Question first appeared on August 13, 2006
Why hasn’t a dress code been addressed in our church?  Shouldn’t people dress respectfully for church?  I know this has been an issue before, but is now more important in that we will become a cathedral and the bishop will be here often.  It should be stressed from the pulpit and in the bulletin a few times.  Women and female teenagers are coming to church in very low cut blouses, front and back, and tank tops.  It is very disrespectful and disgraceful and it’s gotten much worse.  Since the bishop will be here more often, something should be said regarding proper dress.  A recent column of “Dear Abby” indicated other churches are having the same problem.

Thank you for the reminder.  I have written about this subject in the past, but you are correct that the time has come to address it again.

If people would just stop and think about our Orthodox worship and what it truly is, there would be no question about what one should wear.  Our worship is integral with the Heavenly worship that continues eternally in God’s Kingdom.  For the time that we gather in our Orthodox churches we connect and become part of that worship.  If we truly believe that we are in the presence of God the Father, His Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, would we wear a tank top and short shorts?

Our worship is not attendance at a performance where we are entertained.  It is not the same atmosphere that exists in the mega-churches that have big TV screens, bands, orchestras, and giant choirs.  People in those atmospheres are encouraged to be “comfortable, to be “casual.”  Is this how the Holy Scriptures found in the Bible describe Heaven?  Our worship takes place in eternity where we hope to be with God forever.

If we wouldn’t dress casual for an appointment with Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain or the President of the United States, if we wouldn’t show up for a job interview dressed as your question suggests, then why would we wear such clothing to appear before God to worship and commune with Him?  Both men and women should dress nicely and modestly.  We are not in church to attract the opposite sex.

The only exception to proper dress, that I can think of, would be if someone was under extreme conviction of sin and was compelled to come to the Church for confession and absolution.  In such a case, the priest would not insist that a person go home first and dress properly before coming into the sanctuary.  Their tears for their sins would be proper enough dress and covering in this instance.

©Very Rev. Fr. Olof Scott, Sunday Bulletin, August 13, 2006
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