We are invited by the Lord to His Divine banquet, and we should present ourselves and dress as His special guests.

When presenting oneself at an Orthodox church, it is considered appropriate to dress modestly, arrive on time, enter quietly, cross oneself upon entry, light a candle and offer a prayer for oneself or loved ones (or perhaps a loved one who had passed) venerate the icon of the day and the other icons at the doors, and enter with a respectful demeanor avoiding distractions and focusing on worship. As a rule of thumb, one should not enter when the priest is facing the congregation, like when reading the gospel, censing or blessing.

Both men and women should dress appropriately. Ask yourself, how would you dress if you were invited to a banquet by a dignitary or holy person?

For men, this typically means wearing at least a collared shirt and dress pants. Suits, sport coats and slacks are always appropriate. This is what is commonly called “business casual.”  Women should wear a skirt or dress that reaches the knees.  If slacks are worn, they ought to be dress slacks and respectful. Head coverings for women are appropriate but not required. Wearing a scarf and otherwise not dressing modestly would miss the point. The key is to present oneself with reverence, modesty and humility in the house of God. It is never appropriate to seek to draw attention to oneself. 

Of course, there are exceptions. Sometimes, it is permissible to "dress down" a bit, but this is the exception and not the rule. It is always better to come to church even if you don’t have the ways or means to wear your Sunday best.

Finally, focus on yourself, not on others. We should never focus on what other people are wearing. Judging others is a far greater sin than dressing inappropriately. Look within yourself and evaluate where your priorities are and make sure that your own attire reflects your faith as an Orthodox Christian.