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Longer Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 22: What is the Clothing Fitting for a Christian (R. 11)

Our discourse has already shown the necessity of humility, and simplicity, and cheapness and economy in every direction, so that the causes of distractions occasioned by bodily needs may be few. Accordingly our discourse on clothing must follow the same objects. For if it behoves us to strive to be last of all, in this matter also, to be sure, the last place is to be chosen. For just as the vainglorious strive to attain reputation by their outward covering of clothes, ambitious to be gazed at and courted for the expensiveness of their garb, so clearly it befits him who has abased his life to the uttermost in humility to choose in this matter also the lowest possible. For just as the Corinthians are blamed in the public feasts because by their extravagance they put to shame those who have nothing,² so clearly in the common and conspicuous use of clothes adornment above the common standard puts the poor man to shame by comparison. Since the apostle says: “Mind not high things, but condescend to things that are lowly,”³ let each man examine himself, which it is more fitting Christians should resemble, those who live in kings’ houses and are clothed in soft raiment, or the messenger and herald of the Lord’s advent, than whom no greater has arisen among men born of women.⁴ I mean John, the son of Zacharias, whose clothing was of camel’s hair. Moreover the Saints of old went about in sheep-skins and goat-skins.⁵

The apostle has taught us the end to be aimed at in a single phrase, saying: “Having food and raiment, we shall be therewith content,”⁶ as if to say that we need covering only; let us not fall any more into the forbidden vanity of embroidery and the ostentation which proceeds from it—to say nothing worse. For these evils were later importations into human life caused by vain contrivances. But the original use of coverings is clear, for God Himself gave it to those in need. For “God made them coats of skins,”⁷ it says. For the covering of our shameful parts such use of clothes was sufficient. But since there is another object also, that of being warmed by coverings, both things must have been aimed at, to cover our shameful parts, and to be protection against the inclemency of the weather. Since however of the actual clothes some are very useful, others less so, it befits us to prefer whatever can be made to serve several needs, so that the principle of poverty is in no way prejudiced; and that we do not have some things for show and others for use at home; or again one set of clothes for the day and another for the night; but that we decide to get such one garment as can suffice for all our needs, both for a decent covering by day and necessary warmth at night. From this it results that we have a similar garb, and that a distinctive mark, so to speak, is affixed to the Christian even in his clothing. For things that have the same object as far as possible agree with each other.

Further, it is useful to have a distinguishing mark in the clothes we wear, since they warn everyone, and declare in advance the profession of a godly life; so that those who meet us demand corresponding conduct. For the unfitting and disgraceful are not equally conspicuous in those one meets casually and those who make great professions. For one would not pay much attention to a plebeian or any other chance-comer whom one found giving or receiving blows in public, or uttering indecent words, or sitting in taverns, or doing any other unseemly things of this kind, since one would take such conduct as being consistent with the whole purpose of his life. But when a man has professed strictness, if he neglects his duty in the smallest particular, all men reproach him, doing as it is written—“they will turn and rend you.”⁸ So this profession by means of apparel forms a kind of discipline for the weaker brethren, so that even against their will they are kept from faults. As therefore the soldier has a distinguishing dress, the senator another, some one else another, from which their rank may as a rule be guessed, so also it is becoming and appropriate that a Christian should be distinguished by his clothing which keeps the sobriety handed down by the apostle⁹; who now prescribes that the bishop should be orderly, now bids the women to be arrayed in orderly apparel, orderly being of course understood in relation to the special aim of Christianity.

I give the same directions about shoes: whatever is simple, easily obtained, and sufficient for the purpose of utility, is to be chosen on every occasion.

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