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Text Box: THE BASILIAN FATHERS (The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint Basil) CLERICAL CLOTHING Or the lack thereof A simple shirt can be very important. For many years a large percentage of Orthodox Priest in America have adopted the “Roman” collar as a form of attire. The traditional black shirt, with a narrow strip of white collar showing in front - often called a Jesuit collar - or occasionally the larger white collar encircling the neck, black coat and pants, identify the wearer as a Priest. Protestant ministers traditionally wear a regular suit as formal attire, while women ministers and Protestant ministers who wish to receive the same respect reserved for true Priests often wear an adaptation of the “Roman” collar. But now many Orthodox Priests are following another Roman trend which is quite disquieting, quite alarming. They hide their identity by wearing civilian clothing most of the time, and clerical attire only when the occasion demands it be worn. Why would a Priest wear clothing which hides his Priesthood? Some wear civilian clothing because they are retired. But it is impossible to retire from a vocation, and the Priesthood is a vocation, a calling from God. One may retire from a job, but it is impossible to retire from a vocation. A Priest may retire from being the Pastor or assistant Pastor of a parish, from being Abbot or Prior, from being Chancellor, from being the presiding Bishop of a particular See, vocations director, or any other “job”, but he is never able to retire from the Priesthood. He is always on duty, always on call (consistent with his physical limitations), for he is forever a Priest. And he is duty bound to Christ God, the chief shepherd, so-to-be. Some wear civilian attire to “fit in”, so-as-to-not-be obtrusive, to show they are

Text Box: just regular people. Such individuals demean the Priesthood. One of their duties is to assist others to “fit in” with God Their clerical attire is a constant reminder to others that that man is a Priest. It is a constant reminder to others that there are divine principles which apply to everyone. It is a reminder that a Priest is not “one of the guys” but is the representative of God - especially it is a reminder to the Priest that he is the representative of God and that he should and must always conduct himself as such - even though he may often fail so to do it is a reminder to the Priest of that to which he must strive. Clerical attire informs the public and especially those individuals who do not know the Priest is a Priest, that this individual is a Priest. It informs then this individual is available to administer the Sacraments, especially if there should arise an emergency wherein they are needed. And it assists or tends to keep the public “on their toes” in their conduct, as well as assisting the Priest in the same endeavor. Some wear civilian clothing because they wish to avoid being bothered by people in public. There are “Priest groupies” of every type imaginable, and they can be quite aggravating, upsetting, disruptive, obnoxious, tiring, and more, and often all of these and more combined. There are women for whom the sexual conquest of a Priest is the ultimate challenge. There are individuals who wish to argue various aspects of Dogma with which they disagree. There are those who seek Priestly approval: sometimes quite legitimately, but often by giving the Priest insufficient information regarding their situation and then seeking the Priest’s approval of their own sinful situation. But each of these can usually be easily and gently disengaged. The seductress can be sidetracked with a smiling remark that the Priest must complete the activity in which he is engaged because he is scheduled for prayers soon thereafter. This is not an untruth, for a Priest is always scheduled for prayer. It also is effective with numerous others. The Dogmatic argument provocateurs can be informed, “I must presume you are

Text Box: familiar with Church Dogma. Since I agree with Church Dogma, and you apparently do not, we have a wall of absolutes which separate us and which can never be bridged. For I will not abandon what Christ has taught, while you have chosen to interpret in your own fashion what Christ has taught. We therefore have no basis for discussion, unless you wish to change. If you wish to change, then I will provide you with catechetical material which you can read and which we can discuss after you have begun you reading. But I will not argue with you for that would be a waste of time. I will teach, but I will not argue.” With the non-Christian Dogmatic argument provocateur, one merely need but change one sentence, saying, “I will not abandon what Christ has taught, while you have chosen to follow another belief.” But every Priest should usually welcome most social interactions with the general public. Very few people are of the strongly obnoxious type. Most see so few Priest wearing clerical attire that they wish to briefly ascertain whether or not the man is a Priest, and perhaps “get a feel” for what type of Priest he is. Often people will inquire as to what parish or facility is the Priest’s station. They may be seeking a spiritual home, especially if the Priest where they attend Divine Liturgy wears civilian clothing virtually all of the time. They sense something is missing in their own Priest’s “whatever” and they seek it in the man who at least dresses like a Priest. Perhaps some Priest wear civilian attire because they are ashamed of the Priesthood. The activities of many who are Priest are such that all Priest should be ashamed of them and of their activities. But one does not correct such situations by hiding one’s Priesthood. One corrects them by constantly reminding one’s self and other Priest - particularly Bishops - that such activities are abhorrent, and that the practitioners of such activities must be removed from the Priesthood without regard to their position. Priest theologians and Priest professors

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