Tag Archives: what to wear to church

Greek orthodox church

What to Wear to a Greek Orthodox Church

2 Replies

Greek orthodox church

The exact dress code that any one Greek Orthodox Church has will vary from church to church. However, there are a few things to remember when visiting any Greek Orthodox Church. There are several standards of dress that should be met in order to show respect to the church and to its members.

Men’s Clothing

When attending a service in a Greek Orthodox Church, forget wearing shorts or flip-flops. Shorts are not considered to be respectful in these churches, and they should be left at home.

For men, a simple suit is generally the safest thing to wear. Many people wear a full suit, including a jacket and tie. Choose a neutral color to keep the suit looking businesslike and respectful.

In place of a business suit, many Greek Orthodox Churches will allow men to wear a dressy pair of tan or khaki pants with a button-up shirt and a simple tie. Keep the colors neutral and keep the tie pattern simple. Loud ties are generally not appropriate in a Greek Orthodox Church. Make sure the shirt has long sleeves and is in good condition.

Wear shoes that are dressy to match the outfit. Casual loafers may not be appropriate to wear in the church. A dark pair of leather shoes will work with any outfit and are easy to find. Tennis shoes are almost never appropriate for a church service.

Women’s Clothing

For women, there are many options that are appropriate for a Greek Orthodox Church service. The main idea for women’s dress is to keep it modest. Many Greek Orthodox Churches have dress codes that call for modest clothing. To achieve this, remember not to show too much skin. The shoulders cannot be shown in the church, so avoid anything strapless or with thin straps. Keep your tops and dresses high cut and with long sleeves.

Wearing a simple dress is a nice way to show respect to the church. The dress should not be too tight and it should not have a shirt hemline. Keep the dress long, coming to the ankle or to the lower calf.

Many Greek Orthodox Churches have a dress code that specifies that skirts and dresses must come below the knee. Others ask that no leg be shown. If you aren’t sure which is appropriate, it may be best to wear an ankle-length dress or skirt to avoid any embarrassment.

Tennis shoes, flip-flops and stiletto heels are all inappropriate footwear for a Greek Orthodox Church. The shoes should be appropriate to the outfit and should not be too sexy in style. High heels are generally acceptable, but they should be simple in style and not too strappy.

Keep your jewelry and makeup simple when going to a service. Some Greek Orthodox Churches frown upon lipstick being worn if communion is to be taken. Keep makeup simple and neutral and wear only small, understated jewelry. Long, dangly jewelry may bring unneeded attention to yourself. Keep necklaces and earrings small and tasteful in order to keep your look respectful.

Church

What to Wear to Church – Fashion Advice

1 Reply

Church

Church clothing used to mean the dressiest clothing that you had in your wardrobe. And in many areas, it still does. There are many places where your finest clothes are saved for church services and where wearing a pair of jeans would be frowned on or disallowed. But in the majority of cases, the dress code for church services is far more relaxed than it once was.

Dresses

Dresses are always acceptable for church, even for a casual afternoon church service. A dress can be inappropriate, however, if it is too short or too low cut. Remember to be respectful of the church and its congregation by wearing something modest and appropriate. The skirt or dress you wear should come down at least to your knees. Remember that you will be sitting throughout much of the service in most cases.

Suits

In many churches, men are expected to wear suits to each service. This is particularly true in the South and in Orthodox churches. If you are expected to wear a suit, make sure it is one in good condition and that you have a tie that matches your color scheme. If you can’t stand the thought of wearing a suit, wear a nice pair of slacks, a dress shirt and a nice jacket or blazer.

Jeans

In many churches, jeans are perfectly appropriate. This is especially true for morning or afternoon services where things may be more casual than an evening church service. If jeans are acceptable in your church, make sure your jeans have no holes in them. Even jeans can look nice if they are paired with a nice shirt in good condition and are clean and pressed. You may want to iron your jeans to make them look nicer.

Shoes

Your footwear should both show respect to the church and it should coordinate well with your outfit. Wearing sexy, strappy heels in church is generally not considered acceptable. High-heeled pumps are usually acceptable, as are flats. If you are dressed casually, in jeans or khakis, you can usually wear a pair of clean tennis shoes. Just make sure they are in good condition and are not muddy or too worn.

Wearing sandals may be appropriate with a summer dress or with a nice pair of jeans. It would not be acceptable to wear flip-flops to most churches. There are some churches that have extremely casual dress codes however, but anyone wanting to wear flip-flops to a service should ask ahead of time to make sure it is permitted.

There are many older churches that have their own special dress codes. In Europe, it is not uncommon for well-known churches to require people to have on long sleeves and long pants. Greek Orthodox churches also have this requirement, no matter where they are located. If you are going to attend a church that you are completely unfamiliar with, call ahead of time to find out how to dress appropriately. If you are unsure, dress in business casual clothing to avoid embarrassment.