I’m just curious if you are an American convert or were raised in an ethnic Orthodox family/ grew up in the faith around others who were also raised in it. My relatives from Greece were deeply religious and mystical women who literally prayed ceaselessly and none of them covered their heads outside of male monasteries. This is also the experience of many Russians and Serbians but is not to say that none of these women don’t cover their heads in church (especially Russians). As you know, Saint Paul was writing during a time when a woman with uncovered hair was essentially an adulterous tart. I am grateful we no longer live in such a time. Furthermore, Christ himself showed incredible compassion to women from all alienated walks of life and did not say a single word to them about covering their heads. In fact he admonishes the apostles for their judgment of the repenting woman who anoints him with costly oil and washes his feet WITH HER HAIR. The flip side of the women covering their heads/ hair question is when we ask ourselves why, for example, Muslim women are forced to veil themselves and what this implies about both supposedly spiritually inclined men and women. Or, why Orthodox Jewish women must cover their heads after marriage. There are some nice mystical justifications for this practice in the Judaic tradition, but what it really boils down to is more cultural than spiritual. Regardless I appreciate your effort in thoughtfully pursuing this topic and hope to write more on it in the future, too.
I’m just curious if you are an American convert or were raised in an ethnic Orthodox family/ grew up in the faith around others who were also raised in it. My relatives from Greece were deeply religious and mystical women who literally prayed ceaselessly and none of them covered their heads outside of male monasteries. This is also the experience of many Russians and Serbians but is not to say that none of these women don’t cover their heads in church (especially Russians). As you know, Saint Paul was writing during a time when a woman with uncovered hair was essentially an adulterous tart. I am grateful we no longer live in such a time. Furthermore, Christ himself showed incredible compassion to women from all alienated walks of life and did not say a single word to them about covering their heads. In fact he admonishes the apostles for their judgment of the repenting woman who anoints him with costly oil and washes his feet WITH HER HAIR. The flip side of the women covering their heads/ hair question is when we ask ourselves why, for example, Muslim women are forced to veil themselves and what this implies about both supposedly spiritually inclined men and women. Or, why Orthodox Jewish women must cover their heads after marriage. There are some nice mystical justifications for this practice in the Judaic tradition, but what it really boils down to is more cultural than spiritual. Regardless I appreciate your effort in thoughtfully pursuing this topic and hope to write more on it in the future, too.
Thank you brother, this was very useful God bless you.