Russian women and religion

[jj]

... in response to Actually..., posted by Lynn on Feb 16, 2002

Methodists no longer exist as such.  I wonder when the Christian Churches of the World will join togeher in the celbration of Christ, Uniting, Catholic,. Baptist, Chriatian Scientist ir Orthordox... It is jusr empire Building in the name of Christ...

[rojak]

... in response to Russian women and religion, posted by terry on Feb 15, 2002

Well Terry, since I see on your profile that you won (perhaps in a lottery) two companies, perhaps you can afford to take English lessons. Once you've mastered our language, say fourth grade level or so, then write to Jerry Falwell  http://www.falwell.com/ for some good advice about this matter. He'll probably advise you to advertise for a snake handler's daughter in a Pentacostal church located in rural West Virginia. Better that you find a woman there than to inflict yourself onto some unsuspecting innocent RW/UW. I'd be embarassed for America if you went over there. They're not ignorant....

[BarryM]

... in response to Russian women and religion, posted by terry on Feb 15, 2002

Yes, there are Mormons in Bulgaria. There are also Ukrainian Catholics, Romanian Baptists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, and various other protestant groups in the FSU.

I was surprised by a lady who wrote me today from Bulgaria. she is Mormon.

-blm

[NK]

... in response to Mormons in Bulgaria, posted by BarryM on Feb 15, 2002

How similar or different are Ukranian Catholics versus Roman Catholics? I was raised a Roman Catholic myself (non practicing now) and am just curious if anyone knows

Niall

[BarryM]

... in response to Re: Mormons in Bulgaria, posted by NK on Feb 16, 2002

considers the head of the church to be the Pope in Rome but uses Byzantine rites for Liturgy. There is a fair sized Ukrainian Catholic community in Texas.

-blm

[Lynn]

... in response to Mormons in Bulgaria, posted by BarryM on Feb 15, 2002

The Mormons regularly send missionaries to Bulgaria, I had breakfast in Vienna with nine of them one morning on my way home a few years ago. Curious Bulgarian superstition: women are not to sit on stone, concrete, soil, etc. if they are of child bearing years------the belief is that it could somehow freeze their ovaries and make them sterile.

[Natalya]

... in response to Russian women and religion, posted by terry on Feb 15, 2002

you have to discuss this subject with RW. I don't see a major problem with her accepting your religion and what you do unless she is very religious person to start with.In this case it will be very difficult to change RW religious prefferences.

[Lynn]

... in response to Terry,, posted by Natalya on Feb 15, 2002

I believe that it would be harder to convert the strong beliefs of a devout Christian to a sect other than that of their choice than it would to convince a agnostic that God is real. There is no grounds for generalizations about religion in the FSU, people are people and each has his own beliefs or lack of. These are the kinds of issues that need to be dealt with early on, if a person has strong feelings about their faith, if you ignore a possible problem----it will come back to bite you.
Once, on a afternoon date in Kiev, I wanted to see the interior of this church we were walking by, my date would not enter the church until she was able to borrow a scarf to cover her hair from another lady who was going in as well. It made me wonder what her reaction would be to a church such as the one I attend. Something to think about-------how would you feel if someone asked you to change your core beliefs for them------if you didn't have strong conviction it wouldn't matter much, but if did it would take a lot of soul searching.

[BarryM]

... in response to Religous preferences, I agree change wou..., posted by Lynn on Feb 15, 2002

Not all RW/UW wear scarves in an Orthodox Church. It really depends on the region and customs of those who attend the Church. At my Church, a few women wear scarves, but most don't. None of the Russian or Ukrainian women wear a scarf in my Church.

-blm

[John K]

... in response to Scarves..., posted by BarryM on Feb 15, 2002

When I was in Ukraine with my then fiancée at the time, we went on a series of tours of different churches and monasteries, including the catacombs where the saints are buried or their mummified are displayed.  I noticed that the more relevant (ie more important) the religious site was, the more likely the woman would be mandated to wear a scarf.  To go into the monastery in Kiev, and especially into the catacombs, women would only be allowed if they wore scarves.

This is just my observations, however.  I could be wrong.

[RW]

... in response to Scarves..., posted by BarryM on Feb 15, 2002

Barry,

Russian church abroad is totally different entity from Russian Orthodox church. It was established shortly after Revolution and it is not "under" Russian Mitropolit (or Head of Russian Orthodox Church) it has its own Mirtopolit. Throughout quite a long time it has established little bit different rulings and establishments, so there is a difference. If that is really something of interest to you, you can learn a lot on their website http://www.synod.com/

As for the scarves, for ages in Russia or even long before Russia, when it was Rus', you would see that women always had their heads covered. It was when woman was caught cheating on her husband, she would be placed in public with her head uncovered and hair let down. It was a picture of somebody comitting sin. If you watch Russian wedding, the bride is always brought to the altar covered under long veil - it's a sign of purity. If you look at the girl's and women's  Russian traditional costumes - their heads are always covered, and by the style of the scarf or hat you could define if the woman was married or still single.

There can be books written on it as there was a lot of importance placed on the woman's appearance and each region had it's own specifics.

Therefore it is very logical that woman in church will appear with her head covered in front of God - as a sign of pure thoughts and obediance. Even more, Russian Orthodox church also suggests that women wear minimum make-up and do not wear pants coming to the church. But not many women know or follow it. In any case, nowadays any church would welcome person coming through its doors because it's the actual visit to the church which counts.

Russian Wife

[BarryM]

... in response to Re: Scarves..., posted by RW on Feb 15, 2002

I am a member of the OCA:
http://www.oca.org

which is in communion with the world's Orthodox Churches including the Russian Patriarchate.

ROCOR is not in communion with the OCA or the Russian Patriarchate but has a open invitation to join from Patriarch Alexii of Russia and OCA Metropolitan Theodosius.

From what I am able to understand, a Patriarch is the Head of a national Orthodox Church in a predominantly Christian country. For example, Patriarch Maxim is the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. There are 5 Patriarchates which are considered the founding roots of the Orthodox Church, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, and Russia. Rome broke away and became the Roman Catholic Church. Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Antioch were part of the Byzantine empire which finally fell to the Muslim Ottoman empire in the 1400's. Russia was the anchor for the Eastern Orthodox Church during that period.

A Metropolitan is usually the Head of the Church within a region of a country. I believe the Metropolitan of Moscow region is Right Reverend Kyril. A Bishop is the Head of a Diocese usually within a large city or county where there are many individual Parishes. Our Bishop is Dmitri. A Priest is the Head of an Orthodox Parish or individual Church.

All Patriarchs, Metropolitans, and Bishops are considered equals and are celibate Monastics. An Orthodox Priest can be married, but not a Bishop or Monastic. The Patriarch of Constantinople is considered the First among Equals.

The Head of the Orthodox Church in America is Metropolitan Theodosius and is the First among Equals for the OCA. The OCA is not large enough at this time to have a Patriarch, even though it is autocephalous(self governing). We are almost there. Pennsylvania has enough OCA Parishes to have it's own Metropolitan and several Dioceses but the rest of the country is not there yet.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure of the Orthodox Church regional structure hierarchy in Russia but I'm sure it's along the lines I have explained.

-blm

[jj]

... in response to Thanks, for the info, RW. Some info for ..., posted by BarryM on Feb 16, 2002

And where does Lava sit in the scheme of things.  It has so many saints...

[Natalya]

... in response to Scarves..., posted by BarryM on Feb 15, 2002

I guess women in your church don't wear scarfes because they are sort of americanized.Lynn is absolutely correct RW do wear scarfes when they walk in church!If that don't have scarf they simply don't go inside church and pray outside.

[jj]

... in response to Re: Scarves..., posted by Natalya on Feb 15, 2002

Most churches (Lavra inc) provide scarfs on loan...