Ask An Eastern Orthodox Christian: Can you get a tattoo?

Can Eastern Orthodox Christians get a tattoo?

There is no canon in the Eastern Orthodox Church stating that an Orthodox Christian can not get a tattoo.

However, we know that Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

And in the Old Testament book of Leviticus 19:28:

“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”

When you become an Easter Orthodox Christian and have tattoos, you do not expect to go back and rewrite your past. Instead, you begin your journey from the point of commitment to the faith. However, if your tattoo is demonic or problematic in some other way, you need to consult the guidance of your priest or spiritual father.

What the Orthodox faith is and is not

In the Orthodox faith, one begins their journey not so much in compliance with rules or regulations but rather guideposts and choices. Going to church doesn’t save you; however, in most cases, it does help. If you are church shopping to fit your lifestyle and entertainment package, the Orthodox faith may not be for you.

However, if one desires to live life to the fullest as they were designed to function, which is created in his image (love) and likeness (holiness, righteousness), then one will certainly experience tastes of the eternal kingdom of God in this life. To function other than to love and to strive to live a moral life would be dysfunctional.

The Orthodox faith is not about conformity. It is about the transformation of self into what you are designed to become through a process known to Orthodox as theosis. That is, becoming more like Christ through His grace and mercy. It is not so much a destination, but a journey, a way of life and a work in progress.

The emphasis of the faith is about the condition of one’s heart, creating and providing an environment for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit God to indwell. For it is said that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) and when you lay aside that autonomous prideful self (a perpetuation of the fall) one receives the fruit from the Holy Spirit of God; that eternal joy, peace beyond understanding, and the experience of divine and unconditional love.

The Eucharist is the centerpiece and central act of Christian worship. It is where one experiences the direct personal sacramental life of the Holy Spirit of God in the Orthodox Church. It is the new covenant for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life where one receives the first fruits of eternity. If you are willing, come, taste and see.

The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. FāVS News values diverse perspectives and thoughtful analysis on matters of faith and spirituality.