Meeting a Bishop

[gorion]

Our Bishop will be at the service tonight and I must say I'm a bit nervous as I don't remeber all of the protocol. I remember to say Master Bless instead of Father bless but have somehow blanked everything else. I hope I don't embarass anyone.

 

[gzt]

hah! i know what bishop you're meeting. follow the lead of everybody else. if you didn't get a chance to watch anybody else greet him, here's how it goes: bow to him and touch your right hand to the ground, put your hands out [palms up] crossed over each other, right over left. after he blesses you, kiss his hand. he might then have you kiss each others' cheeks, but that's easy to figure out.

 

[gorion]

When addressing him is it your Grace? Your most Bishopness? (j/k) thats the part I'm not so sure about. And this cheek kissing is news as well. Oh boy I really hope I don't mess this up.

 

[gorion]

I wasn't sure if I sould bow so thanks for that too.

 

[gzt]

"your grace" or "vladyko" [vlah-dee-kuh] should do fine. bishops are fierce creatures, moving diagonally and hitting people with their staffs, but they're usually understanding of those who don't understand proper etiquette and sometimes look like teddy bears.

 

[Maximus]

The first time I met the Metropolitan Nicholas of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese, I shook his hand and called him "Sir."
He didn't seem to mind.

He spent the next half hour or so chatting in Russian (he speaks it well) with my wife. It turns out that his family came from the same part of Ukraine in which my wife's mother was born and raised.

 

[gorion]

Thank you both for your Help. Bishop Joseph was a truly gentle man and a true joy to listen to.