OMIN: Orthodox Men in Black

Just last week, following our Greater Houston Clergy Association meeting, I offered Fr John Whiteford, a ROCOR priest, one of my white clergy tabs saying, “Hey, Fr John … Here, welcome to SCOBA.” He, and other clergy, laughed. We’d just finished our quarterly lunch meeting at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (festival this weekend!) — where the clergy attire was about 50/50: Greeks & Antiochians in suits and collars; OCA, ROCOR and Serbs in cassocks. We usually have around 15 clergy at these gatherings and we often joke about such things as clergy attire and calendars. But, thanks God, at least we meet together. We iron out local problems, share information, and … actually talk to each other! But, believe me, if someone showed up to the meeting dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, a business suit and tie, or, God forbid, a woman in a clerical collar … well, let’s just say, some things are not allowed.

I knew that excerpting Fr Thomas Hopko’s recent remarks would provide fodder for comments. Indeed, it did. One comment in particular (below) stood out for me. For those who might have missed it, I’m posting it here as worth a look:

It appears that many of the immigrant clergy who come from the middle east have an aversion to wearing the hat and the exorasson because for them it is a sign of Muslim oppression (Dhimmitude), not Orthodoxy. I have even heard a Syrian priest express his distaste for wearing a long beard because it reminds him of the extremists Muslims who live in his former country. He looks like an Arab and if he had a long unkempt beard he would be mistaken for an Arab Muslim in this country. Since 9/11, he has been especially sensitive about not appearing to look Muslim.

Now on the other hand, many clergy who come from Protestant or Anglican backgrounds seem to find that western clergy clothing represent heterodox doctrine and all that is wrong with western Christianity. I have even heard a few Orthodox priests from evangelical backgrounds almost express an aversion to being mistaken for a Roman Catholic priest because of all the recent scandals in their church. So for them, putting on the exorasson, various hats, growing their hair or not trimming their beard allows them to express visibly their new found faith.

Since it is obvious Orthodox beard styles, hair length, and clergy attire has not been stagnant in its evolution perhaps we could be tolerant of a variety in our clergy’s choices and realize these things will continue to evolve in the New World because that is what has happened whenever Orthodoxy has come to a new culture.

Finally, in my humble opinion, I believe we should respect all of their choices because what they each decide to wear is a result of personal conscience. God will be the judge of what is in each man’s heart.

— Tamara Hanna Northway