After Victoria Siegel’s wedding, the Chancellor’s explanation of how women’s clothing is valued in the church: we perceive where we live

On this occasion, Delfi decided to find out what the ladies should know when they arrived at Mass in the Orthodox Church and addressed Vitalijus Mockas, the parish priest of the Church of the Assumption of the Most Pure Mother of God.

The choice of the bride, the work of the fashion house “Mas 924” of the designer Monika Kazakevičiūtė-Kriščiūnienė, did not leave anyone indifferent. The bride’s dress has understated appeal, covering the graceful legs and neck. Even the hair before the ceremony, of course, was hidden by a woman under a scarf.

True, the pastor interviewed by Delfi recalled the deep Orthodox traditions, to which the woman adheres in this way only after the wedding. According to him, such a cover is not necessary during the ceremony, but must be worn after the ceremony. However, the options of women living in Lithuania are more easily seen.

Wedding and christening guest clothing is also appreciated quite calmly. Neither because of the short dress nor the bare shoulders was he expelled from the church. Some of the wedding guests of V. Siegel and L. Suoditis also chose longer dresses for their wedding, while others covered their shoulders with scarves.

“It just came to our attention then. If everyone in the church were members of the Orthodox community, perhaps you could think about it. However, several guests also come to weddings and christenings. Of course, you should not wear a bikini alone. However, we do not pay special attention to a prom dress of one kind or another.

The same could be said for headgear. We understand that in the Catholic country, the vast majority of people follow Catholic traditions and sometimes when they come to us they don’t know that they might need it. Therefore, if a person comes without covering his head, we do not really forbid him to go to church.

This applies both to tourists who do not look for suitable clothing before arriving, and to the faithful of our community who plan to visit the church unexpectedly.

Imagine a situation like this: a person on his way to work realizes that he has ten free minutes during which he would like to pray, ask for the day of blessing, and realizes that he does not have a scarf.

In that case, let him in, no one will really kick him out. After all, we understand the situation, ”commented V. Mockus, Dean of Vilnius and Chancellor of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Lithuania.

However, there is only a dress requirement. If a man visits the church wearing a hat, the caretaker may come up and ask to remove it. Out of respect for the sanctuary, the man should not cover his head here. Mockus says that people react quite calmly in such cases and agree to comply with the request.

As for other existing marriage traditions, the Orthodox Church refuses to marry brides during the fast.

“People at that time shouldn’t be concentrating on the wedding, but thinking differently. So we baptize all year long and never get married. We don’t change these traditions, well, we look at clothes with more indulgence.

I cannot say that we are completely liberal on this issue, but we understand the situation, we understand where we live and therefore we are happy that he comes to us, ”said the Chancellor of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church.

People who are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be expelled from the church.

“If a person clung to other gatherings, made noise, confused, or in any way disturbed the peace of the sanctuary, he might receive comments, and if they were not enough, the watchman would escort him to the door.

Sometimes people start talking louder without even knowing it. So just comments, ”said the pastor.