Many converts to the Orthodox Faith worry about tattoos or piercings they may have gotten before they became Orthodox. Others wonder if it is okay for them to get tattoos or piercings, now that they are Orthodox. A second, third, or fourth ear piercing, or a tattoo of a cross or other Christian symbol, for example. While there are no Church canons that says Orthodox Christians can not have tattoos or body piercings, Christianity has almost universally rejected them for millennia. This rejection stems from two primary Scriptural citations: Leviticus 19:28 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
5 minutes
The Old Testament prohibition against tattoos and piercings
“Tattoo” comes from the Tahitian word tatau, which means “to mark the skin”, and is a type of body modification. In Old Testament times, pagans often tattooed themselves upon the start of puberty or the death of a loved one. They also pierced their bodies in many different places, draping jewelry and ornaments from the holes. The Lord carefully warns the ancient Israelites against these practices. He condemns them, saying, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28).
Some modern Christians argue that this is nothing more than a ceremonial law that no longer applies to Christians. However, Holy Tradition has almost universally rejected tattoos of any kind since the early days of the Church. They did this in accordance with the Jewish practice. The only exceptions were the Copts, Ethiopians, and Bosnian Croats, who often tattooed their children with a small cross, so they could later be identified as Christians if kidnapped and killed by Muslims.
Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that our bodies are not our own, but God’s. Can we, as Orthodox Christians, tattoo or pierce someone else’s body? Of course not! We are not free to do whatever we want with something that does not belong to us. The same is true of our bodies. If our bodies belong to the Lord, we should make every effort to keep them undefiled and pure. Perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). We must make every effort to treat our bodies as temples and dwelling places of His glory.
God has called us to be “ambassadors for Christ” and to “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God…and do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:1-2). Orthodox Christians, therefore, should not tattoo or pierce themselves according to the latest whims and fads of society. Rather, we should conform to and abide by the will of God. Instead of using our bodies for artistic expression, make an expression of faith by maintaining your body pure, spotless, and undefiled as a true example of something which is much more than just skin deep!
Common questions about tattoos and piercings
Of course you can! Having a tattoo is not an unpardonable sin, nor does it bar you from becoming part of the Body of Christ.
Simply put, yes, you can. However, whether you should is a different question altogether. Since our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we should not disfigure them in any way. Doing so may subject you to penance or suspension from Communion.
Often we can convince ourselves that we get a “Christian” tattoo out of love for God. But this is delusion. The root of our desire is vanity. We need not mark our body to show someone we are a Christian; it should be our Faith shining through our actions that communicates this reality to the rest of the world.
Speak with your priest. Generally speaking, though, you should not pierce her ears against her will. When we search deep within ourselves, the reason we do anything should be to bring glory to God and bring us closer to Christ and our salvation. If our action would not accomplish that, it is something we should not do.
Yes, you should cover them with appropriate clothing. The ideal would be to have them removed completely. If you have a great number of tattoos, begin with those in areas that are difficult to cover with your clothing. That may be a sustainable way for you to remove them gradually without putting too much stress on your finances.
Orthodox Christians should not get tattoos or piercings
To sum up, while there are no official doctrines prohibiting tattoos and/or piercings for Orthodox Christians, our Lord commanded the ancient Israelites not to engage in this pagan practice. We must remember that our bodies are not ours. They are temples of the Holy Spirit we should treat with the utmost care and respect. If you already happen to have tattoos or piercings, this will not prevent you from becoming an Orthodox Christian, so long as you repent and work to change your life.
3 Responses
Would it be acceptable to come to a Sunday service with tattoos and a nose piercing?
Boston,
Christ is in our midst! In short, yes, it is “acceptable”. No Orthodox Church will turn you away for having tattoos or a nose piercing. Assuming you have read the article, you know that the Lord would prefer that you remove the adornments from your body. The nose piercing is rather easy in this regard, but the tattoos are a bit more difficult. But there are plenty of converts to the Orthodox Church who still have many tattoos and piercing holes (they no longer wear the piercings), and no one turns these individuals away! We hope this helps – God bless!
I do all the time to various services! SHOULD be ok, if it’s not they will tell you when you come in