Evil eye?

[GoingByzantine]

That's part of what is a bit confusing to me, is that some seem to see it as part of the Church?

Probably that is why it upsets Father M so much, so I am going to mention to him that I have been told about it now, and let him know I won't wear it to Church anymore.

It seems that to some people it is almost a form of idolatry. I don't know, that might be kind of harsh, but when people somehow think a necklace or a bracelet is going to "save them" from someones evil eye or a curse it disturbs me. If I thought I had a curse put on me, I would pray to Christ for his protection.

I'm not faulting you though Kylissa, and it really is a matter of opinion, but mine is highly negative towards it.

 

[~Anastasia~]

It seems that to some people it is almost a form of idolatry. I don't know, that might be kind of harsh, but when people somehow think a necklace or a bracelet is going to "save them" from someones evil eye or a curse it disturbs me. If I thought I had a curse put on me, I would pray to Christ for his protection.

I'm not faulting you though Kylissa, and it really is a matter of opinion, but mine is highly negative towards it.

Oh, I didn't take it that you were faulting me. I didn't take it that anyone was - maybe I'm just too easygoing on it, LOL. But for all I know, a friend (who knows nothing about evil eye) gave me a bracelet that had cool beads on it. Turns out some folks have some superstitious ideas about it. I don't feel as though I did anything wrong, but I'm glad to know how others feel about it, so no one gets the wrong idea from me wearing it (since I won't be wearing it anymore, lol).

But in reading about it, I did find a site that talked about how to remove a curse, and how a priest can't do it (it has to be a yiayia or someone like that) and they talk about the evil eye bead or talisman, and mention that you can use a cross too, but the cross is secondary.

It's the kind of thing that doesn't strike me as having a place in Church. I don't like the way the article talked about it either.

I guess it's not very personal to me, since I knew no one it mattered to - well, except that I do care about these ladies at Church, and apparently it matters to them!

But I agree with you. It would bother me if I was looking to talismans of any kind to deal with curses, or whatever.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I spent a good bit of time googling and reading about the Churches and museums over there, and a few travel blogs. I haven't been able to find good photos of the icons, but I suppose it's just as well, as it would probably just make me sad.

Thanks for the info though - that area seems very interesting, and it was a good read. I never envy for much, but I must admit, those articles make me wish I could travel.

If I could, I'd go to Greece someday. And second on my list would be to visit Hagia Sophia. Or maybe it would be first, and Greece second.

Beautiful iconography!

I think seeing the Hagia Sophia in Muslim hands would be too sad for me, though it still would be cool to visit one day.

Egypt is at the top of my list, I really want to see the cave of St. Anthony the Great. Plus other sites associated with my favorite saints. Too bad the region is in such turmoil.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I think seeing the Hagia Sophia in Muslim hands would be too sad for me, though it still would be cool to visit one day.

Egypt is at the top of my list, I really want to see the cave of St. Anthony the Great. Plus other sites associated with my favorite saints. Too bad the region is in such turmoil.

I know what you mean about Hagia Sophia. When I looked at photos online ... that was my first thought too. I'd rather not see it.

But as long as the mosaics are visible ... no, I really would love the chance to see it someday. I doubt I ever will, but I think those must be the most beautiful icons in the world.

Egypt sounds pretty cool too. St. Anthony's cave would be nice to see. Unfortunately so many of those places that would be good to go to are involved in some kinds of turmoil, aren't they?

 

[ikonographics]

That's part of what is a bit confusing to me, is that some seem to see it as part of the Church?

Probably that is why it upsets Father M so much, so I am going to mention to him that I have been told about it now, and let him know I won't wear it to Church anymore.

Wearing the "eye" is definitely NOT part of the Church. To Westerners the idea of the "evil eye" may seem like superstition, but it's effects are real, which is why the priest's prayerbook (evchologion) has a special prayer against the evil eye (vaskania). I have personally heard from nuns, that people who were jealous of the flowers at the monastery had hexed them with the eye and they died. The nuns poured holy water on them and they immediately came back to life. People here in Greece ( NOT the faithful) will wear the eye to "protect" themselves from the "evil eye". But our only protection against evil is the Cross of Christ. Priests here often have to tell people here not to give Crosses together with the evil eye to newly baptised. You can either believe in one or the other, not both. And a glass eye isn't going to protect you from anything. It is not something I would even wear as a souvenir.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Wearing the "eye" is definitely NOT part of the Church. To Westerners the idea of the "evil eye" may seem like superstition, but it's effects are real, which is why the priest's prayerbook (evchologion) has a special prayer against the evil eye (vaskania). I have personally heard from nuns, that people who were jealous of the flowers at the monastery had hexed them with the eye and they died. The nuns poured holy water on them and they immediately came back to life. People here in Greece ( NOT the faithful) will wear the eye to "protect" themselves from the "evil eye". But our only protection against evil is the Cross of Christ. Priests here often have to tell people here not to give Crosses together with the evil eye to newly baptised. You can either believe in one or the other, not both. And a glass eye isn't going to protect you from anything. It is not something I would even wear as a souvenir.

Hmmmmm. Had to read this twice to make sure I understood what you are saying. I had been referring to the glass eye itself as "evil eye" but you mean the curse?

We must believe in blessing and cursing, since it is spoken of by God Himself, I think?

But what you are saying is that the glass eyes mean nothing in the way of protection.

In that case I agree with you, and I thank you for making a clearer distinction in what I am saying.

Well, I suppose I will talk to Father, and if he tells me to, I will get rid of it altogether. That's a bit uncomfortable, as my friend won't understand, but I will see what I need to do. Or then again, she actually might understand, as she is somewhat superstitious herself. She's a very dear friend, and has been asking me about Church and faith for ... around 13 or 14 years now? She wants so badly to come to God, but she's got some serious hurts, and right now the idea of going to Church probably stands in her way. Her family was Catholic, so I am concerned that the Orthodox Church (if she is ever willing to go with me) may cause her problems.

Anyway - that friend I have been very careful with, as far as conversations and faith. But as I said, she might understand.

Thanks for the further clarification.

The story about the nuns' flowers is very interesting. I hadn't realized it was allowed to use holy water in such a way.

 

[seashale76]

In the West the evil eye was once called 'overlooking'.

I'm pretty sure I've experienced this at least once, though I never thought of it or called it such except in retrospect. Back when I was a teen, I went to this pagan tea room with my friends on one of their holy days. I happened to be wearing a cross and this pagan guy was very offended and glared at me all evening as if he could kill me. I could literally feel his bad intentions towards me. I started having issues of a demonic nature around that time too, though whether it was related to that or other things, I don't know.

Anyway, my priest is very anti-blue eye amulet things too. He always told me you don't need that when you have the sign of the cross.

 

[buzuxi02]

Wearing the "eye" is definitely NOT part of the Church. To Westerners the idea of the "evil eye" may seem like superstition, but it's effects are real, which is why the priest's prayerbook (evchologion) has a special prayer against the evil eye (vaskania). I have personally heard from nuns, that people who were jealous of the flowers at the monastery had hexed them with the eye and they died. The nuns poured holy water on them and they immediately came back to life. People here in Greece ( NOT the faithful) will wear the eye to "protect" themselves from the "evil eye". But our only protection against evil is the Cross of Christ. Priests here often have to tell people here not to give Crosses together with the evil eye to newly baptised. You can either believe in one or the other, not both. And a glass eye isn't going to protect you from anything. It is not something I would even wear as a souvenir.

That's the thing, culturally what is superstition in one society may not be so in another. You also have many Roma people (gypsies) in those areas who pride themselves on being able to cast curses etc. The gypsies themselves do not view these things as superstition of course.

Both in italian and greek there are christian prayers to banish evil eye, which proves that the amulets are useless souvenirs. In my family evil eye (definately believed by the women) was always a minor curse though, usually of the harmless variety. Like if a young lady goes to a wedding and is dressed stunningly, she comes back under the weather. It said someone (or many) "eyed" her, "all eyes were on her", etc

My great grandmother, knew one of these prayers (dont know if it was church sanctioned or something passed down). It was actually fascinating in that she would yawn numerous times in the course of this 2 minute prayer. Depending on how many times she yawned ( or that's what I can gather) she could tell you if it was from an evil eye or have nothing to do with it.

In the western world it would be better explained as someone inadvertently projecting that envy or lust or whatever by power of suggestion through some telepathic or hypnotic channel onto another.

 

[~Anastasia~]

This is a much more interesting conversation than I would have expected.

I guess the reactions of the ladies at Church could have been a clue. I guess where I came from, though they were backwoods folks not long ago, was not really strong on superstition.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I do find it particularly interesting that there are Christian prayers. Perhaps that's what Father was mentioning to me at one time, before I understood all this. His opinion seemed to be that he would look for other causes first though.

 

[Dylan Michael]

It seems that to some people it is almost a form of idolatry. I don't know, that might be kind of harsh, but when people somehow think a necklace or a bracelet is going to "save them" from someones evil eye or a curse it disturbs me. If I thought I had a curse put on me, I would pray to Christ for his protection.

I'm not faulting you though Kylissa, and it really is a matter of opinion, but mine is highly negative towards it.

I think of Italians and the cornicello. Many very religious Italian-American Catholics I know are very wary of the evil eye, and many wear the horn to protect them.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I think of Italians and the cornicello. Many very religious Italian-American Catholics I know are very wary of the evil eye, and many wear the horn to protect them.

That is the first time I have ever heard of wearing a horn to ward of spirits, but it doesn't surprise me that some people do that.

To be quite frank, it disturbs me, we have faith...why do we need such things? When I see Catholics and Orthodox wearing talismans, it really devalues our Churches respectively. It also allows some non-edifying evangelicals to point at us and say, "see I told you. They are idolaters."

 

[Dylan Michael]

That is the first time I have ever heard of wearing a horn to ward of spirits, but it doesn't surprise me that some people do that.

To be quite frank, it disturbs me, we have faith...why do we need such things? When I see Catholics and Orthodox wearing talismans, it really devalues our Churches respectively. It also allows some non-edifying evangelicals to point at us and say, "see I told you. They are idolaters."

I thought it was a chili pepper for years, and finally I asked somebody why people wear golden peppers.

Me too.

I just happened to hold my hand a certain way one day and my friend freaked out and told me not to hold it like that or I'll give him the malocchio, even though I had no knowledge of such, nor would I ever intend to curse him.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I thought it was a chili pepper for years, and finally I asked somebody why people wear golden peppers.

Me too.

I just happened to hold my hand a certain way one day and my friend freaked out and told me not to hold it like that or I'll give him the malocchio, even though I had no knowledge of such, nor would I ever intend to curse him.

LOL, at one time I thought they were a pepper or something too. My best friend when I was a teenager wore one (the cornicelli) and I asked her about it. She told me it was an Italian horn and she wore it because she was Italian, and it was for good luck. That was about all I knew until I read this here.

I've never heard of a malocchio, or cursing someone accidentally because of how you hold your hand?

I do remember though, I made a terrible enemy in junior high school, and it wasn't until years later that I found out why she hated me so much. She told a mutual friend that I had looked at her and done something in the library one day and put a curse on her. I still have no idea what exactly I did, but she treated me horribly for years because of it.

 

[Dylan Michael]

Malocchio is Italian for...

Evil eye.

Just like Spanish, Mal de Ojo.

 

[Dorothea]

Yes, it's just superstition as everyone has pointed out, and I appreciated buzuxi's historical explanation. Learned something there. Remember the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? The part where they spit? They do that not to give the mati (sp) (evil eye), which apparently, only light-eyed people can give. For example, if a person with blue eyes comments on their friend's pretty baby by saying, "oh, isn't she beautiful!", then they'll ptooey three times so that no bad things happen to the baby - give bad luck in a way. That's what my mom told me back when i was in my teens and 20s. And it still is practiced among many Greeks.

I even find myself doing that if I don't want to "jinx" myself. I do the three "ptooeys." Yeah, bad habit.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yes, it's just superstition as everyone has pointed out, and I appreciated buzuxi's historical explanation. Learned something there. Remember the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? The part where they spit? They do that not to give the mati (sp) (evil eye), which apparently, only light-eyed people can give. For example, if a person with blue eyes comments on their friend's pretty baby by saying, "oh, isn't she beautiful!", then they'll ptooey three times so that no bad things happen to the baby - give bad luck in a way. That's what my mom told me back when i was in my teens and 20s. And it still is practiced among many Greeks.

I even find myself doing that if I don't want to "jinx" myself. I do the three "ptooeys." Yeah, bad habit.

Yes, I learned quickly not to compliment a baby on his looks!

I didn't know about the light-eyed part. My eyes are sort of blue.

I wonder if it is ok to compliment babies on something else besides their looks? Their alertness, their strength, and so on?

 

[buzuxi02]

The thing about not complimenting babies I've only encountered in a sicilian women. She didn't like how everyone glances over at an infant. Human hature draws us to babies, so I guess she covered up her baby real well when in public. The spitting is more to deter the devil like at the exorcism prayers for baptism.

Not sure how seriously is taken though. For example the saying "knock on wood" is also used, but just like in the west is not a literal belief in spirites living in the wood.

I saw a movie where the lovestruck character was exhibiting signs of clumsiness and melancholy because his love interest ran off. I imagine such symptoms is believed by those romantic at heart. In the east this would be a quintessential example of evil eye

 

[Dylan Michael]

Not sure how seriously is taken though. For example the saying "knock on wood" is also used, but just like in the west is not a literal belief in spirites living in the wood.

True, I still toss salt over my left shoulder even though I don't believe that the devil lives on my left shoulder.

 

[Dorothea]

Yes, I learned quickly not to compliment a baby on his looks!

I didn't know about the light-eyed part. My eyes are sort of blue.

I wonder if it is ok to compliment babies on something else besides their looks? Their alertness, their strength, and so on?

It's not just babies, it's complimenting anyone on anything. lol Ptooey three times afterwards, unless you are dark-eyed. I know. Crazy stuff.