Didya Know?
Why many Orthodox priests do not shave and have long hair.
I never knew this before, but it has long been the tradition in the Orthodox Church that priests and monks neither cut their beards nor their hair, which explains why they look like the icons. I suppose I knew this unconsciously, but I never gave it any thought. Yet the reason is very much tied to the Old Law (Leviticus 19:27 and 21:5); that priests not trim their beards or cut their hair. Of course, it is also in imitation of Christ, a Nazorean, who neither trimmed His beard, nor cut His hair. Since the priest acts in place of Christ (persona Christi), it is fitting he resemble his Master.
In the Roman Church, Capuchin Franciscans wore beards for similar reasons, since both Christ and St Francis were bearded, although Roman Catholic clerics were always tonsured. (It was customary that Romans shaved, since not to do so identified one as a barbarian.)
“Don’t change a hair for me…”
Many Orthodox Jews keep the same rule, especially Hassidic Jews, who keep the Nazarene custom of long hair and beards. Interestingly, Jews recognize that Orthodox priests are keeping the Old Law, although they say they do not keep other aspects of it, such as circumcision. As Christians, we know we are not obliged to do so, although Coptic and Ethiopian Christians keep the part of the Old Covenant’s dietary regulations, such as not eating pork, and so on.
One day I was standing, talking with a Roman Catholic priest, while two Hassidic Jews were walking down the street ahead of us. Father nudged me and pointed to them, laughing at their hair and beards, with their customary fedoras, and the prayer shawl tassels hanging from their coats. I can’t repeat what he said. I couldn’t avoid thinking how strange our religions seem to one another, yet how closely related we really are. It was at that moment, I understood Christ, the Jew, had long hair, a beard, and would have worn a prayer shawl. Now I also understand why the Orthodox priest has long hair and a beard as well.
Orthodox priests who work at secular jobs, and those whose wives (Matushkas) do not like beards, may shave and cut their hair, and many do. I assume the Orthodox must have their own controversies over which priest shaves and those who don’t. What would Church be without our petty differences, huh?
Roman Catholics who favor married clergy might want to look more closely at the Orthodox married clergy - a wife, children to raise, a normal job, and your weekends are always booked, Batiushka.
Links:
Concering the Tradition of Long Hair and Beards
February 28th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Dude, be careful when you talk about 1st century palestine and hair - this kind of legislation regarding length/trimming etc may be biblical but it’s all a little more complicated than the historians imply - a lot of this judaic stuff isn’t 1st century but only rigidly implemented in the 2nd century mishnak laws - a lot of jews shaved and trimmed their hair [as long hair among some commentators was also considered as an effeminate affectation and 'greek-like'] at the time and We really do have no idea about praxis and customs - to an extent that we can categorically state that Jesus was bearded with long hair - we can presume - but that’s about the level we reach [unless of course we really [like me] believe in the shroud then it’s all bets off !!]
February 28th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Paul - it is like 4 or 5 in the morning in GB - do you get up this early? If so, please pray for me in your morning prayers. As for the post, I am way out of my expertise on all of this. Thanks for the caution.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Ter: Thanks for the hairy post! Anyway, let me just mention that I don’t care for the scraggly beard look. Keep it well-trimmed.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Terry, are you aware that St. Justin Martyr (a disciple of St. John the Apostle) and St. Irenaeus both condemned keeping the Old Law? St. Justin Martyr said that it is “monstrous” to do so as it implies that grace has not been received. The Old Law was to point to the coming of Christ, and now that He has come, they have no context.
I’m sure that keeping long hair isn’t a problem, though.
So if you’re just saying you’d like to grow your hair and beard out, I’m sure it’s OK. But no, you are NOT allowed to go around impersonating an Orthodox Priest. That might tick them off or worse, offend them.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Julie - I did know that - I think several saints have done likewise, including popes. I don’tlike the look myself.
Cath - Doh! I didn’t make the connection with your hair obsession! You must like the Just For Men ads, huh?
February 29th, 2008 at 9:02 am
My hubby is in a “beard phase” right now. *Sigh* I’m betting, though, that when summer comes and the percent humidity and the temperature are both about 90, the face fur will come off.
March 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Dude, I’m up all hours…par for the course…plus I start work at 6 a.m. and have to be awake until the little lady retires after midnight ; and being the main carer for the kids there’s virtually no time for sleep;
re; the beard thing - If a man thinks he’s got any chance kissing me he’d better be shaved within an inch of his life !! [joke !]
March 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Of course, it is also in imitation of Christ, a Nazorean, who neither trimmed His beard, nor cut His hair. . . . Many Orthodox Jews keep the same rule, especially Hassidic Jews, who keep the Nazarene custom of long hair and beards.
You are confusing “Nazorean/Nazarene” (meaning an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth or a follower of Jesus of Nazareth) with “Nazirite.” A Nazirite was a Jewish man who took a vow to grow seven specific locks of hair for a certain period of time. During the time of the vow, he would consume no wine or strong drink. At the end of the vow, he would go to the priest and have his seven locks cut, and the hair would be offered to God as a burnt offering. In rare cases, such as Samson and Samuel, a man would be dedicated to God as a lifelong Nazirite, but usually the Nazirite vow was temporary, not lifelong. Jesus certainly was not a lifelong Nazirite, since we know He drank wine on various occasions. However, the Book of Acts mentions that St. Paul “had taken a vow,” and he joined a group of Jewish Christians who also had taken a vow, going to the Temple with them at the completion of their vows. Very likely that was a Nazirite vow. Could Jesus also have taken temporary Nazirite vows from time to time? Sure, but there’s no evidence for it, and as I said, He was called a Nazorean or a Nazarene, not a Nazirite.
By the way, Hassidic Jews do not wear their hair in accordance with the ancient Nazirite vow. Rather, they grow their side locks long due to their interpretation of the commandment in the Torah that an Israelite man is not to poll the sides of his head. That has nothing to do with the Nazirite vow.