Can you go to church without a headscarf? OCU explains

Can you go to church without a headscarf?  OCU explains



On March 8, Metropolitan Epiphanius wrote: “We are always glad to see everyone – both men and women – in our churches. And whether they are women with their heads covered or uncovered, wearing skirts or pants, married or divorced, with or without children, on any day of the calendar – the churches of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine are always open for our believers in their spiritual needs.” However, in some temples women are still criticized if they do not cover their heads. Archpriest Mykhailo Omelyan, a representative of the OCU press service, explained to “UP. Life” whether it is mandatory to wear a headscarf in the church. “For the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, every person who comes to the Lord is important. It is worth noting that a headscarf on a woman’s head is not the main sign of a person’s piety. Therefore, we should not meet a person by their appearance, quarrel or condemn them for it, especially if a person is in the temple for the first time. It is worth receiving her with attention and Christian love. Because it is not important whether a woman goes to the temple with or without a headscarf, but what is important is with what intentions, thoughts and mood. If you look into the soul of a person , on her heart and on the challenge with which a person came to the temple, then you will not have time to look at the clothes in which the person came,” says the archpriest. Read also: Calendar of church fasting 2023: when believers are recommended to fast Photo: HAndrii/GettyImages The OCU emphasizes: if a woman did not plan to visit the church in advance and did not bring a headscarf with her, but wants to come in to pray, then there is no need to refuse it because of an uncovered head. “Having gained spiritual independence, we free ourselves from the shackles of superstitions, myths or far-fetched prohibitions that have been imposed for decades to push people away from the Church, to establish additional barriers, to instill fear and to sow a feeling of “unworthiness,” Epiphanius also wrote. Church has a negative attitude to harassment of women for uncovered heads in the church. “The temple is a space for the manifestation of Christian love, not for harassment. The reason for this kind of persecution is the supposed “all-knowing” of how to behave in the church, but in reality it is pride and a lack of theological education. So let’s remember the instructions of the Savior: “And as you want people to do to you, do to them” (Lk. 6: 31),” explained Mykhailo Omelyan. Is it possible to go to church and baptize children during menstruation?” Girls and women during menstruation should not feel spiritual discomfort, and therefore have the right and can visit the temples of God, participate in the Sacraments of the Church, become a godmother on these days,” says the press service of the OCU. Old Testament prescriptions that determined what is “clean” and what was not – to some extent related to the practical side and norms of hygiene. “What was “unclean” meant the risk of diseases, infections and inflammations, and that is why it was subject to a number of strict restrictions and prohibitions. One of the blessings of the 21st century in which we live is a large number of different hygiene products that women can use in their needs without posing a threat to themselves or those around them,” says Mykhailo Omelyan. He also refers to the words of Saint Grigory Dvoeslov, who lived at the beginning of the 7th century: “A woman during menstruation should not be forbidden to enter the church… Menstruation is not a sin. In fact, this is a purely natural process.” The OCU says that women during menstruation can pray in the temple, attend services and touch shrines and icons. “Let’s remember that the only source of impurity in a person can be his heart, if it evil takes over – and it in no way depends on a person’s gender or the day of the calendar,” adds Archpriest Mykhailo. We will remind you that earlier in the OCU, we answered whether it is necessary to hang up mirrors in the house when someone has died. We also explained whether Christians can get married on a leap day year. Read also: Does the red thread protect? The Orthodox Church of Ukraine explains



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