“Dressed in your Sunday best” is a phrase that harkens back to a time when people made a point of putting on their nicest clothes for attending church on Sunday. Our contemporary culture, however, is far more casual, but is that any excuse for not dressing appropriately for services?
Wearing our Sunday best and dressing nicely to go to church is not a fashion statement, but testimony of respect. Since we come to church to meet God, we should not come like we are heading to a neighbor’s barbeque.
In all the areas of our lives, Christians should offer their absolute best, and the same is true of how we dress. Wearing nicer clothes to church sets that time apart from the rest of the week, and this sacred space apart from any other in the world. Offering our Sunday best elevates us and separates us from that which is common.
When we dress for church, our attire should be modest; nothing flashy to bring attention to ourselves and certainly nothing provocative or alluring. Our dress should always be becoming to a Christian – especially within the temple. Here are some general guidelines we all should follow:
Children: Only young children under the age of five are permitted to wear shorts to the services – and then only dress shorts. Athletic shoes, cut-offs, spandex shorts, etc. are never appropriate for anyone of any age to wear in the temple. Shoes or sandals should be clean and tied. No one should ever wear a T-shirt with any kind of writing or character depiction on it.
Women: Dresses are by far the most appropriate attire and should be modest. Tank tops, halter tops, mini skirts, or skin-tight dresses are not proper attire. Dresses should have backs and should not be low-cut in the front. If women do wear pants to the services, they should be dress pants (not jeans or leggings). Shorts of any type are inappropriate.
Men: Men should also dress modestly. Coats and ties are not mandatory, but certainly always appropriate. Shirts should have collars and buttoned at least to the top button. Trousers should be clean. Dress khakis are all right; cargo pants are not. Blue jeans are usually way too casual to wear at worship services (especially those with patches or holes). Again, shorts of any type are inappropriate.
If you are going someplace immediately after the services where you need to dress casually, bring a change of clothing and change in the restroom during coffee hour. Remember to use your best judgment and good taste when dressing for the services. Clothing for Liturgy does not need to be expensive or elaborate, but how we dress often reflects how we worship (pray), and we come to the House of God specifically to meet our Lord and make a good impression!
Keep in mind that although the Church encourages us to dress appropriately when coming to services, we should take care to dress extra-especially on Great and Holy Feasts such as Pascha and Christmas. Another custom is to coordinate the colors you wear to match the feasts, such as wearing green on Pentecost, blue on the feast of Mary, and so forth.
