How to greet a priest?

Aloha Joe · Dec 9, 2005

I don't want to commit the faux pas of giving a priest a high-five, so what's the appropriate way to greet a priest? Should non-Orthodox approach him differently?

I'd read on the website for the local Russian Orthodox church that one is to approach the priest with right hand over left and say "Father, bless," after which the priest will make the sign of the cross and place his right hand over yours, at which point you kiss his hand. Is this the general way to approach a priest in all of Orthodoxy? How would one greet his priest at the supermarket? Are handshakes irreverent?

Thanks!

Khaleas · Dec 9, 2005

I don't think a single priest would refuse to shake hands. Every priest I've talked to has done that and they don't really care if you don't know what to do (well, yea a high-five might be a bit much). At the church I go to no one really approches Father with Father, Bless (I use it in emails and such), but when I do ask for a blessing when I'm going on a trip for ex. I do say Father, Bless. It really depends on the church.
Another few things to remember... You don't whistle in church (I'm surprised how often this happens, I think just because people don't think) and rarely is there any clapping (possibly sometimes during announcement if someone has done something fantastic but it's rare).

Don't stress... no one knew how to walk when they were born either.

CFoxDWH · Dec 9, 2005

The greeting you read on the website is pretty much universal. You don't even have to say "Father bless," just get ready to "catch the blessing" and he'll know what you're doing. If you're non-Orthodox, though, the priest probably won't be expecting you to ask for a blessing so he might try to shake your hand. Don't sweat any faux pas, priests tend to be the forgiving type.

OnTheWay · Dec 9, 2005

Aloha Joe said:
I don't want to commit the faux pas of giving a priest a high-five, so what's the appropriate way to greet a priest? Should non-Orthodox approach him differently?

I'd read on the website for the local Russian Orthodox church that one is to approach the priest with right hand over left and say "Father, bless," after which the priest will make the sign of the cross and place his right hand over yours, at which point you kiss his hand. Is this the general way to approach a priest in all of Orthodoxy? How would one greet his priest at the supermarket? Are handshakes irreverent?

Thanks!

After services on my first visit to an Orthodox Church I just went up and said "excuse me father, may I have a moment of your time?" After you've experienced services for the first time you'll sort of see where formality fits into Orthodox Church life.
Or you could call your local parish before you go and speak with the priest before you arrive.

Maximus · Dec 9, 2005

Aloha Joe said:
I don't want to commit the faux pas of giving a priest a high-five, so what's the appropriate way to greet a priest? Should non-Orthodox approach him differently?

I'd read on the website for the local Russian Orthodox church that one is to approach the priest with right hand over left and say "Father, bless," after which the priest will make the sign of the cross and place his right hand over yours, at which point you kiss his hand. Is this the general way to approach a priest in all of Orthodoxy? How would one greet his priest at the supermarket? Are handshakes irreverent?

Thanks!

You just walk up and quote Minnie Pearl.

"HOWWWWWWWWDYYY!"

moses916 · Dec 9, 2005

Usually at my parish, the moment we see our priest, we ask for a blessing, and the moment we leave we ask for a blessing also. Then again, its still ok to just handshake or hug your priest.

OnTheWay · Dec 9, 2005

The Mormons have secert hand shakes, and that's how they tell each other apart or from Mormons that aren't in good standing. You've also got to know them to get into heaven. No, I'm not kidding.

Greg the byzantine · Dec 9, 2005

OnTheWay said:
The Mormons have secert hand shakes, and that's how they tell each other apart or from Mormons that aren't in good standing. You've also got to know them to get into heaven. No, I'm not kidding.

Sorry, sorry, I just can't stop lol

Maximus · Dec 9, 2005

OnTheWay said:
The Mormons have secert hand shakes, and that's how they tell each other apart or from Mormons that aren't in good standing. You've also got to know them to get into heaven. No, I'm not kidding.

That's because Mormonism fabricated a lot of its *stuff* by borrowing from the Freemasons.

Dust and Ashes · Dec 9, 2005

OnTheWay said:
The Mormons have secert hand shakes, and that's how they tell each other apart or from Mormons that aren't in good standing. You've also got to know them to get into heaven. No, I'm not kidding.

I don't doubt it. I believe Joseph Smith was a 32nd degree Mason so it's understandable that stuff like that would be incorporated into their religion. I recently picked up one of those little Conciliar Press booklets entitled The Cultist at My Door from the Church bookstore and it has some great, if disturbing, information about Mormons and JWs. I highly recommend it.

OnTheWay · Dec 9, 2005

Maximus said:
That's because Mormonism fabricated a lot of its *stuff* by borrowing from the Freemasons.

A little fact often lost on Mormons is that the entire temple endowment was created right after Smith recieved the first three degrees of Masonry. From what I understand they've toned it down a bit. Anyway, sorry to get the thread off topic, but a little amusing peice of information for everyone.

Michael G · Dec 9, 2005

Maximus said:
You just walk up and quote Minnie Pearl.

"HOWWWWWWWWDYYY!"

Actually, Fr. Michael being Texan would probably prefer that over the stuffy, formal "Father, Bless."

Aloha Joe · Dec 9, 2005

Maximus said:
You just walk up and quote Minnie Pearl.

"HOWWWWWWWWDYYY!"

But I already took the price tag off my hat

The local Russian Orthodox Parish website says this:

"This [proper greeting] is much more appropriate (and traditional) than shaking their hands. After all, the priest and bishop are not just "one of the boys."

Which surpised me (and left me faux-pas fearful), as I always considered, especially in laid-back Hawai'i, a proper handshake to be a sign of respect, and not irreverent familiarity.

I'll probably go to the Greek parish, though (no offense to my vodka-sipping friends--it's closer ), and just follow everyone's lead.

Thanks for your responses, everyone

Dust and Ashes · Dec 9, 2005

Our priest isn't big on non-liturgical formalities and usually doesn't wait for "Father bless" to give his blessing so I generally just give him a hug as does my wife. Of course he does handshakes too for the non-hugging crowd.

Who was the abbess who encountered the young novice that complained she didn't know how to greet the abbess properly and the abbess said, "Just give me a hug. It's all love."?

Michael G · Dec 9, 2005

Most Orthodox priests, and bishops for that matter, are very approachable. The first time I met Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh he was not offended that I didn't greet him properly.

choirfiend · Dec 10, 2005

Nope, they will not be offended...but once you know the proper way to act, you might as well take advantage of that knowledge---you might inform someone else who is watching you!

Michael G · Dec 10, 2005

choirfiend said:
Nope, they will not be offended...but once you know the proper way to act, you might as well take advantage of that knowledge---you might inform someone else who is watching you!

Of course it is good to act properly, but it is also good that bishops and priests tend to be gracious enough to not take it as a slight when your average person doesn't know the proper way to approach them. Which is also very good in addressing bishops because half the time you don't know if a bishop is russian/greek/antiochian so you don't know to address him as vladyka, sayedna, etc... The same with matushka/presbytera/khouria....

Aloha Joe · Dec 10, 2005

Would "ORTHODIZZLE in the HIZZLE!!" be an inappropriate greeting?

Michael G · Dec 10, 2005

Aloha Joe said:
Would "ORTHODIZZLE in the HIZZLE!!" be an inappropriate greeting?

Oh stop, that is hilarious! I picture Snoop Dog walking into an Orthodox Church and up to the priest saying that, and the priest looking at him with a face that said "What????!!!" Or the priest would be hip and respond to him saying "Word!"

repentant · Dec 10, 2005

It depends on where I am...at the Monastery, when I see or walk by a Priest (and everyone else as well greets the same way) I bend down and touch the ground, then he puts his hand out in the IC XC sign and I kiss it. At the local Church, or the Church's in the world, lol, I just say "Hi Father" and put my hand out, or he does first, to shake, but I kiss it as well.

How to greet a priest?

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