How to greet a priest?

ufonium2 · Dec 10, 2005

Michael the Iconographer said:
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....

I have no idea what my priest's wife prefers. The church is Antiochian (with lots of slavs and some Greeks too) but she's Serbian. She answers to all three, but I've wondered what she actually prefers.

choirfiend · Dec 10, 2005

Yea, I just go for "Your Grace" for addressing a bishop, and that will never be wrong and crosses all ethnic boundaries.

Thank goodness they don't get offended! Why in the world would they? It's kinda like if you are a Ms. because you're divorced and someone keeps calling you Mrs. Are you going to get mad at them? No, of course not. But you might hope that they catch on soon or that someone informs them of the proper title.

I can't imagine shaking a bishop's hand, and I cant really imagine shaking a priest's, either. It's INCONCEIVABLE! and hugging doesn't feel normal (nor have I seen it done) but the cheek kissing traditions feel completely ok. My current priest does more of that, and is normal since it's even done in the church with the kiss of peace if there is more than one clergy member present. Much more about being brethren in Christ and less formal than a handshake, yet also with more decorum.

RobNJ · Dec 10, 2005

One thing I've learned from experience.. don't refer to the head coverings the women wear in DL as "Orthodox Do-Rags"

Trust me on this one!!

moses916 · Dec 10, 2005

RobNJ said:
One thing I've learned from experience.. don't refer to the head coverings the women wear in DL as "Orthodox Do-Rags"

Trust me on this one!!

Khaleas · Dec 10, 2005

RobNJ said:
One thing I've learned from experience.. don't refer to the head coverings the women wear in DL as "Orthodox Do-Rags"

Trust me on this one!!

That's what Kevin keep calling my scarves... as a joke of course.
I find myself wandering around with a scarf a lot here at home lately. The short hair cut was a big mistake because I forgot how many cowlicks I have and it's more like bad-hair-month than bad hair day. My neighbors already know I'm a bit odd so it's not like this is going to change it.

Michael G · Dec 10, 2005

Khaleas said:
That's what Kevin keep calling my scarves... as a joke of course.
I find myself wandering around with a scarf a lot here at home lately. The short hair cut was a big mistake because I forgot how many cowlicks I have and it's more like bad-hair-month than bad hair day. My neighbors already know I'm a bit odd so it's not like this is going to change it.

Atleast you are not having a bad hair life?

Kolya · Dec 10, 2005

Aloha Joe said:
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

Hey you lucky guy living in Hawaii.
I was doing some research on the OC's in Hawaii for a novel my wife is writing, and I even used google's earth sat and mapping system to locate them. Those in Honolulu are quite close to each other it seems.

BTW, don't stress about the greeting. My daughter's fiance walked up to our priest today as we were leaving, stuck out his hand and said "Cheers"! Father took it in his stride.
I just asked for a blessing in the traditional manner before I left though.

But before I converted I just used to walk up to the priest and said hello with a handshake. He never held it against me.

Maximus · Dec 10, 2005

The first time I ever met an Orthodox bishop, I shook his hand and said something like, "Hello, sir." He didn't seem to mind.

I have always greeted the priests I've known with a "Hi, Father," occasionally throwing in a "How ya doin'?" for good measure.

Thus far none of them has refused an invite to lunch or dinner.

Melethiel · Dec 10, 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.

*giggles uncontrollably*

RobNJ · Dec 10, 2005

[threadjack alert]

*RobNJ looks at Melethiel's siggy & user title, and cues up "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" *

[/threadjack]

Melethiel · Dec 10, 2005

RobNJ said:
[threadjack alert]

*RobNJ looks at Melethiel's siggy & user title, and cues up "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" *

[/threadjack]

I swear that that particular one will be the last one of Bach's preludes and fugues I learn. It's so overused.

Aloha Joe · Dec 10, 2005

Kolya said:
Hey you lucky guy living in Hawaii.
I was doing some research on the OC's in Hawaii for a novel my wife is writing, and I even used google's earth sat and mapping system to locate them. Those in Honolulu are quite close to each other it seems.

BTW, don't stress about the greeting. My daughter's fiance walked up to our priest today as we were leaving, stuck out his hand and said "Cheers"! Father took it in his stride.
I just asked for a blessing in the traditional manner before I left though.

But before I converted I just used to walk up to the priest and said hello with a handshake. He never held it against me.

I grew up here in Hawai'i (for the most part), and have returned just recently after living in NYC (okay--Jersey City, but I was right across the Hudson from Manhattan) for three years, which I actually miss quite terribly (as wonderful as it is being home in paradise ). I'll likely be moving to Los Angeles around March.

Indeed, the two parsishes are probably not more than a couple miles from each other, but all things being equal, I'll probably go to the closest one first Also, the Greek parish website had more info on parish community and life, so I feel more familiar and aware of what to expect. Who says I can't visit both? I haven't had Russian food in a long time!

I confess I'm just a smidge reticent to visit either, here in Hawai'i, as any relationship I might form with the priest will be cut short when I move to Los Angeles.

Michael G · Dec 10, 2005

RobNJ said:
[threadjack alert]

*RobNJ looks at Melethiel's siggy & user title, and cues up "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" *

[/threadjack]

I won't further threadjack this thread by debating with you who is a greater composer, Beethoven or Bach! Although it was cool to hear Toccata and Fugue in D minor performed while we were in the Cathedral of Munich! It was actually kind of earie!

Aloha Joe · Dec 10, 2005

Michael the Iconographer said:
I won't further threadjack this thread by debating with you who is a greater composer, Beethoven or Bach!

You can prevent a threadjack by parsing it this way: "It's much better to greet a priest with Beethoven than it is to greet him with Bach!"

I shoulda been a lawyer.

OnTheWay · Dec 10, 2005

Aloha Joe said:
You can prevent a threadjack by parsing it this way: "It's much better to greet a priest with Beethoven than it is to greet him with Bach!"

I shoulda been a lawyer.

That's way too exact for legalese. What you need to say is that, "according to your client it is allegedly "much better" to greet (though we will not concide that you are defining the word "greet" correctly) with Beethoven than it is to greet him with bach."

Melethiel · Dec 11, 2005

Bach is better for organ and choral, Beethoven for orchestral and piano [cringes just looking at the Pathetique and wonders what she was thinking attempting that one]. Debate solved.

ufonium2 · Dec 11, 2005

Handel is better for everything. Now the debate is solved.

*ufonium walks away triumphantly humming Dixit Dominus*

Michael G · Dec 11, 2005

ufonium2 said:
Handel is better for everything. Now the debate is solved.

*ufonium walks away triumphantly humming Dixit Dominus*

NOT! We all know that the Great Ludwig Van Beethoven is God's gift to classical composers! That is the end of the discussion!

Melethiel · Dec 11, 2005

Michael the Iconographer said:
NOT! We all know that the Great Ludwig Van Beethoven is God's gift to classical composers! That is the end of the discussion!

Bah, Beethoven is Romantic! Mozart rules Classical, and Bach the Baroque. There you go. Though actually, it's Vivaldi that's in my head right now.

Khaleas · Dec 11, 2005

Now Sibelius trumps all... Or maybe I'm just partial...not so religious though.

How to greet a priest?

Seriously, stop killing kids.

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Kolya

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Aloha Joe

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Miserere mei, Domine

Seriously, stop killing kids.

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Miserere mei, Domine

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