http://holyorthodoxy.tripod.com/beards.html
"It is better for a man to have a beard than to not have one.
He who has a beard should not think less of him who does not, and vice-versa."
(kind of a contradiction?
)
"How womanly it is for one who is a man to comb himself and shave himself for the sake of fine effect, and to arrange his hair at a mirror, shave his cheeks, pluck hairs out of them, and smooth them! For God wished women to be smooth and to rejoice in their locks alone, growing spontaneously, as a horse in his mane. But He has adorned man, like the lions, with a beard, a sign of strength and rule."
"For it is not lawful to pluck out the beard, man's natural and noble ornament. "A youth with his first beard: for with this, youth is most graceful." By and by he is anointed, delighting in the beard "on which descended" the prophetic, "ointment" with which Aaron was honoured. And it becomes him who is rightly trained, on whom peace has pitched its tent, to preserve peace also with his hair."
"But the hair on the chin is not to be disturbed, as it gives no trouble, and lends to the face dignity and paternal terror."
St. Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor: Book III, AD 195
--
I personally can't grow much of a beard yet, but I've got a good goatee going. I guess that fits in line with the last sentence of St. Clement's piece there.
--
"You, young men, honor those with beards. And if there is a man of thirty with a beard and one of fifty, or sixty, or a hundred who shaves, place the one with the beard above the one who shaves, in Church as well as at the table. On the other hand, I don't say that a beard will get you to heaven, but good works will. And your dress should be modest, as well as your food and your drink. Your whole conduct should be Christian so that you will be a good example for others"
St. Kosmas Aitolos, 1700's AD
"It is better for a man to have a beard than to not have one.
He who has a beard should not think less of him who does not, and vice-versa."
(kind of a contradiction?
)"How womanly it is for one who is a man to comb himself and shave himself for the sake of fine effect, and to arrange his hair at a mirror, shave his cheeks, pluck hairs out of them, and smooth them! For God wished women to be smooth and to rejoice in their locks alone, growing spontaneously, as a horse in his mane. But He has adorned man, like the lions, with a beard, a sign of strength and rule."
"For it is not lawful to pluck out the beard, man's natural and noble ornament. "A youth with his first beard: for with this, youth is most graceful." By and by he is anointed, delighting in the beard "on which descended" the prophetic, "ointment" with which Aaron was honoured. And it becomes him who is rightly trained, on whom peace has pitched its tent, to preserve peace also with his hair."
"But the hair on the chin is not to be disturbed, as it gives no trouble, and lends to the face dignity and paternal terror."
St. Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor: Book III, AD 195
--
I personally can't grow much of a beard yet, but I've got a good goatee going. I guess that fits in line with the last sentence of St. Clement's piece there.
--
"You, young men, honor those with beards. And if there is a man of thirty with a beard and one of fifty, or sixty, or a hundred who shaves, place the one with the beard above the one who shaves, in Church as well as at the table. On the other hand, I don't say that a beard will get you to heaven, but good works will. And your dress should be modest, as well as your food and your drink. Your whole conduct should be Christian so that you will be a good example for others"
St. Kosmas Aitolos, 1700's AD
