1965

I've read on the Russian riverboat cruise forum in cruisecritic that we should take slacks to visit the churches. I wasn't sure it that was the poster's personal opinion or if that is a church rule. We were planning on packing comfortable, nice jeans for our guided tours during the cruise, which I believe include a church in every port. Thanks so much.

Christina

I have no idea, but find this an interesting question. I have never heard of a church that wouldn't allow people in jeans inside, only slacks, which are just a different fabric.

Are you just visiting these to look at them inside, or are you going to some kind of service? Because standards should vary a little on that count, I think, but I still have never been in a country where you couldn't wear jeans in a church. But who knows what they do in Russia. some info

http://www.kurskroot.com/orthodox_dress_code.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europ...-cause-madness

It seems to me concerns are more like Italy, miniskirts, etc., although the second one wants to ban Tshirts and track suits, so maybe the idea is that jeans could "offend" someone as being too casual for church.

amyb

My experience in at least St. Petersburg and Moscow churches was it was more important that women have head coverings/scarves than that they cared about what your pants looked like. I wore jeans, no problems but even to visit most churches as a tourist, women should cover their heads.

1965

Thanks bunches to you all. I was thinking the same thing-head covering is needed, but as long as your pants (and tops also) are respectable and modest in style, denim fabric isn't offensive. Our visits will be to tour, not for a worship service. Thanks again. I always get good, helpful information here.

thursdaysd

If it is a really conservative church the issue is that you should be wearing a skirt, not trousers. At the Church on Blood in Ekaterinburg I had to wear a tie-on skirt over my trousers.

1965

At the monastaries in Meteora in Greece, women were loaned wrap around skirts to wear over their trousers. This might be the policy at some of the churches in Russia. I may squash in an additional pashmina and have one for a head covering and one to wrap around as a skirt if needed. As always, many thanks to all for the responses.

live42day

We were in a few churches , especially in the smaller towns like Vladimir, where they gave us tie around skirts to put over our pants, I was not wearing jeans. We had to wear a head scarf and skirt, but that being said there were women tourists in the church who were not wearing them for what ever reason.
So if it is mandatory, I think that they will have skirts there for you.

Moglin

I think it's okay for guys to be in jeans. For women it's not very nice to visit a church in pants in general (and especially in jeans). But yes, you can get high brows and stinky looks from older more conservative women if you do wear jeans. I probably wouldn't worry about it.