You can't wear a beard. Where can you wear a beard? Beard for harmony in worldly life

Before talking about Russia, let's talk about the armies of the worlds. First of all, about the USA. There, at the legislative level, military personnel are allowed to wear beards and hats, symbolizing religious affiliation.

However, not all Western countries so liberal. Most of them strictly prohibit stubble, and if it is, then only as an exception to the rules.

Previously, facial hair in Israel and in other states with official religions: Islam and Judaism were treated calmly. But recently, even there, it is required to obtain permission from the command, and not from one officer, but from a whole series.

Is it possible to wear a beard in the army in the Russian Federation?

Let's turn to the Charter already mentioned above. So, he states, according to Article 344, Chapter 8, that the rules of personal hygiene imply, in addition to washing, hygienic showering, washing hands and brushing teeth, obligatory shaving of the face and cutting nails. Whiskers, however, are allowed, but only in a neat manner, and they must also meet certain requirements.

Are there exceptions in the law? In the same article, in the old version, a little lower in the text, midshipmen, ensigns and officers were allowed to wear beards. Now there is no such exception.

Attention: So, the Military Charter of the Russian Federation, Chapter 8, Article 344, prohibits the wearing of a beard. Below we will talk about whether this ban can be bypassed.

Why is facial hair banned?

That's why you can't have a beard in the army.

How to bypass the ban?

As we have already seen, according to the Charter, wearing a beard is prohibited. However, what if the soldier is a Muslim or has shaving irritation?

• The answer is clear - negotiate with command. At the same time, the higher the rank, the more chances for permission. Medical certificates will help increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. In addition, if the lower part of the face is disfigured by a scar, the military may also be allowed to wear a beard.
• In the old version of the Charter there was a clause that ensigns, midshipmen and officers can have a beard. And although now there is no such exception on paper, but in reality, this is what happens. The privates are forced to shave off the vegetation, but those who are older in rank are given some concessions.
• Another reason to get around the ban - being in the troops stationed in the north of the country. It is not clear why, (possibly due to the fact that vegetation helps fight frostbite), but there is much less strictness in facial hair, even among the rank and file.

But if the soldier decided to negotiate with the command, and he was allowed, it should be remembered that this is before the first exit from the unit. Further, the commandant's patrol can easily stop him and ask why the charter is violated. Moreover, in case of systematic evasion of the implementation of the article, proceedings in a military court are possible.

What is a tactical beard and is it in the Russian army?

In Muslim countries, being a beardless man is a shame. And it was in such states that the concept of "tactical beard" was born. It arose as a result of the Afghan and Iraqi military campaigns conducted by Western armed forces.

US soldiers were allowed to wear beards in Afghanistan and similar countries in order to blend in with local residents, as well as for hygienic reasons: hair is protected from dust, sand, chapping and frostbite.

Also, according to some publications, in those years a study was conducted, the purpose of which was to establish how much a beard helps in the conduct of hostilities. Scientists have found that thanks to her, the soldier produces more of the "male" hormone testosterone. As a result, such a soldier becomes stronger, shoots more accurately, and in general, his combat effectiveness increases.

100 military men took part in such an experiment (servicemen in special forces and regular troops were taken). Half of the men are bearded, half are not. Those with vegetation had better survival rates than their counterparts. After this, they even brought out the thesis that "a beard helps to survive." It is impossible to judge now how real the fact of such an experiment is, but some logic can still be traced here.

There is a so-called "temporary tactical beard". It is artificial and fabric.

How expedient its use in parts is not clear.

Bearded Military Club

Such a club was created in 2011 by US Special Forces veterans. He grants certain privileges to those men who serve in the military and have a beard. The abbreviation TBOC allows you to find their website on the Internet.

The club regularly holds public events for those who are in it, organizes material support and meetings of like-minded people around the world. In addition, they are given special badges that are attached to the form and allow you to find like-minded people.

TBOC also sends special tactical belts with a special field for the owner's name and a quality assurance certificate.

Conclusion

Yes, the beard has always been a symbol of masculinity and strength. In a number of countries it is prohibited, in other states it is allowed. Russia, alas, is not one of them. Whether the situation will change, only time will tell.

To summarize what we learned about whether the military can wear a beard in the Russian army:

1. wearing a beard in the army is prohibited by the Military Regulations of the Russian Federation, Chapter 8, Article 344, while in the USA it is allowed.
2. For medical reasons, as well as officers, they may, with the special goodwill of the command, be allowed not to shave.
3. There is a term: "tactical beard". This means that it helps in combat conditions to cope with dust, sand, sun and excessive heat. "Temporary tactical beard" - a fabric bandage on the face that imitates vegetation, and in the army it is not used.

Therefore, it is not surprising that we do not know very much about the various subtleties that airlines resort to in order to additional savings or safety. Frankly, more often than not, the safety of passengers is the cause of some things that we could observe, but did not even suspect their true meaning, writes Ofigenno.com.

bearded pilots

You've never seen them either, have you? The thing is that the airline strictly forbids its pilots to have facial hair. And all because the beard can interfere with a snug fit. oxygen mask to the face, and the pilot is the most important person on board.

Plane landing

You can review all existing films, at the very least related to aircraft, but the likelihood that a common person will be able to land the plane in a critical situation, is extremely small. Landing an airplane is a truly complex process that pilots have been mastering for years.

Coolness in the cabin

Those who have flown by plane should have noticed that the cabin is always quite cool regardless of the time of year. It would seem that airlines are just trying to save on heating, but no. The fact is that with pressure drops at low temperatures, the risk of hypoxia is much less.

Aircraft control

Aircraft control is a very complex and time-consuming process, however, at any time, if necessary, the pilot can leave the cockpit, for example, to visit the toilet. In this case, one of the flight attendants is required to take his place in order to monitor the co-pilot in case he becomes ill.

Silk handkerchiefs

At the dawn of development military aviation pilots always wore silk scarves around their necks. But it was not at all about some romantic story or something similar. Scarves had a practical purpose. The military uniform was made of very dense fabric, and the control of the aircraft involved constant rotation of the head, as a result, the collars rubbed the neck until it bled. This is where silk scarves come in handy.

Delay

If your flight is delayed, the last thing to do is take your anger out on the flight attendants. Their time spent on the ground is paid much less, and therefore every delay hits the pocket.

Statistics

Every day, airlines carry about 3 million passengers, which translates into a turnover of 5 billion passengers annually. Approximately every two seconds, somewhere in the world a plane takes off, and somewhere else it lands.

Airport interior

Almost every element of the interior in airports is conceived for a reason. Every detail is aimed at programming a person for certain actions. For example, there are very few seats in the waiting rooms on purpose so that people disperse while waiting for a flight to cafes and restaurants.

Flight path

It would seem that the shortest distance is a straight line, but planes never fly in a straight line, but write out various arcs and zigzags in the air. This is due to two things: firstly, the Earth is round, and the map is flat. And secondly, pilots are required to fly the plane along a certain trajectory so that there is an airport within reach that can urgently receive just this type of aircraft.

To date, air travel is mainly used in the countries of the first world, but the situation is gradually changing in better side, and perhaps soon they will become much more accessible. The world is slowly becoming closer and more interconnected, and technological process and will soon allow us to fly in ordinary taxis

The holy Apostle Paul, warning Orthodox Christians against the seduction of heretics, writes: "Remember your teachers, who have spoken the Word of God to you, theirs looking at the end of their residence, imitate their faith" (Heb., ch. 334) and "in teaching is strange and different don't apply."

Here we, without entering into a detailed discussion of the manifestation of lawlessness among the children of the Church, will dwell on the most visible and conspicuous evil - barbering.

This epidemic disease, the Latin heresy, quickly takes root among some young people, who, having left the due obedience of their parents and not hearing the living, exposing their iniquity, the instructive word of the pastors of the Church, not embarrassed and not ashamed of anyone or anything, enter in such an unchristian form into the holy God's temples.

This fornicating charm that infects some Christians was always condemned by the Fathers of the Church and recognized as the work of filthy heretics and heresy.

The fathers of the Stoglava Cathedral, discussing barbering, set out the following decree: “The sacred rules for Orthodox Christians are forbidden to everyone, so as not to shave their beard and not cut their mustaches, such is the fear of the Orthodox, but the Latin and heretical traditions of the Greek Tsar Konstantin Kovalin. And about this, the apostolic and paternal rules the greats forbid and deny... Well, isn't it written in the law about cutting your beard? there is an abomination before God; for this is from Constantine the king of Kovalin and the heretic, there is legitimacy. On this, I know all that they are heretical servants, by whom the brothers were tonsured. If you want to please God, then depart from evil. and a terrible rebuke, do such an unbecoming thing for the Orthodox" (Stogl., ch. 40).

The apostolic decree on the prohibition of the evil of beard farming contains the following dictum: “You should also not spoil the hair on the beard, and change the image of a person contrary to nature. Do not expose, says the law, your beards. for women, and for men He recognized it as obscene. But you, who bare your beard to please, as resisting the law, you will be abominable with God who created you in his own image "(Decree of the Holy Apostle. Kazan, 1864, p. 6 ).

The holy apostles and fathers of the Church, recognizing barbering as heresy, forbidding Orthodox Christians to indulge in this abomination, took various measures to correct this epidemic of barbering. In the Big Potrebnik it is stated as follows: "I curse the God-hated fornication image of charm, the soul-destroying heresies to shave and shave off the beard" (l. 600v.) The fathers of the Stoglavnago Cathedral, in order to finally stop the evil of barbering, acted more strictly than stated in the Big Potrebnik. They set out the following definition: "If someone shaves his beard and passes away like that, he is not worthy of serving over him, neither singing a magpie on him, nor prosphora, nor bringing candles to church on him, let it be reckoned with the unbelievers, from a heretic, more than a master" (ch. .40). And the interpreter of the rules of the Church of Zonar, interpreting canon 96 of the 6th Ecumenical Council and condemning barbering, says: "And so the fathers of this council paternally punish those who divide what they said above, and subject them to excommunication." This is how the holy apostles and holy fathers of the conciliar determined it; Now let us hear how the Fathers of the Church, in particular, looked at this plague of Christianity.

Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus writes: “What is worse and more disgusting than this? They cut off the beard - the image of the husband, and grow the hair on the head. About the beard in the decrees of the apostles, the Word of God and the teachings are prescribed so as not to spoil it, that is, not to cut the hair on the beard "( His work, part 5, p. 302. Moscow, 1863).

St. Maximus the Greek says: "But if those who deviate from the commandments of God are cursed, as we hear in sacred hymns, the same oath is subject to those who destroy their razor brothers" (Word 137).

The Missal of Patriarch Joseph says: “And we do not know, in the Sisian people of Orthodoxy, at some time in great Russia a heretical affliction was introduced. As if according to the chronicle books, the legend of the king of Greece, more than an enemy and apostate of the Christian faith and a lawbreaker Konstantin Kovalin and a heretic, hedgehog to cut the beard, or shave, as if speaking God-created kindness to corrupt, or packs of words according to chronicles confirming the evil heresy of the new Satan, the son of the devil, the forerunner of the Antichrist, the enemy and apostate of the Christian faith, the Roman Pope Peter Gugnivago, as if I supported this heresy, and the Roman people, moreover, and by their sacred rank I commanded to create, even brady cut and shave. tonsured" (Edition of summer 7155, sheet 621).

Similarly, the Serbian Metropolitan Demetrius wrote: “The repentance of the Latins fell into many heresies: on Holy Fortecost on Saturday and a week they eat cheese and eggs, and they do not forbid their children during the whole fast. They shave their beards and cut their mustaches, and the evil ones and the worst do it and bite their mustaches... all this received from the father of your worst son of Satan, Pope Peter Gugnivago, shave your beards and mustaches. your brothers, behold, the Lord is vile" (his book chapter 39, sheet 502).

Pointing out to the barbers the law of the Church, the instruction, reproof and punishment of the shepherds Church of Christ, we will also remember the zeal of Christians, canonized as saints, who, fearing the punishment of the fathers of the Church, did not agree to fulfill the order of the impious Prince Olgerd to shave their beards, for which they suffered.

In the saints with lives printed under Patriarch Joseph in the 7157th summer, it is said: "Anthony, Eustathius and John suffered in the Lithuanian city of Vilna from Prince Olgerd, the first for barbering, and for other Christian laws, in the summer of 6849" (see under 14th of April). Under the same date of April, in the Menaion, it is indicated that Anthony, Eustathius and John were only known from Prince Olgerd by Christians because, contrary to pagan custom, they grew their hair on their brads.

Such suffering of the holy martyrs for Christian customs, between which a beard flaunted in the foreground, should serve for true Christians as an example of modesty and a way of pious life. Not to shave or cut your beard is a Christian matter, an important matter - this is the fulfillment of the law prescribed by the Church, which is obligatory for those who believe in God and His holy Church.

The holy martyrs, having grown their arms as required by the duty of a Christian, showed the impious Prince Olgerd that they are no longer worshipers and servants of the demon, but imitators of the way of life of Christ in the flesh, which he led on earth for the salvation of the human race. Such a pious life and wearing a beard according to the Christian custom was commanded to us by the fathers of the 6th Ecumenical Council; for they say: “Those who have put on Christ by baptism have vowed to imitate in the flesh His life” (rule 96 of the Sixth Sovereign Sob. Full Transl., interpretation of Zonara).

So, cutting and shaving a beard is not a Christian custom, but of filthy heretics, idolaters and unbelievers in God and His Holy Church. For such a filthy custom, the Church Fathers severely condemn and punish, and betray an oath; and those who have not repented and reposed in this lawlessness are deprived of all Christian parting words and commemoration.

We pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, may this abomination - barbering in our fellow believers cease, we also pray you, our shepherds, that you teach the flock of Christ entrusted to you by God, according to sacred rules they would teach and punish their children, all Orthodox Christians, so that they would stop from all those evil heretical deeds and live in pure repentance and in other virtues.

Quotes from Holy Scripture

Levit, 19
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Declare to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, Be holy, for holy am I, the Lord your God.
27 Do not cut your head around, and do not spoil the edges of your beard.

Leviticus 21:
1 And the LORD said to Moses, Tell the priests, the sons of Aaron, and tell them...
5 They shall not shave their heads, nor trim the edges of their beards, nor make incisions in their bodies.

2 Samuel 10:4 And Annon took David's servants, and shaved each of them half of their beard, and cut off their garments in half, to the waist, and let them go.
2 Samuel 10:5 When this was reported to David, he sent to meet them, as they were very dishonored. And the king commanded to say to them: stay in Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.

2 Samuel 19:24 And Mephibosheth the son of [Jonathan the son of] Saul went out to meet the king. He did not wash his feet, [did not cut his nails,] did not take care of his beard and did not wash his clothes from the day the king went out until the day he returned in peace.

Ps. 132:2 It is like precious oil on the head, running down on his beard, Aaron's beard, running down on the hem of his garment...

Is. 7:20 On that day the Lord will shave off the head and the hair of the legs with the razor hired on the other side of the river by the king of Assyria, and will even take away the beard.

Seq. Jer. 1:30 And in their pagan temples sit the priests in torn clothes, with shaved heads and beards, and with uncovered heads.

Whether it is a sin for an Orthodox Christian to shave his ford and mustache or not, decide for yourself!

Beard as a virtue.

Priest Maxim Kaskun

Father, Dmitry asks:

“Hello, I recently heard the monologue of one philosopher (Alexander Dugin) “The Virtue of the Beard”. Is it true that having a beard is a virtue? Or should it be perceived as a ritual that is necessary only for the clergy, and not for the laity?.. Does wearing a beard help in any way in spiritual growth? Clarify please. Save me, God!"
- Well, firstly, wearing a beard is, of course, not a virtue - but an honor for a man. Because virtue is something that can be acquired, acquired through labor and achievement. The beard grows naturally, it can be compared with the character given to a person. But it is a certain accompanying factor for the spiritual life of man.
For example, in ancient times, for a person whose beard was shaved, this was a shame; and even, for example, the messengers of David were not allowed into the city because they were dishonored and disgraced, that is, they cut off their clothes (shortened) and, accordingly, cut off their beards. And until they grew a beard, they were not even allowed into the city.
And today we see that a beard does not have such an honor. On the contrary, there is mockery. Therefore, if we consider the beard as an honor, then today it turns out to be in dishonor. But why, after all, do the Orthodox wear a beard and even insist?! And they do it right! First of all, the main purpose of a beard is to help a person in his spiritual life. How does a beard help? If we take animals - they have whiskers that help them navigate when there is no light: they walk by feeling even when they do not see anything. The same role, only in a spiritual sense, is played by a beard for a person. She helps him. Because the structure of the hair of the beard is also empty, it is hollow, like a mustache; completely different hair on the head. It is hollow and really helps a person to somehow tune in spiritually. These are things that you need to experience ... Let's say a person who shaves off his beard - how does he feel? Yes, he feels naked, as if his underwear has been removed. Why? Because, indeed, a beard both ennobles and gives some kind of feeling of support. But this is certainly a mystery that only one who wears a beard can know. And therefore, today the Orthodox, of course, should wear it, not only because the beard helps, but also in order to revive the ancient attitude to the beard as an honor for a man; but, on the other hand, somewhere ... and like a sermon! If you are a Christian, you must still wear a beard; you should not merge with this world, because in this world there is a cult of the flesh that came to us from ancient Rome, where for the first time officially, so to speak, they began to constantly shave. Although the Egyptians started before them, but, nevertheless, the Romans were more successful in this regard, because their influence on the surrounding culture was decisive. They also influenced the Church: that is, all Roman priests always shaved, with rare exceptions. If we look at the holy fathers of the Ancient Roman Church, who are glorified in the face of saints (by us) - they were all with a beard. Augustine of Hippon, Ambrose of Milan, Pope Leo the Great - all with a beard. And only after the separation they began to shave. When they fell away from Orthodoxy, then they completely changed their attitude towards this and, in general, EVERYONE without exception began to shave. ... And Protestants generally say: "When I shave, I then feel the breath of the Holy Spirit on me" ...
- Thank you.

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Men grow beards for various reasons. Some do not like to shave, others think that this is an aesthetic expression of masculinity, someone believes that, thanks to the bristles, the beauty of the face is emphasized.

In certain professions, it is forbidden to wear a beard, and in some, on the contrary, it is considered the norm. Specialties that are related to the safety of people's health and life do not allow the presence of a beard. Often in large corporations, in which image plays a huge role, a ban on growing a beard has been introduced. To answer the question why pilots should not wear a beard, consider other professions.

Appearance norms for representatives of different professions

How can stubble prevent an employee from performing his duties? And what conditions can, on the contrary, encourage the wearing of a beard? There are professions for which a face overgrown with a beard is a common thing, for example, for geologists, archaeologists and mountaineers. During a business trip, it is difficult to shave every day.

Representatives of creative professions, such as artists, musicians, writers, when passionate about work, can simply forget about their appearance. The image of actors and models must correspond to the concept provided for in a particular project. The contract obliges to have a certain appearance, whether it is a clean-shaven face or stubble.

Officials, politicians, metro workers and other government employees are prohibited from wearing a beard. It is generally accepted that a bearded person does not inspire confidence, and a clean-shaven face is an indicator high status and reflect the image of the organization.

According to sanitary standards, cooks and other workers Catering have to shave. This is due to the fact that the hair can fall into the dish, and this is unacceptable. True, having a beard is allowed when wearing a protective mesh.

The appearance of teachers is determined by the charter educational institution, since there is no official order to ban the beard. According to the statute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, police officers are prohibited from wearing a beard due to the often arising need to use a gas mask.

Under the new rules, astronauts must also renounce beards due to technical necessity. Hair caught in the equipment can lead to disaster.
It is forbidden for firefighters and rescuers to wear a beard, as it interferes with the tight fit of the breathing apparatus mask and the normal operation of the valves.

Those who have ever flown on an airplane have heard the welcoming speech of the aircraft commander, which contains information about the flight time, route, weather, and the like. But, if you pay attention to how they look together with the co-pilot, you can see that their faces are always clean-shaven.

Why is the right to wear a beard among pilots infringed? The main reason why this happens is to comply with safety regulations. Like rescuers, pilots in certain cases are forced to use oxygen masks.

• If it happens emergency situation, and the pilot is the owner of a chic beard, then his mask will not cling tightly to his face. This could endanger his life, as well as the lives of the entire crew and passengers.
• Another reason is the airline's corporate image. Pilots and flight attendants are required to follow the rules, which clearly spell out appearance employees. Stereotypes also play an important role. Studies have shown that many consider men with a beard to be more angry and aggressive people. And pilots are required to inspire confidence in passengers.

Few airlines allow pilots to have a neat little beard. But the vast majority of carriers are very strict about facial hair for pilots because passenger safety is their number one priority!

The “Apostolic Decrees” in the first book say: “It should not ... spoil the hair on the beard and change the image of a person contrary to nature. Do not bare your beards."

Stoglavy Cathedral of 1551 – whose decisions, however, a century later at the Great Moscow Church Council were called written with "simplicity and ignorance" - strictly forbade the cutting of the beard. Those who disobeyed were supposed to be severely punished: “If someone shaves his brother and passes away like that, serve him not worthy, neither sing magpies for him, nor prosvir, nor bring candles for him to church.”

The reason for the death of the 14th-century Holy Vilna Martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius was the refusal to shave their beards. For the saints, who perceived man as the image and likeness of God, it was unthinkable to depart from him.

In the end, the beard became, if not the main, but one of the reasons for the split of the churches into Eastern and Western. One of the accusations that the Orthodox Greeks made against the Latin Catholics was barbering: “And they do not want to pay attention to the Scripture, which says: “Thou shalt not shave your beard” (Lev.19, 27), just as they do not want to admit at all that Only for women did God arrange this form during creation.”

Is a beard in the twenty-first century a tribute to the Orthodox tradition, a work necessity or a utilitarian fashion?

Hierodeacon Theodoret (Senchukov)

resuscitator:

– A man should generally have a beard. Shaved men originated in the pagan world with the emergence of homosexual traditions in ancient rome. In addition, it has become convenient to be beardless for warriors. – lest they be seized by the beard.

An Orthodox person is a peaceful person, he is ready to defend the fatherland, but this is not his professional affiliation. Be sure to be bearded clergy, monks and, as a rule, wear beards and the laity.

In the Lavra of Savva the Sanctified, there was a rule: beardless people were not accepted there. They did this, by the way, for the same reasons - in order to distance themselves as far as possible from associations with homosexuality.

In the Lavra they lived in cells, in solitude: the beardless were not allowed to avoid any sinful suspicions and desires. The beard was marking oneself as normal people. If a novice did not grow a beard, he was sent to the Lavra of Theodosius the Great – they lived in a hostel, everything was in plain sight, it was more difficult to commit something sinful in public.

There is no special canon about wearing a beard. This is a tradition. It is clear that in later times other traditions appeared. Peter the Great encouraged barbering, but all this was alien to us, taken from the West. I'm not a very big Russophile, but shaved chins are not an Orthodox tradition.

If you look, in all Orthodox countries people wear beards. Depending on how closely the country is in different historical eras contacted the West, there may be fewer or more beards, but they are always there.

Personally, I have never shaved my beard. – except for the moment of training at the military department and military training. He let go of his beard as soon as he graduated from high school. IN different times she had a different shape. In my youth, when I was a layman, the beard was small, it was a kind of goatee, and when I became more church-going, the beard grew large, bushy.

Quite frankly, I changed the shape of the beard when my wife died. While my wife was alive, I did a lot of science and wore a beard that was more acceptable for the environment where I then communicated.

Then I was left alone. Thoughts about monasticism arose, worries about a career and science began to worry less. Now I wear a beard that corresponds to the monastic rank - a monk can neither shave nor cut his hair.

Are there any problems with a beard? There is such an anecdote: a bearded man was asked where he puts his beard when he sleeps - under the covers or on the covers. After this question, the man stopped sleeping - he thought so hard. It does not interfere with work, and in life it is even more convenient - no need to waste time shaving.

Even if for some reason the beard has to be shaved off, I will let it go again at the first opportunity. Without it, it's like going out naked into the street: you can probably, but it's awkward and inconvenient.

Maxim Isaev

Doctor of Law, Professor of the Department constitutional law MGIMO:

– I've had a beard since 2004. He began to go with her after he defended his doctoral thesis. We can say that the specifics of my work contributed to the appearance of a beard.

Women don't like beards - they are frivolous! A beard for an Orthodox man is a certain dignity and the meaning of his attitude. Being with a beard, he assumes certain obligations - first of all, to correspond to the image of the Lord our God, because the Lord created us in his own image. And if we look at the iconography, then our Lord Jesus Christ is everywhere depicted with a beard. Therefore, we must strive to conform to Him.

One can recall many historical examples when Orthodox people found themselves in captivity, were forced into the infidel way of life, but, nevertheless, remained Orthodox. And the beard in this case is part of the tradition of Orthodoxy. I can’t even imagine a metropolitan, excuse me, with a bare face - neither with us, nor with the Greeks. This is possible among Catholics and Protestants, but there are other traditions.

In our climate, a beard can be very useful - it warms in cold weather. The only negative is that it takes a long time to comb in the morning.

Vladimir Lavrov

Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Nikolo-Ugresh Orthodox Theological Seminary, Chief Researcher of the Institute Russian history RAS:

– By the end of the Soviet era, wearing a beard was not welcomed, but it was not forbidden either. Socialism is characterized by a striving for averageness, uniformity. And the bearded men somehow stood out from the general ranks of the builders of communism. If the beard was broad, then it could testify to faith. And a believer was not allowed to be a teacher, an officer, and so on.

I grew a beard while still unbaptized. It's just that the skin is too irritated after shaving. In the CPSU, he was not eager to take a profitable position. But the communists often asked about the profession. And then they delivered a verdict: "Well, the historian can do it."

After a conscious baptism, in the process of churching and realizing oneself as Russian, an internal need for a bushy beard began to arise. However, he only let her go a few years ago. – in connection with parting with a beloved woman.

He hoped that such a beard would help overcome inner passions and strengthen himself in the Russian Orthodox faith. To some extent, of course, she helped, but nothing more ... The beard is already full and gray-haired, but the passions in the heart do not think to subside. Although, with a beard it’s more embarrassing ...

Alexander Basalaev, photographer, journalist:

– I haven't shaved my beard since 1980. During this time, she was short, medium, long, and there was one that literally grew to the navel. I say jokingly that my beard lived safely from the Moscow Olympics-80 to the Sochi Olympics.

The beard appeared like this: I served in the army, entered the institute, and here we, a group of students, decided to grow beards for the New Year. After the New Year, everyone shaved off, but I didn’t.

The beard appeared before I was baptized, and is not directly connected with Orthodoxy. But I was born in an Orthodox country! On both sides of my parents in the ancestors of the Cossacks. Maternal grandfather, his last name was Mordyukov, did not wear a beard - he fought, then worked in leadership positions, he was not supposed to.

But on the father - Basalaev, he was always with a beard. Paternal ancestors were from the Cossacks, who conquered Siberia with Yermak. There are photos of my grandfather. Maybe my beard has something to do with these photos - I can't answer for sure.

Just now my son came from the army and also let go of his beard, so youthful, modern. I tried to understand through him. He asked: why do you need a beard, why do you wear it? But he, too, could not fully explain. A beard is something subcortical, passed down through family tradition.

A beard does not mean that I want to create an Orthodox image for myself. At work, I often shoot in churches and I see that priests sometimes look - not all priests grow a beard - and now they look, not with envy, no, but appreciatively.

Once in the Kremlin, I filmed a meeting of a president with a special royal bloodline. It was right after the September 11 tragedy. And then the editor recommended me: before going to the Kremlin, make a beard from long to short.

And Chechens sometimes ask: do they stop you on the street? And I can honestly say that I have never been stopped because of my beard. And if they stopped, then it was not the beard's fault, but there were other pretexts. And from the time Soviet Union I haven't heard anything bad about my beard.

Neither my wife nor my children have seen me without a beard, so they cannot compare. And I was also invited to pose at Andriyaka's school, they painted portraits. One of them was called: "A man in a red shirt Sasha Basalaev."