Question: In the fifth or sixth century there originated a priestly practice called "tonsure". What is tonsure and what is it symbolic of?
Answer: Tonsure is the shaving of some or all of the hair on the top of the head as a sign of religious humility. When the whole head is shaved except for a fringe of hair at the edges, it symbolizes the crown of thorns. Some monks shaved their heads completely and called themselves "slaves of Christ", relating to the ancient custom of shaving the heads of male slaves.