National Flags in Churches (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.                Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.                Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!                Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?                If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?                Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.                But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?                Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.                For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.                But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.               
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National Flags in Churches (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)
   

QUESTION:

What is the orthodox position concerning flags (e.g., the American flag) in churches?

ANSWER:

To my knowledge, there is no restriction against an American flag in church, even though there are many who seem to object to this. It is only my guess, but it seems that in many places during the McCarthy era -- and in some places even earlier -- American flags began to appear in some parishes as a way to downplay accusations that Russian-Americans were not "Soviets" or "communists." I remember as a kid during that era that there were a number of people who "americanized" their names, placed an American flag in our church, etc. because there were accusations that the "Russian" parish was "communist." Most, if not all, of the new parishes organized after that era seem to be flagless, however.

Before one makes a categorical judgment against such things, it would be wise to trace the origin of the practice. It may seem a bit purposeless today, since McCarthyism is not the reality any more, but those older parishioners who did endure negative experiences during that period well remember what things were like "back then." Of course, I am not speaking in favor of the use of American or other national flags, but I do think that the issue, in some parishes, would need to be approached with some sensitivity as to why those flags may have appeared in the first place.








Published in January 2011.









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