Why can men not cover their heads whilst praying?

Good question, always thought it was about the length of hair.

actually, there are some prayers where clergy are required to pray uncovered.

but I always thought it was more cultural

@Decanus

Hey there are a lot of nuances to this, if you take a look at Judaism for instance. Like a Kippah (cap) or Tallit (prayer shawl) on the head would not be considered breaking that command, because it is worn on the top of the head, but the hair is exposed. While women typically were expected to have their hair completely or mostly covered. Take a look at the Tallit link below.


There are a number of reasons for this.
1) For woman it goes back to Genesis 6:2 and their are notion of hair being erotic when you look at the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean. Some of the Greeks and Romans actually believed that long hair aided fertility if you look at some of the ancient medical writers of the day. But I'm personally doubtful that is true of the Israeli/ Jewish view.

Besides this, I think there is a little bit of an aspect of early Genesis regarding Adam and Eve in the differences and roles between the two sexes both before and after the fall.


2) For men I believe this is just a kind of priestly symbol, if they wear a cap or other liturgical head covering. It kind of reminds me of the topic of circumcision. That was a practice that was practiced widely (nearly half of the Mediterranean cultures did it for various reasons), but in Egypt it was done by the priestly class. So I see that as reinforcing or illustrating the verse where God says he wants his people to be kingdom of "Kings and priests" in the Old Testament.


Tallit

ArmyMatt said:

actually, there are some prayers where clergy are required to pray uncovered.

but I always thought it was more cultural

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Out of curiosity, do these prayers also need to take place in a certain environment?
If they would not require a certain environment, let's say one or more of these clergy went into space, and was on the moon or the surface of Mars or on a spacewalk - the environment requires being in a full spacesuit including a space helmet for them to survive. Would they not be able to pray these prayers?

It is a small and healthy tradition. What does it do that matters worth a hill of beans? It affirms that God created two distinct sexes, and that that division of the sexes matters. In a society gone mad on denying that, imagining silliness like “transgender” and confusing real and exceptional phenomena as some kind of legitimate rule or class of people, that men can “marry” men, and so on, it is very healthy indeed.
Anything could affirm it. In more healthy periods, how we dressed affirmed it. The fact of different and distinct dress does the same thing. It doesn’t matter whether it is Scottish men wearing kilts or women in Christendom wearing dresses rather than pants. Even traditions like having men stand on one side and women on the other affirm it.
It is notable that those intent on madness deliberately ape these traditions, “drag queens” and “butch lesbians” adopting the mannerisms that traditions distinctly mandated for the sex that they are not.

Sketcher said:

Out of curiosity, do these prayers also need to take place in a certain environment?
If they would not require a certain environment, let's say one or more of these clergy went into space, and was on the moon or the surface of Mars or on a spacewalk - the environment requires being in a full spacesuit including a space helmet for them to survive. Would they not be able to pray these prayers?

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Wouldn't you like to know what exactly these prayers are before taking things into space?

Decanus said:

So would you say it is permissible for a male to cover his head whilst praying unless a prayer specifically requires them not to?

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there are certain prayers where the hats stay on, so I would say yes depending on the situation

Sketcher said:

Out of curiosity, do these prayers also need to take place in a certain environment?
If they would not require a certain environment, let's say one or more of these clergy went into space, and was on the moon or the surface of Mars or on a spacewalk - the environment requires being in a full spacesuit including a space helmet for them to survive. Would they not be able to pray these prayers?

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that's a very legalistic way of looking at that. of course you wear something on your head if otherwise you'd die.

Tragically, if we cannot understand the spirit of these words, uncover as it were the veil of the letter from the head (mind) of the inner man, we indeed offer our prayers to God covered because of our carnal understanding. Sense perception, the woman of such a man (mind), if not covered with spiritual contemplations (thoughts) of material realities, is likewise a shameful thing.

St Maximus the Confessor has a lengthy response to this question (Q. 25) in this book, if anyone is interested.

Ezana said:

Wouldn't you like to know what exactly these prayers are before taking things into space?

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Sure, why not.

ArmyMatt said:

that's a very legalistic way of looking at that. of course you wear something on your head if otherwise you'd die.

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I'm just asking an exploratory question, since I'm unfamiliar with your tradition. My church doesn't have some prayers that can be prayed with a hat on and others that must be prayed with a hat off.

Sketcher said:

I'm just asking an exploratory question, since I'm unfamiliar with your tradition. My church doesn't have some prayers that can be prayed with a hat on and others that must be prayed with a hat off.

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sure, but do you really think that an astronaut would have to remove his headgear in space?

That whole line of questioning seemed absurd to me. I mean zero G and being in a Vacuum presents serious challenges to anything you do, let alone could you imagine trying to do a Divine Liturgy in it? I'm mean Earth bound rubrics for Communion elements, and swinging incense censers etc. kind of assumes an Earthly atmosphere and gravity. But seeing how Astronauts have trouble doing the most basic things, like going to the bathroom (they have to wear diapers) it is not surprising that High Liturgical prayers with their various prayers before vestments and with them would be difficult.

ArmyMatt said:

sure, but do you really think that an astronaut would have to remove his headgear in space?

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No, I don't. As to what he could do with that headgear on, that answer may vary, and I'd rather ask than assume.

Sketcher said:

No, I don't. As to what he could do with that headgear on, that answer may vary, and I'd rather ask than assume.

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I think the prevention of immediate death is a safe assumption