Tattoos

[SeekerOfChrist94]

I have a question. I am considering joining the Eastern Orthodox Church, and I have two tattoos. They are small (one on my right wrist, the other just above my heart), but I was wondering, can I join the church if I have tattoos?

 

[Joseph Hazen]

I hope so, since I have two large tattoos in occasionally very visible spots and I not only joined The Church but hope to be ordained a priest.

Look up Turbo Qualis if you're still concerned, and ignore some of the very ignorant comments some people will make about them.

Welcome to TAW, and (hopefully) The Church!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Wow! Ignorant comments? First of all, some of us don't like tattoos, myself definitely included. We all have the right to disagree, but "ignorant" is not something I usually hear you say to people with different opinions, Rob. I'm surprised, a bit disappointed, too.

It's funny that this comes up. Kate was saying today when I got home from work how she has a pic of a fellow nursing student whom she knows who just had a baby with this guy. The guy was covered head to toe with tats. Our perception?---He looked like a total thug. Kate said, "why on Earth do people cover their bodies with this? It's disgusting. It's filthy-looking. I hate it."

It's an opinion. Not an ignorant one. I happen to share it. Now someone who tells me that they think tattoos are a lovely art form and an expressive human canvass of utter poetry, I will disagree and think they're way off, but ignorant? Nah.....In the end, some see it as a type of desecration of the flesh. The ancient Israelites did. And today, many conservative Jews forbid it. Seeing it as desecration of one's flesh is one opinion. Seeing it as perfectly fine and an art form is another opinion. Both have a rationale and a sensibility to them. But neither I consider ignorant. And frankly, I have yet to meet any ignoramouses on TAW really.

I hope so, since I have two large tattoos in occasionally very visible spots and I not only joined The Church but hope to be ordained a priest.

Look up Turbo Qualis if you're still concerned, and ignore some of the very ignorant comments some people will make about them.

Welcome to TAW, and (hopefully) The Church!

 

[nestoj]

I have a question. I am considering joining the Eastern Orthodox Church, and I have two tattoos. They are small (one on my right wrist, the other just above my heart), but I was wondering, can I join the church if I have tattoos?

Of course you can. There are far worse markings than tattoos, yet nobody turns people away because of them. Welcome to TAW.

 

[Trying_to_be_Orthodox]

I have a question. I am considering joining the Eastern Orthodox Church, and I have two tattoos. They are small (one on my right wrist, the other just above my heart), but I was wondering, can I join the church if I have tattoos?

My wife has tatto. Dont think that it can be serious problem.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Since I know priests who have tattoos, I'm going to go with yes

 

[Soderquj]

I came in with two, and they have never been an issue.

 

[Lukaris]

A friend of mine who I sponsored, became Orthodox, & who altar served had tattoos & no one ever said a thing.

 

[ArmyMatt]

yes you can, I have a few friends who are Orthodox and have tattoos

welcome to TAW!

 

[inconsequential]

Getting more afterwards could be an issue, but having them has no bearing on joining.

 

[Cappadocious]

No need for Judaizing...

Women wear earrings, men shave, people get tattoos, nobody freaks out.

Just please, no icon tattoos.

 

[Dorothea]

I have a question. I am considering joining the Eastern Orthodox Church, and I have two tattoos. They are small (one on my right wrist, the other just above my heart), but I was wondering, can I join the church if I have tattoos?

Yes.

 

[SeraphimSarov]

I've got four, all after I joined the Church. Nobody cares.

 

[inconsequential]

I have a full back picked out for when I can get my money right. I've heard numerous people say that their priest didn't approve of them getting new ones, though, if there are no canons, I guess it's none of his concern.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

I have a full back picked out for when I can get my money right. I've heard numerous people say that their priest didn't approve of them getting new ones, though, if there are no canons, I guess it's none of his concern.

Well that would depend. If he tells you you can't get them because he honestly believes you are doing so for a sinful reason - for example to draw attention to oneself, glorify oneself, or as some sort of pagan ritual - he can forbid it and we should listen. If he just doesn't care for them, no, it's not really any of his concern.

My priest doesn't like them, and would probably counsel not to get them, but more than just that he would discourage religious symbolis. Both of mine are from pre-Orthodox days, and both are religious symbols (a cross and a chi-rho inside a Trinity symbol) and he feels it's not appropriate, because, as he's fond of saying "would you want me to venerate it?" I suppose you'd have to determine whether or not that falls under his religious authority or if you find the argument persuasive.

 

[RobNJ]

While I would never get a tattoo, I f you want to..feel free.
I think any alleged religious objection comes from cross contamination with the rabid fundegelical types.. "Tattoos??? They do THOSE in the parts of town where people DRINK BOOZE & listen to that demon music!!!"

 

[Cappadocious]

Both of mine are from pre-Orthodox days, and both are religious symbols (a cross and a chi-rho inside a Trinity symbol) and he feels it's not appropriate, because, as he's fond of saying "would you want me to venerate it?"

Well, does he want to venerate the cross you wear?

Fr. Hopko has mentioned this referring to icon t-shirts (I think icon tattoos would horrify him). But Christian lettering and the cross shape are not really the same as icons IMO.

 

[Esdra]

Getting more afterwards could be an issue, but having them has no bearing on joining.

Why should getting another tattoo when you're in the church become a problem??

I've never heard anyone saying something against tattoos, neither in my Catholic parish nor in the Baptist parish I used to go 2 years ago.

 

[Protoevangel]

The Coptics often get crosses tattooed on their wrists. Beautiful tradition.

I have two tattoos currently. These were done before I was a Christian, and I treated my body as my own; as a toy to be used up and thrown away. There is one more tattoo I want to get, an Orthodox 3 bar cross with sponge, spear, and IC XC NI KA on my right arm.

 

[inconsequential]

Why should getting another tattoo when you're in the church become a problem??

I've never heard anyone saying something against tattoos, neither in my Catholic parish nor in the Baptist parish I used to go 2 years ago.

It came up on here a few years ago and there were many more opposed than in favor and several were saying that it was forbidden, etc so I figured there could be problems with some priests wrt tattoos.