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Orthodox perspective on tattoos: no canon forbids them, but history and theology counsel caution

What the video says

There is no Orthodox canon that forbids tattoos, though the Church has historically discouraged them. The Old Testament says not to print marks on the body, and Saint Paul calls the body a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Coptic Christians in Egypt have tattooed a small cross on the wrist for centuries to show they belong to Christ during persecution. Orthodox pilgrims to Jerusalem also received small cross tattoos to remember their pilgrimage. The speaker got his tattoos while far from Christ and likes them, but would not get them again and has confessed them.

He will tell his children to think carefully and speak with a priest before getting permanent marks. Tattoos do not prevent baptism, confession, or communion.

Key moments

  1. No Orthodox canon forbids tattoos
  2. The Church historically discouraged tattoos
  3. Old Testament prohibition against printing marks on the body
  4. Saint Paul teaches the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
  5. Coptic Christians in Egypt tattooed a small cross on the wrist for centuries to show belonging to Christ during persecution
  6. Orthodox pilgrims to Jerusalem received small cross tattoos to remember their pilgrimage
  7. The speaker got tattoos while far from Christ, likes them but would not get them again, and has confessed them
  8. Tattoos do not prevent baptism, confession, or communion

The video explains that no Orthodox canon explicitly forbids tattoos, though the Church has historically discouraged them. It cites the Old Testament prohibition against printing marks on the body and Saint Paul's teaching that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The speaker notes two historical practices: Coptic Christians in Egypt have tattooed a small cross on the wrist for centuries to show they belong to Christ during persecution, and Orthodox pilgrims to Jerusalem received small cross tattoos to remember their pilgrimage.

The speaker shares his own experience: he got his tattoos while far from Christ, likes them, but would not get them again and has confessed them. He advises his children to think carefully and speak with a priest before getting permanent marks. The video concludes that tattoos do not prevent baptism, confession, or communion.

Main points

  • No Orthodox canon forbids tattoos, though the Church has historically discouraged them
  • Old Testament prohibits printing marks on the body; Saint Paul calls the body a temple of the Holy Spirit
  • Coptic Christians tattooed a small cross on the wrist for centuries to show belonging to Christ during persecution
  • Orthodox pilgrims to Jerusalem received small cross tattoos to remember their pilgrimage
  • Tattoos do not prevent baptism, confession, or communion
24 opinions in the discussion 23 participants, 5 replies to each other The opinion with the most support I think it depends on what we are tattooing these days. My priest LOVES Orthodox tattoos and there is even a tattooer in my church. I plan to have him do an Orthodox tattoo on me because I think it's not only important WHAT I get tattooed but WHO does it and… Read the discussion
76 comments at the source Original on Instagram

Discussion · 24

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

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  • opinion#1489

    I think it depends on what we are tattooing these days. My priest LOVES Orthodox tattoos and there is even a tattooer in my church. I plan to have him do an Orthodox tattoo on me because I think it's not only important WHAT I get tattooed but WHO does it and what intentions they have behind it too. I can't imagine having a non-believer tattoo a Christian tattoo on my body.

    • opinion#1492

      Same here! My Spiritual Fr. was/is a tattoo artist and there is an Orthodox tattoo artist in our parish. I got an Orthodox tattoo from him with the blessing of my priest.

  • opinion#1487

    I was raised Lutheran. Got covered in tattoos young, worked in tattoo shops. Most of my closest friends I met through tattooing. One of my good tattooer friends is actually the one who led me to Orthodoxy, and I never looked back! Glory to God for all things!

  • opinion#1485

    Putting a tattoo on your body is like spraying graffiti on a church wall... Just look at what tattoo studios call themselves: devil's right hand and the like. Many fathers condemn it and even say it's the mark of satan, that demons can enter your body through it.

    • opinion#1493

      God gave us creativity, I would have a cross tattooed as I have to remove mine in doctors offices and during operations. There are much bigger things to worry about, God gave us logic and rational thinking. You're not hurting anyone

    • opinion#1494

      Blessed are we that not all Priests hold the same view as you.. It is your actions towards others that God will judge you.. not the markings on your vessels nor the cloths you wear.. but how you treat his people.. just as he views how others treat you.. Be kind to others and compassionate.. if you can change a life by helping them know it's God who sent them through knowing you could… Tattoos don't define who we are.. some of the most kindest Souls are covered in them.. Endless possibilities and blessings to you all and your family 🙏☦️🙏

  • opinion#1491

    I guess this is one thing we Catholics are a bit more lenient on than our Orthodox brothers and sisters, as long as the tattoos are not disrespectful. I think it's something that should be done with caution, the same way as clothing.

    • opinion#1495

      It just depends on the priest. Many Ortho priests are not against tattoos ☺️ May you have a blessed day!

    • opinion#1496

      Many Orthodox Priests don't judge on past actions.. how you treat others and yourself defines who you are… not what you wear or what tattoos are imbedded on your body.. your vessel remains here and your Soul returns home.. focus on the stains you place on your Soul for that is what you will be judged by..

  • opinion#1479

    Let me shorten what a Greek Bishop told my Son about his tattoos of Greek mythology and Orthodox symbols, especially the one you have on your screen in each of your posts. He spoke about the constant editing and misinterpreting of our scripture. He said the Biblical scriptures speak of your Soul, not the vessel it lives in during its journey through this life. He said scripture tells us not to stain your Soul, meaning don't mark it with sins, because every sin we commit on purpose leaves a mark on our Soul that God will see when we arrive. Translating Ancient Greek into modern English leaves a lot of terms open to mistranslation. The scriptures speak of the Soul, the embodiment, not the vessel that carries it.

  • opinion#1486

    I have lots of tattoos, and like you I got them before I met Christ.

  • opinion#1484

    Absolutely not! God gave us our bodies, not to make changes to them. End of story. If you're Orthodox, truly Orthodox, there's no compromise on this. If on the other hand you think it's fine, then go ahead... you're on your own then.

  • opinion#1490

    If you like tattoos use henna… it's beautiful, temporary and good for ur skin….and you can get new henna tattoos every now and then. God created human in the most perfect way in his eyes. Do not change it. In monasteries there are no mirrors. When you are with christ you only have to care about your soul. Do everything to Glorify God.

  • opinion#1482

    My Spiritual Father has plenty of tattoos himself, martial arts figures, scripture verses and so on.

  • opinion#1488

    No I haven't, except by luck when I was young. Now at my age it's from Christian knowledge and I am thankful to God for that

  • opinion#1481

    Many, and I'm a Greek from Kos living abroad. I'd get them again, they're part of my story. May God forgive and understand my choices.

  • opinion#1483

    I'm Rum Orthodox and I have tattoos. One of them is the Diktefalos Aetos, the Greek double headed eagle, on my back, and I love it.

  • opinion#1480

    If I ever get one, it would be on the back of my neck, the Greek flag inside the Eurovision heart. Because I love Greece and I love God, everything I love in one spot. I hate going to the doctor and having to take off my church bracelet and cross, I feel naked and wrong without them.

  • opinion#1476

    I'm a woman and my spiritual father has guided me to stay in the perfect image God made me, so no makeup, no nail polish, no piercings, etc, as natural as possible. If I do wear makeup or polish, keep it natural, and if I dye my hair, keep it a natural colour. That's why I took out all my piercings. Tattoos are definitely frowned on, especially religious ones, because your ego is being vain, saying God didn't do a good enough job and your way is better. Humility is the foundation of our faith. Please don't attack me, this is just how I was taught and what I believe now. Everyone can do as they like, no judgement.

  • opinion#1473

    I have them... and honestly if I could go back I probably wouldn't get them again. Funny thing though, one of them turned out to be a Christian symbol, the CHI RHO (XP). It wasn't planned, so sometimes I wonder why I even did it....

  • opinion#1474

    Same as you, I got mine before I came to know Christ, and looking back, no I wouldn't do it again, even though I like them too. Because it's not about what I like. It's like the issue of women not wearing pants to church, it took me years to accept that. Do I think it's high on God's list of priorities? Not really, but I don't think we get to pick and choose the parts of orthodoxy that don't suit us, that's pride. We're all on a journey, all at different stages. God bless and have mercy on us all.

  • opinion#1475

    I have three and each one means something special to me. An infinity sign, a namaste symbol, and a sibling tattoo of a lotus. Do I regret them? No. Maybe I'm a bad Romanian Orthodox person, but God gave us free will. I just believe He gave me a soul, and I pray He finds me worthy and lets me into Heaven. Would I do it again? I'm 63 and honestly... yes.

  • opinion#1477

    So we're talking about cross tattoos. What about icon tattoos? I have Jesus the Teacher on one forearm, the Holy Theotokos with baby Jesus on the other, then St. Michael the Archangel on one arm and Christ's Resurrection on the other side. All iconography style. The church has many icons, but maybe not good to put on our body?

  • opinion#1478

    I'm fixing a lot of my tattoos and finishing the ones that aren't done. I hope to become Orthodox, but I've been heavily tattooed for years and they've actually helped others connect with me and hear about my love for Christ. God bless.