Thread

Why do Orthodox women wear headscarves? What do they represent? Why does Saint Paul mandate women to wear them?

This thread will explain the Scriptural and Patristic reasoning for why women should wear headscarves while praying or when in Church.

The Holy Apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, gave the command that pious Orthodox Christian women should wear headcoverings while praying. He says that it dishonors a woman not to wear a headcovering, that they must wear one "because of the angels."

Nowadays, many, in their desire for revisionism, ignore this because they think the command:

1) Was local, only for the Corinthians
2) Was cultural, only set forth because of the circumstances or
3) Is irrelevant in the modern day

This thread will show the errors in such claims

"Because of the angels," says Saint Paul

Saint John Chrysostom says that the angels are everywhere, even in the very air, but much more so in Church. For this reason, women must cover their heads, "because of the presence of the angels."

So a woman's ought to cover even outside

Saint Cyril of Alexandria says the angels struggle when seeing women uncovered because it is a disregard of the law of God.

Saint John Chrysostom says that it is God's law that women must cover their heads. The desire or effort to overturn such boundaries does great harm and is a great sin against the One who created nature.

Saint Hippolytus of Rome says that women ought to wear an opaque cloth instead of a thin veil because a veil is no headcovering at all. He sets this as a order for all his clergy to enforce in their catechisms.

Clement of Alexandria says that headcoverings are a matter of modesty which fit a woman to pray to God. She ought cover in all places, only uncovering in her own home. The headcoverings protect a woman from inviting others to sin. A woman focused on modesty never falls.

Saint Augustine says it is obvious to those who read that the command is not trivial. The Church has always veiled sacred things. It would have been useless and empty for Saint Paul to command such a thing unless it referred to some hidden sacrament.

Saint Paulinus of Nola says that Satan hates a woman who veils, and that the Holy Spirit dwells in one who veils. The surpasses her own weakness and moves towards human perfection. It is because of the angels and because of aspirations to holiness that a woman covers her head.

The Apostolic Constitutions says that a woman should cover in public to avoid the viewing eyes of idle men. Do not paint the face nor adorn it, for how can one improve God's design? But to veil is what it truly means to be a woman.

If women shall veil because of the angels, how much more so shall women veil when the Saviour is near? Saint Irenaeus of Lyons says it is a matter of modesty that a woman veils in such things. Shall women stay unveiled, then, when praying to the Saviour or to the Saints?

Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus says the angels are to care over human beings, and it is for the sake of the angels that a woman covers her head. A woman shows her subjection by covering her head.

Saint Cosmas of Aetolia sought the revival of Orthodoxy in Greece in the face of the Western Enlightenment. In this pursuit, he wanted the faithful to live Orthodoxy in all places. He gave hundreds of thousands of headscarves for women to wear in order to encourage their faith.

Think of the Women Saints? They all wear headcoverings. Even Royal Women wore headcoverings under their crowns. It is a testament to their humility before the Lord. A woman who wishes to be holy like the Saints will wear a headcovering just as God has commanded.

The only woman depicted in icons not wearing a headcovering is Saint Mary of Egypt. This is because she spent years in the desert and all her clothes had wasted away, leaving her naked. The only clothing she had was a single cloak given to her by Saint Zosimas.

And even the holiest woman, Mary, the Mother of the Lord, is always depicted wearing her marphorion and veil. Never is she depicted without them. Even as a child when being consecrated to the temple, she is wearing a headcovering. Aren't women called to reflect her?

Therefore we see that it is the will of God that women should wear headcoverings. A headscarf is not only a matter of obedience, but a matter of modesty, and of keeping sacred what is sacred. A woman, empowered by the veil, aspires to holiness.

Thank you, God be with ye.