The Bearded Men

[Yasouna]

I have been asked recently as well as on previous occasions the question of “why do priests grow beards?” I knew that there is something more to it than just mer fashion because the former Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli, Lebanon Metropolitan Mar Antone A’bed had as a requirement that all priests in his diocese keep their beards long and they always wear the ‘Tabiya’ (Maronite Beretta).

Please if anyone has any information of the subject.

Also attached here are two photos first of the Metropolitan of Tripoli taken in the 60’s and the second is of the bishop with his priests after a diocesan meeting in 1933.

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[ChadS]

I have been asked recently as well as on previous occasions the question of “why do priests grow beards?” I knew that there is something more to it than just mer fashion because the former Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli, Lebanon Metropolitan Mar Antone A’bed had as a requirement that all priests in his diocese keep their beards long and they always wear the ‘Tabiya’ (Maronite Beretta).

Please if anyone has any information of the subject.

Here is a link to an Orthodox website that helps to explain some of their reasoning for beards and even long hair. It seems it’s more out of a sense not to conform to cultural norms or expectations, to show that they are beyond that. I have a feeling that is the same sort of thinking going into what you cited for the Maronites.

orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_dress.aspx

ChadS

 

[malphono]

The matter of beards even crosses the East-West line. There was a [post=5868612]post[/post] some time ago in another forum here that might be of interest.