Suitable attire, visiting monastery?

Question

I was out hiking up a mountain, when I decided to visit a monastery. However I was refused permission because I was wearing short trousers. I could have understood if they had been 'sexy pants' but these were real knee length 'passion killers'.
The monk at the entrance said, in rather condescending tones that "gentlemen visitors must wear long trousers". My first reaction was to imagine what he might have said to Jesus if he had turned up in his 'robes'. But seriously, is this correct, should dress constitute criteria in admittance to holy places?
Whilst I fully appreciate the need for 'respect', shouldn't a little flexibility be allowed. There are few men going to climb a mountain in the middle of summer wearing long trousers.
Do these dress rules apply everywhere? What about seaside resorts where you often see tourist in all sorts of clothing darting in and out of churches waving their cameras?
What about beggars and poor people, are they also to be excluded because of dress code

Answer 1

It is correct that you should respect the monastery's wishes. I suspect each monastery has its own rules but each religious order has its individual rules too.

Perhaps they have a homosexual problem and they don't like to expose any of the monks to naked flesh.

I guess if you were wearing a long robe covering arms and legs to ankle and wearing sandles this would have been acceptable.

Admittance of any caller I guess would be at the monastery's own discretion.

Answer 2

Now, while the monk you met might have been a little more kind in explaning the rules and dress code; please realize you inadvertantly interrupted what his important life's work and probably make him break his vow of silence in the process. That means he has to do pennence - which can be pretty severe depending on the circumstances - ranging from hours of nightly prayers to fasting for several days - or whatever. Yeah, you truly inconvenienced him - accidentally of course - you sound like a sensitive gentleman. But please cut the fellow some slack.

And please, understand that monasteries are located in the middle of nowhere to minimize interruptions by visitors. Monasteries are not tourist attractions. They are places of work and worship. Most monks are extremely busy with their hours of prayer and hours of physical labor.

Entrance into a monastery (or convent for that matter) is usually a scheduled event - with appointments made via postal mail, for some important reason such as interviewing a new postulate or other business matter. Of course, emergencies - illness, injury or repairs that the monks cannot perform themselves - do occur. And it is understood that emergency visitors are allowed. But in general, one does not just "drop-in" without an appointment.

With that in mind, yes, gentlemen should wear long trousers and a jacket and tie as well. Business dress. No jeans and tee-shirts, please.

AND - no. Flexibility is not allowed. That's the purpose of a monastery - a rigid lifestyle which frees the mind to concentrate on prayer. Interruptions are quite frowned upon.

And while they are not usually followed - as in touristy areas with inappropriately dressed, ill-mannered folks waiving their cameras - I can assure you that proper dress is more than appreciated. If you are a tourist, I would suggest business casual dress - twill trousers and a shirt and tie for gentlemen, below the knee skirt or dress pants and longer sleeves (at least dow to the elbow) for ladies. Shorts and bare shoulders are allowed, but not at all appreciated.

As to beggars and poor people - this is 2007 - not 1007. There are few leperous beggars crying "Alms for the poor!" running about. That said, barring some life or death situation, upon approaching the monastery, beggars and the poor would be referred to the parish priest.

Answer 3

It doesn't matter; you heard their rules from the horse's mouth, and that's what they are. You were the one attempting to enter THEIR domain, not the other way around; a monastery is NOT a democracy, and as an outsider, you have no inherent rights.

If you dyingly want to go after climbing their mountain, take a pair of long trousers with you. This shouldn't be too hard.

I'm sure they're quite capable of determining if someone is simply curious or actually needs help. Besides, how many short-on-food beggars burn food by climbing a mountain? As for tourists - do you really think they WANT a boat-load of tourists bothering them?

The upshot: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Answer 4

People who plan to visit a monestary that can only be reached after a long hike will bring an appropriate garment to put on once they get there.

You obviously were going to tour the monestary on a whim and were not prepared for the level of modesty practiced by that monestary. It's fine that you were not prepared, but it's also fine for the monestary to ask you to postpone your visit until a time that you were properly prepared. Had you been a beggar or somebody else in need, I'm sure the monestary would have tended to you, but that wasn't you, now was it?

I cannot speak for all seaside resort churches, but I do know that in St. Peter's in Rome, greeters at the door will direct people who are inappropriately dressed to come back another time when they are more prepared to visit. Shorts, sleeveless tops, etc. are frowned on. Smart travelling women will carry a large, lightweight shawl that they can tie around their waist as a skirt or drape around their necks to cover bare arms. Rare is the touring man who doesn't have at least one pair of long trousers with him to wear on the day they wish to visit the cathedral.

In India, there is a garment for men that is like a long, loose-fitting shirt. This would be easy to pack as it is lightweight and easy for you to slip on over your hiking clothes, should you plan a visit to a monestary some time in the future.

Oh, and Jesus, I'm sure, would have "turned His robes back down" when He got to the monestary, to observe their sense of decorum and modesty. "When in Rome," and all that... Please don't take it personally. I'm sure every hiker who thinks it might be fun to gawk at monk living their lives of prayer asked to dress appropriately during their spontaneous visit.

Answer 5

Now, whilst the monk you met could have been slightly extra style in explaning the guidelines and gown code; please comprehend you inadvertantly interrupted what his substantial existence's artwork and probable make him smash his vow of silence interior the technique. which skill he has to do pennence - that could nicely be exceedingly intense observing the situations - commencing from hours of nightly prayers to fasting for a number of days - or despite. Yeah, you extremely inconvenienced him - by twist of fate of direction - you sound like a fragile gentleman. yet please decrease the guy some slack. And please, comprehend that monasteries are placed interior the midst of nowhere to decrease interruptions by utilizing travellers. Monasteries are actually not vacationer factors of interest. they are places of artwork and worship. maximum clergymen are particularly busy with their hours of prayer and hours of exact exertions. front right into a monastery (or convent for that rely) is many times a scheduled adventure - with appointments made by utilizing way of postal mail, for some substantial reason jointly with interviewing a sparkling postulate or different employer rely. of direction, emergencies - ailment, harm or maintenance that the clergymen can not carry out themselves - do take place. And this is concept that emergency travellers are allowed. yet specially, one would not merely "drop-in" with out an appointment. With that for the duration of concepts, sure, gents could positioned on long trousers and a jacket and tie besides. employer gown. No denims and tee-shirts, please. AND - no. Flexibility isn't allowed. this is the objective of a monastery - a inflexible way of existence which frees the concepts to pay interest on prayer. Interruptions are particularly frowned upon. And whilst they don't seem to be many times accompanied - as in touristy aspects with inappropriately dressed, sick-mannered persons waiving their cameras - i will assure you that desirable gown is extra desirable than liked. in case you're a vacationer, i could recommend employer casual gown - twill trousers and a shirt and tie for gents, below the knee skirt or gown pants and longer sleeves (a minimum of dow to the elbow) for women. Shorts and bare shoulders are allowed, yet never liked. As to beggars and destructive human beings - it is 2007 - not 1007. There are few leperous beggars crying "Alms for the destructive!" working approximately. That suggested, barring some existence or dying subject, upon coming near the monastery, beggars and the destructive could be talked on the subject of the parish priest.

Answer 6

being a monestary it is a place for them to worship what they believe to be god, therefore they can mae up the rules as they please. dont judge them for what they believe in and accept that they want to uphold their beliefs and traditions in their own little corner of he world to worship.

and i dont think monks worship to jesus so he probably would have been turned away, and robes are ankle length!!

Answer 7

You have got to wear a MONK ey suit !
If your lucky the Abbott will give you a banana !