Do all Eastern priests have beards?

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I’m not sure if this is true, but I heard the Romans plucked their facial hair :eek:
 
I perfer bearded clergy, but arguments over whether they have to have beards or not can be a bit legalistic. To quote Dexter’s laboratory, its not the beard on the outside that counts, but the beard on the inside.
 
Formosus said:
I perfer bearded clergy, but arguments over whether they have to have beards or not can be a bit legalistic. To quote Dexter’s laboratory, its not the beard on the outside that counts, but the beard on the inside.
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Exactly the point I was trying to make earlier!! You said it so much better than I–thank you!!!

In Christ,
Jeff
 
ByzCathCantor said:
… as I have seen published elsewhere, there is even a section of the written priestly vow which covers this point
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An excerpt from an English translation of an Orthodox [ROCOR] “Examination of a Candidate for Ordination” (Oath), as posted in another forum:
  1. I promise to wear the dress proper to the clergy, not to cut my hair and beard, to observe the Fasts of the Orthodox Church, not to smoke, not to indulge in drunkenness or gambling, and in general to conduct myself as befits a clergyman, taking care not to compromise my high position, and not to scandalize the faithful by unbecoming behavior.
Source: byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/372500/1
 
Mickey said:
Me too. 👍
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I can’t help but to ask, but do you have a good wholesome orthodox beard?
I’ve always imagined you as having one to compliment your massive amount of knowledge that you’ve somehow managed to cram in that noggin of yours 😃 :rotfl:
 
Anthony_V said:
I can’t help but to ask, but do you have a good wholesome orthodox beard?
I’ve always imagined you as having one to compliment your massive amount of knowledge that you’ve somehow managed to cram in that noggin of yours
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Orthodox laity are not called to have long hair and long beards…and I am not knowledgeable at all.

If your post is meant to be sarcastic and condescending…then I am saddened. 😦
 
Mickey said:
Orthodox laity are not called to have long hair and long beards…and I am not knowledgeable at all.

If your post is meant to be sarcastic and condescending…then I am saddened. 😦
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No, it was indeed sincere 👍 Up until you said you were a lay member, I thought you might have been an Orthodox religious. It was an inadvertent way of finding out without embarrassing you though. I can’t take credit for that stroke of genius 😃

Peace and Blessings!
 
Anthony_V said:
No, it was indeed sincere 👍 Up until you said you were a lay member, I thought you might have been an Orthodox religious. It was an inadvertent way of finding out without embarrassing you though. I can’t take credit for that stroke of genius 😃

Peace and Blessings!
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My bad. :o
 
followingtheway said:
Why? :confused:
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Because that is what the Eastern tradition is, especially in the slavic tradition. It’s what our clergy look like. The beard, like the cassock and other clerical appearance things are a sign and a symbol to the people. This man is bringing Christ to us, he is a witness. A clean shaven priest can do that, don’t get me wrong, but the bearded priest is more in line with tradition. Sort of like a clergy shirt vs. a cassock.
 
Traditionally, Orthodox clergy have mustaches and beard (as well as long hair). Nowadays though long hair seems to be optional. Beards and mustaches from clergy I’ve seen are trimmed, though most still have them. Some jurisdictions already have beard and mustache as optional, like in the case of Antioch (which would cause a number of Orthodox to see Antioch as being liberal, but that’s another issue). I also prefer clergy to have mustache and beard, even if trimmed ones.
 
MrZosimus said:
“How womanly it is for one who is a man to comb himself and shave himself with a razor, for the sake of fine effect, and to arrange his hair at the mirror, shave his cheeks, pluck hairs out of them, and smooth them!..For God wished women to be smooth and to rejoice in their locks alone growing spontaneously, as a horse in his mane. But He adorned man like the lions, with a beard, and endowed him as an attribute of manhood, with a hairy chest—a sign of strength and rule.” St. Clement of Alexandria, 2.275
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Man, this makes me feel like a girly-man and makes me want to throw my $125 electric razor in the garbage.

I’m having second thoughts about asking for that nose hair trimmer for Christmas. I hope my kids saved the receipt.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Man, this makes me feel like a girly-man and makes me want to throw my $125 electric razor in the garbage.

I’m having second thoughts about asking for that nose hair trimmer for Christmas. I hope my kids saved the receipt.

-Tim-
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Save all these quotes for when wife/girlfriend/daughter/other important female complains about your facial hair… :D:D:D
 
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