THE VEILING by Justin Hallinan

Foreword
	Have you ever wondered what Christianity was like immediately after the New Testament era (after 70ad)?  Before Constantine's attempt to blend Church and State (before 313ad)?  Fortunately we don't have to geuss since the christians of that era (70-313ad) left us massive amounts of literature!
	I would like to share with you what the ante-nicene christians (33-313ad) believed about the woman’s prayer veil.  This will be the first of what will hopefully someday be a series of messages on what the ante-nicene christians believed about a multitude of topics.
	I am currently writing a paper on WHY the beliefs of the early christians (33-313ad) are important.  This will include the obvious and the not so obvious.  However, this paper will simply give you raw evidence concerning what ante-nicene christians believed about the woman's prayer veil.  This will be divided into two categories
	A - quotations from their writings [each quote will be accompanied by a volume and page reference - specifically as collected in the ten-volume work, the "Ante-Nicene Fathers" (ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; 1885-1887; Peabody, Mass.:  Hendrickson, 1994)]
	B - christian art from the catacombs

Note: quotations will be given in approximate chronological order, starting with the earliest.  I have not left out any writers/writings that would portray a different/contradictory view!

The Veiling
	Our first writer is Clement of Alexandria who lived in Egypt, and was born around the year 150ad.  He writes:
	"It has also been commanded that the head should be veiled and the face covered.  For it is a wicked thing for beauty to be a snare to men.  Nor is it appropriate for a woman to desire to make herself conspicuous by using a purple veil." (2.266) ie. Volume 2, page 266

	"And a Christian woman will never fall, if she puts before her eyes modesty and her veil.  Nor will she invite another to fall into sin by uncovering her face.  For this is the wish of the Word, since it is becoming for her to pray veiled." (2.290)

	"Such a covering should be worn as is necessary for covering the eyes of women." (2.264,265)

	You may be wondering how it is possible to veil "the eyes of women?"  The answer wil become obvious when we see another quotation from an early christian writing given a little later in this paper.
	The next quotation comes while Clement is reflecting on 1 Cor. 11, more specifically the words "Because of the angels."  He writes:
	"'Because of the angels.'  By the angels he means righteous and virtuous men.  Let her be veiled then, so that she may not lead them to stumble into fornication.  For the real angels in heaven see her, even though she is veiled."

	This covers what Clement has to say on the veil.  Now let's turn to our next writer, Tertullian.  Tertullian was living in Carthage which is located in modern day North Africa, more specifically Tunisia.  He was born around the year 160ad, and to my knowledge he wrote more on the veil than any other ante-nicene christian.  In his day, in North Africa, some people questioned whether the command concerning the veil applied to virgins as well as married women.  This was occuring because the greek work gyne can mean "female" or it can mean a  "married woman."  He writes:
	"The matter must now be dealt with that is inconsistently observed throughout the churches.  I am referring to the issue of whether virgins should be veiled or not.  For those persons who give virgins immunity form a head covering appear to rest their position on this: that the apostle has not specified "virgins" to be veiled -- but "women." ... Indeed, he says women must be veiled "because of the angels."  This refers to the event, when on account of "the daughters of men," angels revolted from God.  Now, who would argue that it was only "women" (that is, those who were already married and had lost their virginity) who were the objects of angelic lust.  Are virgins incapable of excelling in beauty and finding lovers? ... Why do you uncover before God what you cover before men?  Will you be more modest in public than in the church? ... Be veiled, virgin, if you really are a virgin.  For you should blush.  If you are a virgin, shrink from the gaze of many eyes.  Let no one admire your face.  Let no one perceive your falsehood." (3.687-3.689)                                                                                                     

	"It behooves our virgins to be veiled from the time that they have passed the turning point of their age.  This observance is required by truth.  Therefor, no one can impose any condition on it:  no space of time, no influence of persons, and no privilege of regions... Throughout Greece, and certain of its barbaric provinces, the majority of churches keep their virgins covered.  There are places, too, beneath this (North African) sky, where the practice is also followed (lest anyone ascribe the custom to Greek or barbarian Gentilehood).  But I have proposed as models those churches which were founded by apostles or apostolic men ... Still, until very recently, among us, females following either custom were admitted to communion with comparative indifference.  The matter had been left up to choice -- for each virgin either to veil herself or to expose herself." (4.27-4.28)

	"But insofar as it is the custom to argue even from the Scriptures in opposition to truth, there is immediately urged against us the fact that no mention of "virgins" is made by the apostle when he is prescribing about the veil.  Rather, only "women" are named. (4.29)

	So the question back then (approx. 200ad) wasn't whether or not 1 Cor. 11 was talking about long hair or a veil.  Everybody accepted that women should wear a veil!  The question was whether or not it applied to virgins.  Nobody claimed that the women's hair was here veil.  This is a modern invention from modern "churches".  Listen to what Tertullian has to say about that:
	"Likewise, the Corinthians themselves understood him in this manner.  In fact, at this very day, the Corinthians do veil their virgins.  What the apostles taught, the disciples approve." (4.33)

	So Tertullian actually claims to have had first hand knowledge of how the Corinthians interpreted 1 Cor. 11.  How many people today can claim such a thing?  Keep in mind that Corinth was a short distance North East of Carthage via the Mediterranean.  He most likely travelled there himself or spoke with someone who had.  There is also the possibility that Tertullian met native's of Corinth who moved to Carthage permanently or who were travelling through Carthage for whatever reason.  So the fact that Tertullian claims to know how the "Corinthians themselves understood" Paul is very believable, given his extremelly close geographical location to Corinth and his interest in apologetics.
	As I mentioned earlier, Tertullian wrote more on the veil than any other ante-nicene christian.  Besides the previous 4 quotations he also wrote the following 8.
	"Even if it is on account of the angels that she is to be veiled, the age from which the law of the veil will come into operation will no doubt be that from which the "daughters of men" were able to invite lust of their persons and to experience marriage." (4.34)

	"Since they veil their heads in the presence of pagans, let them at all events conceal their virginity in the church.  After all, they veil themselves outside the church.  If they fear strangers, let them stand in awe of their brothers too." (4.35)

	"By why "should the woman have power over her head, because of the angels"?  If it is because she was created for the man, and taken out of the man, according to the Creator's purpose, then in this way too has the apostle maintained the discipline of that God. ... He adds: "Because of the angels."  What angels?  In other words, whose angels?  If He means the fallen angels of the Creator, there is great propriet in his meaning.  It is right that the face which was a snare to them should wear some mark of a humbel guise and veiled beauty." (3.445)

	"For some, with their turbans and woollen bands, do not veil their heads, but bind them up.  They are protected, indeed, in front.  However, they are bare where the head properly lies.  Others are to a certain extent covered over the region of the brain with linen doilies of small dimensions.... which do not quite reach the ears.... Le them know that the whole head constitutes the woman.  Its limits and boundaries reach as far as the place where the robe begins.  The region of the veil is co-extensive with the space covered by the hair when unbound.... Arabia's pagan females will be your judges.  For they cover not only the head, but the face also." (4.37)

	"How severe a chastisement will they likewise deserve, who during the Psalms -- and at any mention of God -- remain uncovered.  Even when about to spend time in prayer itself, with the utmost readiness they place a fringe, tuft, or any thread whatever on the crown of their heads and suppose themselves to be covered!" (4.37)

	"Among the Jews, so usual is it for their women to have the head veiled, that they may thereby be recognized." (3.95)

	"In respect of the woman's veil, he says, "Does not even nature teach you?" (3.96)

	"A woman should not appear with her head uncovered -- on account of the angels." (3.102)

	This covers most of what Tertullian has to say about the woman's veil.  Let us now turn our attention to Hippolytus.  He was born around 170 ad, and I believe he lived in Rome.  I will not give a volume and page reference for Hippolytus since the work of his which I am now quoting was found after the publication of the ante-nicen christians writings (atleast the publication I am using), and is therefore not included in the 10 volume set.  The work is entitled "Apostolic Traditions" and reads as follows:
	"And let all the women have their heads covered with an opaque cloth, not with a veil of thin linen, for this is not a true covering."  

	This work, "Apostolic Traditions" was a compilation of what the christians in the generation proceeding him believed, and is therefore a wondeful testimony of how the prayer veil was observed amongst the early christians (33-313ad).  

	The last quote is especially important since it helps explain what Clement of Alexandria meant when he said "such a covering should be worn as is necessary for covering the eyes of women."  This quote comes from a work entitled "Apostolic Constitutions" and was compiled around the year 390ad.  I realize that this date is later than the council of nicea, however this work reflects an ante-nicene type of theology, and is therefore included in this paper.  Much of what it has to say no doubt comes from traditions handed down from the ante-nicene period, since it repeats much of what earlier ante-nicene writers wrote.  It reads:
	"  When you are in the streets, cover your head.  For by such a covering, you will avoid being viewed by idle persons... Look downward when you walk in public, veiling yourself, as becomes women." (7.395)

	So it should be clear that when Clement said to wear something necessary for "covering the eyes of women", he most likely meant something that would hang down from the head of the woman if she were to look downward, making it very difficult for other people to see her eyes.  I have noticed this works even with baseball caps myself.  In fact simply looking downward can conceal one's eyes from other people.  So I feel this is what Clement of Alexandria meant when saying "covering the eyes of women", not that they should walk around blind folded.
	This concludes what the early christians wrote about the prayer veil.  However, there is still more evidence on what they believed about the prayer veil.  It comes from pictures.  How could we possibly have pictures of early christians?  Fortunately they drew many pictures on the walls of the catacombs and a great number of these have survived to today.  I will not go into the different types of pictures (fresco's, engravings etc.) because I am not very knowledgeable in that area yet.  However, I do have access to some pictures from the catacombs via the internet.  Interestingly, every time a women is seen praying she is wearing a veil!  Please see the following web pages to veiw pictures of women praying with a veil:
	http://truthinheart.com/Veils1.gif  (3rd Century)
	http://truthinheart.com/Veils2.gif  (3rd Century)
	http://truthinheart.com/Veils3.gif  (4th Century)

	The testimony of the catacoms helps confirm the written evidence we have for the early christians (30-313ad) and the veil.  It shows that their women prayed with a veil in obedience to 1 Cor. 11, and the men prayed with their heads uncovered.  This is what the bible teaches and this what the early christians everywhere did during the time period of 30-313ad.