The Orthodox Church of Ukraine does not prohibit women and girls from entering churches in pants. This is stated in an official statement of the press service of the OCU, reports UNN.
There is no such prohibition in our Church. And in other Orthodox Churches of the world (except for the Moscow Patriarchate, obviously) there are no similar rules that would prohibit women from coming to churches in trousers
According to the Orthodox Church, it is not what clothes a person wears to church that is important to the clergy, but rather what desires and spiritual needs they have.
The OCU also pointed out that the myth about women in trousers came from Pharisaic leaven and misinterpretation (or ignorance) of Scripture. Most often, in the context of such a "ban," lines from the Old Testament are referred to: "A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for everyone who does so is an abomination before the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 22:5). "But did those lines refer to women's pants? " - the OCU asked.
The Orthodox Church reminded us that in the days when the rules of the Old Testament were written, people dressed very differently from today. Both women and men then wore similar clothes: an undershirt that was belted with a belt, and a tunic (cloak, cape) on top.
The Brockhaus Encyclopedia of the Bible states: "Women's clothing was similar to men's, but still had some differences... Women's clothing was longer and wider than men's, and probably made of thinner fabrics; outer garments had sleeves down to the wrists. Women also wore belts and cloaks."
As we can see, the difference in clothing was not fundamental, which leads us to the conclusion that the above-mentioned lines of Deuteronomy were about another, rather internal male/female distinction, and definitely not about pants. It was about the prohibition for a man to pretend to be a woman and for a woman to pretend to be a man, rejecting the natural distinction between the two sexes established by God
The OCU also pointed out that modern women's trousers cannot be considered men's clothing. And it is not so much the form of clothing that is important as the purpose for which it is used.
Therefore, the OCU urged not to waste time on unnecessary disputes and prohibitions, and not to judge other people by their appearance - especially now, during the war and great losses.