And through their entire history, through all their wanderings, up to the current extreme spiritual savagery, people carried in the depths of their consciousness the memory of this radiant grace that illuminated and warmed their bodies and souls in the days of heavenly, sinless life. This memory, having overcome the pagan love of diversity, manifests itself in a stable, not eroded by centuries, reverent attitude towards white simple long robes - this weak, coarsely sensual likeness of it.
The snow-white ancient Egyptian calaziris, Greek chitons and long white shirts of our ancestors are nothing more than expressions of this memory.
It is interesting that the ancient Egyptians, whose culture's beginnings are lost in the depths of millennia, tremendously appreciated linen of dazzling whiteness and so thin that moles on the body shone through several layers of clothing sewn from it.
The ancient Indians knew how to make even thinner, completely transparent fabrics from cotton. It is not difficult to understand what could be the prototype of such garments.
White has always been a symbol of purity. The purity of clothing or body was originally understood as spiritual purity, as freedom from unclean strength: it was in this sense that it was said about an "unclean" place and, in general, about any impurity. The hygienic understanding of cleanliness has already come in our time. In traditional Orthodox culture, cleansing the body and putting on clean white shirts was part of the necessary preparation for church services, painting an icon, building a temple and other charitable deeds.
Even in the modern spoiled world, a special attitude towards white robes remains. The bride's white dress is still a symbol of her innocence and moral purity.
Having tasted the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve "learned ... that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves and made themselves aprons" (Genesis 3: 7). Their bodies, accustomed to the warmth from the grace penetrating them (remember how the snow melted around Seraphim of Sarov, so that his interlocutor Motovilov was also warmed) felt not only spiritual, but also physical vulnerability. Instead of spiritual clothing, a person received, like an animal, a coarse flesh. “And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).
Clothing was supposed not only to protect from external influences, but also to cover the "shame", to protect chastity. But with the development of culture, people began to use clothes not at all for what it was given by the Lord. Clothing has acquired a symbolic character, has become a kind of language of their self-expression.
Ancient people were hardy and were not afraid of cold weather. But they put on the skins of animal totems, replacing the true God with them, as a sign of intercourse with this animal for the sake of its protection (other rituals also served this, for example, the acceptance of sacrificial blood). Much later, in ancient Rome, whose legionaries, as you know, fought both in the north and in the south, it was customary to dress musicians in similar skins with an animal's head thrown instead of a hood, whose main task was to raise the fighting spirit of soldiers. For this, they also wore skins and savages: to intimidate the enemy, to maintain the fighting spirit of "theirs".
An example from another era. Wasn't it stifling to our boyars and nobles in the summer heat under several layers of magnificent clothes, in a heavy fur coat with fur, in a high throated hat? Their costume spoke of nobility of origin, a high position in society. It was considered important to declare this, for the sake of this I had to endure.
Modern women of fashion have not yet outdone French ladies at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, who walked in translucent dresses, worn either on a naked body or on wet tights, and at the same time seriously discussed the possibility of doing without any clothes at all. The shameless women of that time could not be stopped even by the admonitions of doctors who organized excursions to cemeteries to the graves of victims of "naked" fashion who died of pneumonia.
And in the photographs of the mid-19th century, we see the British who came to Cuba - prim gentlemen in crinolines and tailcoats. And this is in the forty-degree heat! And next to them are the half-naked natives.
Photos taken by ethnographic expeditions at the beginning of the last century in the Russian outback: village girls dressed in festive costumes. The beginning of autumn, underfoot - soggy earth. Wealthy brides in leather boots, under which they wore several pairs of woolen socks with patterned edges. Nearby - girls from poor families, barefoot.
Some are not hot, others are not cold.
We adopted Christianity from Byzantium, which once mixed in its artistic crucible the traditions of a huge cultural region: Celtic, Roman, Greek, Indian and others. The ascetic idea of keeping chastity fancifully turned into her costume with incredible, truly oriental splendor, variegation, overload, so that the human body turned into a stand for demonstrating all this luxury.
Russia reacted very selectively to the artistic heritage of its great predecessor. The "Third Rome" scrupulously and without fuss selected from the rich Byzantine chest only that which corresponded to the quietly quiet Russian soul - a simple, noble, ingenuous, full of inner, unseen dignity. Only that which corresponded to the purity and spirit of Christian truth.
In everyday life they lived modestly: all the best was brought to church. The decoration of God's temples and the liturgical robes of the clergy of Russia visibly showed the greatness of the Lord and the heavenly palaces. The magnificent royal vestments were the property of the state, as were the clothes of the royal servants and servants. They were not luxurious personal items. Their purpose is to express the high state status of Orthodox Russia, headed by the anointed of God.
Many essential features of our mentality have remained unshakable. Even after Peter's reforms, destructive for patristic morals, Russian ladies differed from their Western European sisters in greater modesty.
In the novel "War and Peace" Leo Tolstoy, a writer who was given a very keen sense of the subtle shades of the moral state of society, repeatedly calls the Petersburg "lioness" Helene Bezukhova, who followed the extreme French fashion of the early 19th century, "naked Helene", thereby emphasizing the inappropriateness of this fashion Russian mentality. And about another heroine of the novel, whose image is contrasted with Helen, Natasha Rostova, who is going to her first ball in her life, he writes: “Natasha seemed like a girl who was naked for the first time and who would be very ashamed if she were not assured that it is so necessary ”.
The following fact is very significant: when Russian women wore neckline dresses, they, as a rule, took off their pectoral crosses. If this was not done, then it was perceived not as a manifestation of great piety, but, on the contrary, a deep spiritual fall: the cross from a shrine turned into a beautiful trinket. This "fashion" came from France.
The famous French movie star Brigitte Bardot has already in our time "refreshed" the fashion of her depraved predecessors, putting on a cross, which, with her light hand, has again become a popular "decoration" of the European women's costume.
Generalissimo Suvorov, the greatest hero of our Fatherland, wrote that for him above all else was the honor of his daughter. Is this strange? No, not strange. Because he, a true Christian who could not take a step without God, without prayer, understood well that no military victories would save Russia if chastity was violated.
Modest behavior, the girl's chastity, censure of free ties, keeping the family - all these are the main moral components of the social system, the guarantee of the country's future, the necessary conditions for the upbringing of new generations.
The denim age has come - a true revolution in clothing, reflecting a new phase in the relationship between a man and a woman. Once again, the patriarchal traditions that were still preserved even in the destructive environment of communist "equality" were shaken.
As a moral justification for denim fashion in society, the myth of the "convenience" of trousers as such in comparison with an "outdated" skirt has finally taken root. But you can only say this when comparing trousers with mini-skirts. And, really, what is more convenient - to throw a skirt over your head or to wriggle into two tight, staked-on trousers, and then still suffer with the often leading zipper? And in what outfit does a modern woman look prettier? In fact, the question of "simplicity" depends on habit and mental attitude. For example, for the same Japanese, there is nothing more convenient than there is, squatting in front of a tiny table, and even with the help of two long sticks instead of a fork. There is hardly a European who would like it. A resident of Central Asia prefers a Turkish pose for his dinner, and the ancient Greeks, Romans and representatives of many other peoples reclined at the banquet tables.
Comfortable or uncomfortable in jeans depends on how a person is used to behaving, what manners are characteristic of him. Sitting in a modest position with your knees together and keeping your back straight is very uncomfortable in them. Jeans require the wearer to sprawl casually on the seat with their legs spread wide. In jeans, a woman can smoke freely and naturally, wear a man's haircut or disheveled hair, carry on cheeky conversations interspersed with rude indecent words, with an abundance of slang turns. Jeans meet a very specific lifestyle, otherwise you will look completely unnatural in them.
Another myth: trousers seem to be warmer than a skirt. Arrange a draft in the two walk-through rooms, then hang the opening of the open door with a simple chintz curtain to the floor. You will immediately notice how much less blowing has begun. A significant part of the cold air will, as it were, flow down even on the thinnest, but vertically hanging tissue. So, for the information of those who say about the warmth of the trousers: these clothes create a constant, very thin draft around the small pelvis, which is most detrimental to women's health. And in the old days and in general all our ancestors wore long shirts - men wore them over their pants.
If modern women's trousers create this kind of draft, and even squeeze the skin, muscles, blood vessels, then judge for yourself how useful trousers are!
Jeans, in addition, create a constant unnatural support, pressure from below, thereby slowly but surely, bending the spine, preventing the vertebrae from functioning normally. Therefore, those who constantly wear jeans from their youth develop a completely specific posture - a stooped back. Of course, the degree of deformation is different, but the fact remains: among the constant, long-term wearers of jeans, it is impossible to meet a person with a slender figure. Jeans just won't stand it. Sad and funny, but there were "theorists" who justified the "beauty" of jeans, referring to ... Russian icon painting! In the 1970s, an article appeared in one reputable art magazine, in which it was quite seriously argued that faded and wiped (and later, deliberately bleached) places on jeans trace their aesthetic ancestry from the image of gaps on icons and frescoes.
I remember how at one student conference at a textile university a report was discussed in which a young lady, with universal warm approval, proved the extraordinary femininity of jeans.
At the same university, at a seminar session, another girl dared to make a report on the Orthodox understanding of the term "femininity." She talked about the Mother of God, the holy wives and their robes ... The audience listened to everything in deathly silence, and even the innate student corporatism did not help: not a word of approval and support. As if it was about something extremely inappropriate and indecent. This is how our future fashion designers are brought up today, the overwhelming majority of whom are women.
Why be surprised? Understanding of femininity is a kind of litmus test of the state of moral health of society.
During the period of maximum savagery of man, unknown ancient artists depicted a woman in the form of an incredibly heavy figure (the so-called Paleolithic Venus). Such figures do not have a face at all, because in those days the only valued quality of a woman was her ability to reproduce offspring.
On the contrary, the embodiment of mannerism, coquetry and a proud sense of superiority over others are the images of the so-called "Parisians" of the Aegean culture of the middle of the 2nd millennium BC - painted, curled, in elaborate, deeply lowered dresses.
The late Renaissance ideal of Italian female beauty at the end of the 16th century is plump, lazy, infantile-sensual persons with cow's eyes.
And in Russia in the post-revolutionary era, strong girls in red kerchiefs, rubber slippers, with harsh manners and a political economy textbook under their armpits were considered incredibly popular, and therefore feminine. To each his own.
In this sense, the sad dynamics of the fashion for nudity of the female body in our time is very characteristic. So, in the 1980s, the flickering of the waist strip that was exposed when bending, raising hands and some sudden movements of the waist band due to an insufficiently long blouse was considered a piquant semi-decent detail. This ended with the emergence already in the 1990s of a fashion for so-called tops - short blouses like Indian choli, now completely legally exposing the lower half of the back and belly to the waist.
A few more years passed - the blouses, however, were somewhat lengthened, but the belt line dropped, so that the navel was deliberately and defiantly exposed. In the hectic conditions of urban life, this does not look seductive or elegant at all, but rather physiological and unpleasant. Moreover, piercing, this touch of Papuan fashion, testifying to the fact that the possibilities of "civilized" fashion have been exhausted and there is simply nothing to look for further in it.
And then, in exact accordance with the degrees of moral decline, the belt line crept even lower ... It's embarrassing to write about this, but where to go, if this is our vile everyday reality. And truly laughter creeps through the tears when you move your eyes up from this shame and see an innocent face, not at all stupid and not at all depraved. A kind of modern Natasha Rostova, who is convinced that it is possible and necessary to dress this way, because now “everyone” is going about it.
It is easier to come to God today than 20 years ago. The false ideals of the atheistic "earthly paradise" were finally emasculated, and for many of our compatriots the time has come for genuine Christian enlightenment. But at the same time, their own problems came: in all corners, near-Orthodox forces were bustling about - from cynical "candlesticks" shifting from foot to foot in churches in order to gain popularity of believing voters, to a whole pack of "programmers" of all stripes, writers and all kinds of punchers " programs "and" projects "on the Orthodox theme - in medicine and ecology, art and pedagogy.
And we also have the phenomenon of home-grown Orthodox "fashion", which was born in the monastic environment. N.A. Pavlova, describing the situation in the first years of the revival of Optina Hermitage. “The pilgrims hastily dressed in black from head to toe and, having tied their scarves low in a monastic fashion, called each other“ mothers ”. With the "priests", the situation was like this: just at that time the monastery was donated a large batch of naval coats, which were in great demand. Because if you add a black cap like a skufia to a black overcoat and take a heavier rosary, then the look was almost monastic "( Pavlova N.A. Easter is red. M., 2000.S. 16).
Monastic vestments have extraordinary expressiveness, charm and attractive power for believers, for they are the material expression of a deep spiritual meaning. As for the dark clothes dressed in imitation of him, they are really very beautiful and completely transform any person, even young, even old. But they come to face only on one condition: if they correspond to the spiritual structure of its bearer. If there is no harmony between a person and so many obliging semi-monastic attire, then such a suit turns into a kind of sectarian uniform, causing legitimate irritation to non-church and even church people who do not adhere to such a “fashion”.
Generally speaking, only monks are supposed to wear rosary openly, and the discrepancy between appearance and the claim to piety to the inner mood is not a Christian phenomenon at all.
But what, the reader may ask, is a modern Orthodox woman still dressing? And to this, as to any other question, the answer should be sought in the Holy Scriptures.
“And why are you anxious about clothes? Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow ... But I tell you that Solomon, in all his glory, did not dress like any one of them; But if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, God will dress this way, if only you, little faithful ones! So, don't worry and don't say, "What do we have?" or "what to drink?" or "what to wear?" Because the Gentiles are looking for all this, and because your Heavenly Father knows that you have a need for all of this. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you ”(Matthew 6: 28-33).
Man comes into the world to be saved. So let's think about salvation and not waste precious time and money on all sorts of trifles. The Lord will send in due time what we need.
If you are still very young and want to be liked or are still weak in spirit, in order to give up some jewelry, there is always the opportunity to add something to your toilet to your taste and pocket, without violating its modesty, compliance with the occupation, age, mandatory requirements decency adopted in Orthodoxy. The main thing is that the clothes are natural, not imposed by anyone or anything from the outside, in accordance with the state of your soul. Any fashion is a reflection of someone else's taste, and therefore - violence.
But the most important thing is to think as little as possible about how we look in front of people, and more about how we look before the Lord, who sees us all the time, no matter what we dress. Then we won't have any problems with the suit.
This also applies to the habit of painting, which sometimes many Orthodox and even church women cannot overcome. We all know that distorting the image of God is a sin, but ... how often we try to shift the blame onto others, like the true daughters of the foremother of Eve: the husband, they say, likes it so much, we can't do otherwise at work, and so on. But if you are a good worker and your work does not contradict Christian principles, why be afraid?
For centuries, Christians have endured terrible torment for Christ's sake, and we are afraid to wipe lipstick from our lips and suffer a little bewilderment from friends and colleagues.
In family life, no one has yet gained special respect, as well as lasting happiness, with the help of cosmetics and fashionable costumes. If a loving husband thinks that a painted wife is more beautiful, then he will soon understand his delusion, and this will be the first step towards achieving true Christian love in your family, which everyone, young and old, needs to look for.
How did the holy women dress, before whose images we pray today? Just like all women of their time. And, undoubtedly, modest and unassuming, because their thoughts were occupied with completely different concerns. Painting them on icons, frescoes, mosaics, artists of different eras, as a sign of deep reverence, sometimes clothed them in magnificent, precious clothes already of their time. But no matter what they wore, their main "clothing" was the grace of God, which made their appearance beautiful and immortal for all time.
Many believers are interested in the question: is it possible for an Orthodox woman to wear trousers in secular life, and is it worth coming to church services? People know the church's ban on girls wearing pants, but many do not have the knowledge of how categorical this rule is in the modern framework.
The well-established views on the appearance of parishioners in the temple dictate to women the traditional look of attire. Giving up trousers and changing into a skirt discourages some girls from attending church.
About the church:
The ban on women's pants is no longer as straightforward as it used to be. Some churches leave this question on the conscience of the parishioners:
How a woman should dress in a temple
There is no consensus among the priests about the appearance of the girl in the temple. Many of them believe that if a woman in trousers wants to go to church to pray and light a candle, then nothing can hinder her. No one can say for sure, but still most of them tend to abide by the strict ban on women's trousers.
This is especially true of monasteries where traditions are sacred. Church officials explain this rule by the fact that dress can influence behavior. For example, women in trousers often behave imposingly, choosing relaxed postures and movements, which leads to the emergence of new character traits inappropriate for a Christian parishioner. In addition, the unusual sight of a girl in the temple can lead other parishioners to the sin of condemnation.
Another part of the clergy says that a woman should not be prohibited from attending church just because she is wearing a piece of men's clothing. Such rules can alienate many souls from God.
Advice! There is no strict ban on women's trousers in the church now. Compliance with this rule may depend on the attitude of the priest and parishioners to it.
In any case, it is better to respect the traditions and unspoken rules of the church, and, if possible, dress correctly for worship, but no one has the right to condemn a woman who comes to church in trousers.
At the entrance to many churches and monasteries, you can find signs that say that a woman in trousers is not allowed to enter or that it is not proper for an Orthodox parishioner to wear men's clothing.
Woman in trousers at the temple
These prohibitions are conditioned by quotations from the Bible. But references to the opinion that this piece of clothing is truly masculine are outdated, as this piece of clothing has been worn by women since the 1930s. In addition, a woman in jeans and pantsuits in everyday life does not look as strange as a man in a skirt or dress would look.
During pagan times, dressing up was a cult of magical rites. And since at all times magic was forbidden by Christianity, then dressing in men's clothes of the opposite sex was strictly condemned, especially within the walls of the temple. These times have long outlived their usefulness and we can conclude that pants are no longer strictly a man's attire. There are models of trousers that are not suitable for young people; in such clothes, no one will indicate that a girl looks like a man.
Therefore, you should not blindly follow these prohibitions. The entrance to the temple is open to all women if they do not look vulgar and ignorant.
If a woman is going to the temple for the first time, then it is better not to use men's clothing in her appearance. There are some unspoken laws about how a girl should dress for worship:
Orthodoxy about women:
The main rule is not to attract attention to yourself, in everything you need to keep the golden mean, since clothes that are too closed, look indicatively modest. Perfume and decorative cosmetics should be discarded for the same reasons.
Important! The appearance of a girl should not attract men's looks with her silhouette, as this can distract from prayer and evoke other thoughts.
Closed-up clothes can be fashionable, the church does not forbid girls to adorn themselves, the main thing is that this adornment should not be traced to vulgarity and vulgarity.
Can women wear trousers to church?
Feb 4, 2019 13:01 Administrator
You can discuss the article and ask questions about the Orthodox faith in the comments:
Not to attract male attention? And why do men go to church? If there are unbridled stallions in the temple, it’s better not to go there, it seems to me. I walk down the street without being afraid, and there, oh, how, they don't come to pray, but to look at the girls. Well, you ... you are terrible.
Good afternoon. It is not necessary to take the text of what is written so literally. Of course, a man who enters the temple should pray, and not look at women. But, firstly, we are not responsible for everyone who entered the temple and cannot know the thoughts and feelings of a person. And people come to church very different, including those with not very pious thoughts. And, secondly, there is such a thing as temptation. For example, you can imagine a man who in his spiritual life is struggling with lust. And so he prays, tries to overcome it in himself with God's help. And where, if not in the temple, should his eyes rest from temptation? Therefore, it is completely logical that women in the temple should look so as not to arouse certain thoughts and desires in men. However, this rule is also true from the male side.
As for walking down the street, an Orthodox woman should look the same there. This does not mean that we should wear only floor-length skirts and headscarves, not at all. Of course, you can put on some pretty, fashionable clothes, pick up jewelry, do neat makeup, and so on. But at the same time, the appearance should not be flashy, defiant, vulgar. On the contrary, an Orthodox woman, if we talk only about her appearance, should be an example of style, elegance and taste. Unfortunately, nowadays very few people think about it. It is often believed that a woman should not take care of herself at all, that it does not matter at all how she looks and what she is wearing. Therefore, one gets the impression, in your own words, "you are terrible." In fact, this is absolutely not the case. Orthodoxy is not about prohibitions and punishments. This is about love, freedom and beauty in its present manifestation.
Google “ what can not be worn after 50 years of age“, And thousands of articles will open before you with colorful photographs of ill-dressed flabby old women. I would like to tell the authors of these “ nizya“- articles that in their texts they appeal to adult women, and not to children of preschool age.
We can spend hours sorting through things that we cannot do: how we must not dress, how we must not paint, how we must not use foul language. This is what I think about all this.
If you’re 50 years old and still don’t know how to dress to look your best, you’re missing out on the coolest thing about age.
The cool thing is, the older you get, the more you should care less about the views and opinions of others. You should be comfortable in your own body and at your own age.
You grow old when you begin to shoulder the burden of the entire planet. If you do get some masochistic pleasure to shoulder the burden of the world's problems, perhaps try to narrow the boundaries of your burden a little. Shrink it down to several continents, for example.
So I carry on my shoulders only the burden of Australia. It seems to me that this has some relief effect.
Not many of us manage to drop this mask. Most look like they were forcefully stuffed with onions and fish oil. Shame and regret is especially hard to bear after 50. Because of them, our eyes turn red and run in confusion. As soon as old age gets to your eyes, you need to urgently re-evaluate the wisdom of black eyeliner.
I said stop torturing yourself with shame and remorse! Take a pencil and draw arrows in front of the eyes.
Oh dear ones, you already know yourself very well. These glasses are of no use. They not only create the feeling that you smoke pot all day long, but also prevent you from soberly assessing what is happening and the people around you. Yes, life is pain, but it's high time for us to learn how to deal with it.
So take off your rose-colored glasses, or at least wear black classics. By the way, it is impossible to discern our sins behind them.
There are certain situations when you need to clench your teeth and endure some difficulties stoically. But you don’t have to always be a hero and keep up the good work. The compressed lips form deep folds between the upper lip and the nose.
Personally, I don't wear one at all. The shape of my head is not suitable for my hat! You know these grandmothers, who have a whole closet set aside for various fancy hats and scarves. But in the end, we are not getting any younger.
What happens one day with such grandmothers? I'll tell you what: they put on a shower cap and walk in it to a dance night in the city park. And we don't want this to happen.
Ahahaha. Kidding. Wear this facial expression as long as you like. But do not forget to smile cheerfully at least occasionally - then your face takes on a kind and gentle look. At least that's what they tell me.
There is nothing wrong with listening and following someone else's advice on how to look and what to wear. But sometimes this information is too much.
Who dictates what is normal and what is not?
From my place it seems to me that for different geographic latitudes, social status, income and size “ the respective"Are very different things. Over time, advice becomes more confusing and meaningless. Perhaps I will continue to wear my sneakers, jeans and black T-shirts.
Are you still worried what to wear today?
“In the sphere of applied styling, there are several topics, when discussing them, the participants in the discussions are simply torn into small (but very belligerent!) Hamsters. Can nude tights be worn? Does a woman look beautiful in a tight sheath dress? Should clothes "be liked by men"? And - check in the head - how to dress, if you are already over ???
To what extent "for" is a very loose concept. Someone this "I'm already over ..." begins to appear at thirty (thanks, not at twenty). Someone at forty. By fifty, it overcomes almost all women without exception. That's really really "and the groan stands along the whole earth": how, how to dress "no longer girls", "women of age", "active pensioners" and everyone, everyone, everyone who does not consider himself a young enough creature, for that to ... Here it is not entirely clear to, in fact, what: to wear a radical mini? To paint brightly? Actively emphasize the neckline? Wearing loose hair? To wear jeans? Sneakers? Slip dress?
And after all, which is typical, you can find a lot of answers to the question. "Do not bare your hands if you are forty." "Throw away your hoodie if you're twenty-five." "After thirty, you must not follow fashion, but choose exquisite pieces of clothing." "The parka won't look solid on a lady." Perhaps there will be enough examples, otherwise I myself will be torn apart by a whole platoon of warlike hamsters and I, instead of an article, will go to write comments in the spirit of “what will look solid on a lady? Maybe an auto-lady's fur coat made of Chinese mink ?! " Apparently, all these "valuable" recommendations do not give a final answer to the question "how to dress after ...", because the questions do not end there. The authors of the answers no longer know how to calm down the worried audience. "Wear a trench coat!" (why a trench coat? Why after forty?). “Wear only pastel and neutral shades” (what, excuse me? Why is this all of a sudden?). "It is worth buying a fur vest" (no, believe me, not worth it).
In fact, the truth is that trying to dress “according to your age” is exactly the same hopeless idea as trying to dress according to numerous types of appearance typing systems: this approach does not bring anything but a headache and poorly chosen clothes. The beauty of modern fashion is that it does not divide people by age, race, or income level. He welcomes all types of figure, imperfections of the body and its limited capabilities, willingly plays with variations, for which, as it turned out, the human gender is rich. This is partly the problem.
Age and the inevitable aging process were at some point included in a kind of "list of fashion oddities." Here, they say, there is a transgender model, and there is a model that is more than 80 years old. There is an ad for makeup with a bearded man in full make-up, and there is an ad for skin care products with an elderly actress. Absolutely unconsciously, people who are worried about their age have built such a logical chain: to be old is fashionable - all kinds of weirdness are in fashion - to declare strange things you need to be brave - to be old is strange and scary (I won't have the courage). But it is clear that growing up and aging is not an oddity at all. This is the inevitable course of things. You can be born heterosexual or homosexual. But once born, everyone will become old (unless, of course, they die earlier).
But let's get back directly to the clothes. There is no division into things "for the young" and "for the elderly." There is a division between "stylish" and "not stylish". If some wardrobe elements are considered undesirable (headbands, deep neckline, tight-fitting extreme mini, warm fishnet tights or a bandage dress), then they are contraindicated for everyone, without exception, regardless of age. Do not believe those who claim that you cannot spoil youth and a good figure. How you spoil it. When a woman says “I can't dress like my niece (daughter, granddaughter)”, it is very possible that her niece, daughter or granddaughter is simply not dressed well. I would have been well dressed - I would like to follow her example.
Hiding not the most advantageous (or what you seem to be) body parts and emphasizing beautiful - this is also a universal approach, regardless of age. Closing your full forearms and opening your thin wrists is great advice that works the same whether you're in your twenties or sixties? Correct the line of the waist and hips, emphasize the posture, check if the pants fit correctly. This is important at any age. And the prohibitions on wearing jeans with sneakers and a shirt with culottes ("if you are already over ...") is, excuse me for being straightforward, just an illiterate replication of some common stereotypes, nothing more professional than the conversation of grandmothers at the entrance.
Someone will say that aging beautifully is also a trick. Someone was lucky with genes, type of face and figure, place of residence. Such a person looks blooming even in old age. This is true. But it is also true that not everyone is endowed with natural beauty in youth. And in old age, we need to continue to do what we do with our appearance in our youth: correct, complete it with the help of suitable outfits, enriching the image, hairstyles and makeup.
Lack of taste, which makes it difficult to build your beauty, usually comes from a lack of knowledge. Misunderstanding of oneself, the context, the processes taking place not only in fashion, but also in the surrounding world. (How not to recall Melania Trump's archival outfit on her inauguration day: it would have been very suitable for Jackie Kennedy herself, to whose light image the reference was made. only sympathize). So, this very understanding of oneself and the context, after all, it only increases with age. At thirty, forty, at fifty, you know a lot more than you knew at twenty. This means that now there are much more chances to develop your own true individual style. Not constrained either by stupid pseudo-rules, or by someone's unconscious fears like "what people will say."
What can be considered women's and men's clothing? In old paintings, men are depicted in robes-dresses, in which, in our era, mainly women go. In winter, I saw several religious women who wore trousers under a long coat, is that correct? Or they are dressed in knee-length coats, and leggings under them, men once wore such clothes. Explain, please, this is very important to me.
The prohibition of a woman to wear men's clothing was first made in Deuteronomy: “A woman should not wear men's clothing, and a man should not wear women's clothing, for everyone that does this is an abomination to the Lord thy God” (Deut 22: 5). The law was connected with the fact that many pagans who surrounded the Jewish people considered unnatural forms of debauchery as normal. For this purpose, changing clothes were made. In Christian times, the prohibition to wear clothes that did not correspond to the sex were made by two Councils: the VI Ecumenical Council and the Local Gangrian Council. The first forbids Christians to participate in pagan festivities (games, dances and dressing up): “no husband should dress in women's clothes, nor for a wife in her husband's clothes; do not wear comic, or satirical, or tragic guises ... ”(rule 62). The Gangres Council decreed: “If a certain wife, for the sake of imaginary asceticism, will change her dress, and instead of the usual woman’s dress, she will put on a man’s: let it be under an oath” (rule 13). This prohibition was directed against the error of the Eustathians (followers of the Bishop Eustathius of Sebastia).
Of course, modern women are guided by other motives when putting on trousers. But one must have spiritual sensitivity and respect the norms that have developed in the Church. Not everything in our life boils down to practical benefits and convenience. Much in our life is symbolic. If we forget about this, then we can complicate our relations with people. Standing up at the entrance to the elder's room means symbolically expressing respect for him. In ancient times, a handshake was used to seal the agreement, and in our time it has become a symbol that expresses mutual friendship. Wedding rings mean the indissolubility of the marriage union, etc.
Clothing also often has a symbolic meaning. In times of grief, the Jews wore sackcloth (Ps. 68:12). They put on other clothes in the days of joy: “Eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, when God delights in your works. May your garments be bright at all times, and may the oil on your head not be depleted ”(Ecclesiastes 9: 8). The veil on the girl's head was a sign of modesty. Rebekah, seeing her future husband, “She took a veil and covered herself” (Gen. 24:65). Those invited to the wedding feast had to dress in wedding clothes(Matthew 22: 11-12). The one who goes to the House of God should also remember about the holiness of the place. The person invited to the reception to the head of state will not neglect the accepted etiquette. Likewise, the believer should have an appearance befitting the place where the service to the Heavenly King is performed. Piety should not be only external, but inattention to the traditions that have developed in the Church may be the result of its absence. Therefore, we should not only talk about trousers. It is necessary to avoid in clothes anything too colorful, bright, unusual, free, which can interrupt the prayerful attention of those present.
There is no need to go back to costume history or ethnography. You need to be guided by modern concepts of men's and women's clothing. If some need prompts you to put on trousers, you need to cover them with outerwear so as not to seduce anyone.
To everything one must apply the mind given by God. If someone was not going to go to church, and then outside the house such a desire appeared, there is no need to give up your intention, even if the woman is wearing trousers and her head is not covered.
I would like to say one more thing. Not only parishioners, but also church workers should not make remarks in the church. This can only be done by a priest, if necessary, outside the service, with attention and love.
