point of that? My grandmother was Catholic, she used to take me to a big church in Portland called The Grotto... It's indoor and outdoor. I still go there at times although I am an inquirer in the Orthodox church. I went on Easter (Catholic/secular Easter) and there must have been 1000 people there. Not one woman had a head covering on except the few nuns that live there. I had one because from the orthodox services I've attended I learned that's just what you do. But my point is, my grandmother's generation (born 1919) seemed to all wear head coverings, and even a few years ago a few people had them on, now no one. Or three out of 500ish. It's amazing how things change so quickly. Did the Pope tell them at one point don't bother? It's been an interesting road, changing myself from a secular western American to an Orthodox inquirer who wears head coverings. Just in church and when I pray at home now but hopefully more often in the future... Orthodoxy feels like a precious gift that found me and covering my head feels right. For now it's often with regular hats when I'm out and about. Anyway, thought I'd share, thank you.

[@ruhmuhaccer864]

The devil's road is a steep precipice, one blink of ignorance, haughtiness or unwariness and boom you may find yourself on the feet of the mountain. Indeed as the Turkish saints say: the biggest miracle is consequency in virtue.

[@kellyanderson-t2i]

The Grotto is beautiful. I attend an Eastern Orthodox church in Milwaukie Oregon. The church of the annunciation.

[@AlecMajerison]

"...Orthodoxy feels like a precious gift that found me..." 🥲

[@j.rebekah8605]

@@kellyanderson-t2i wonderful! I've been down there a few times and hope to go again soon. Beautiful church and welcoming people.

[@emmaschauer5409]

I love the Grotto. I've never attended a church service there, but my husband and I would take the family every year for the Festival of Lights. It was always so nice to see a Christmas event in Portland that was actually focused on Christ, even if it was Catholic. I have yet to find anything like it anywhere since we moved to Texas. It's sad.

[@cassandranorton1309]

It’s so difficult knowing this and not judging fellow orthodox women. I can’t take them seriously when they choose not to head cover. Forgive me Lord I am a sinner …

[@OrthodoxEthos]

Any time we try to do something good there can be a temptation to look down on others who aren’t doing the same. We have to humble ourselves by comparing ourselves not to others around us but to Christ, the Theotokos and the saints. If we do a good thing but then feel pride, then we have ruined the good we have done. We must do what is right but also remember how often we fail to do what we know we should.

[@cassandranorton1309]

@@OrthodoxEthos thank you for these words. I will keep them and remember them well.

[@cindymiller5771]

I wear a head covering to Liturgy, but there’s normally only 2 or 3 of us

[@greatnationnow]

I don't know why any men wear jeans or sweatpants either....this happens regularly!!

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Father, this is a wonderful topic. I am a bit frustrated, however. Just looking for the Uncut Mountain Press booklet on its website turns up nothing. I looked under "books." The links to Fr. John Whiteford's article on Orthochristian website is broken, as are many of the links to his writings there.

[@patriciagray484]

I first timer

[@greatnationnow]

What about the verse that says men shouldn't have long hair..? When so many in orthodoxy do... Confused.

[@considerthis2023]

I can't find the pamphlet.

[@MalikaIC]

The topic in and of it self is worth dscussng..Yet with respect i gind it difficult to link the biblical scripture in Ephesians to the the headcovering of women..For it would mean that, that scripture is not about the salvation of christian men... Or am I misunderstanding something?

[@greatnationnow]

Dr Jeannie Constantinou has determined that head covering's aren't a required thing, Biblically...I find this very disappointing from her, being a Biblical scholat in the Orthodox church!

[@mariavlahochristos7756]

I wear a head covering only at the monastery

[@orthobro4806]

Shame

[@ducky1016]

@@orthobro4806how can you shame someone? Isnt that judging?

[@orthobro4806]

@@ducky1016 Me? Shaming them? They are shaming themselves. It's Apostolic teaching and in the Holy Scripute Apostle Paul is very clear that they dishonour themselves by not covering their hair. It's also not Saint Paul shaming them he is pointing out the reallity of things.

[@EileenB-tb7wt]

​@@orthobro4806 i know the topic is about head coverings and the scriptural admonition to do so but i also attention shold be drawn to the disrespectful dress standards of men today. short sleeve shirts even teeshirts, and tight revealing trousers and jeans . if one is invited to a high profile banquet the!standard of dress would be higher than what we see at the liturgies.

[@orthobro4806]

@@EileenB-tb7wt I agree with you 100%.

[@RossettiAries-s5w]

Moore David White Daniel Miller Patricia

[@karena.4990]

Could you please clarify why priests have long hair? It seems to contradict the Scripture verse, I.e. men don’t have long hair, women do.

[@AlexanderP901]

There's a good article you can find by Bishop Luke of ROCOR by searching "Concerning the Tradition of Long Hair and Beards jordanville" online. You can also find a similar one done by Father John Whiteford.

[@AlexanderP901]

It's a very interesting topic. Basically, the verse in Scripture is translated a certain way into English which obfuscates the meaning, the verse is not about the length of the hair, but how it's worn. The Apostle Paul uses a particular greek word for "hair" which designates hair as an a ornament (the notion of length being only secondary and suggested), differing from thrix (the anatomical or physical term for hair). Alongside this, we have the Hebrew custom of long hair for men and women (cf. Ezek. 8:3 / Cant 4:1; 7:5), and historical reference to the Nazarite vow, Saint James never cutting his hair and other details you'll see on the article.

[@agiasf7330]

​@AlexanderP901 can u speak more of the Nazerine vow? Or does the article u mentioned cover it?

[@AlexanderP901]

@@agiasf7330 The article mentions goes into more detail, but from what I understand it involves not cutting ones hair.

[@greatnationnow]

Women shoild also probably be wearing skirt's, right? At minimum for prayer, but truly it should be all the time, as pants and shorts are forbidden in the Bible... very big challenge for the west. :(