0:12 0:153 When entering a house, you must say: “Peace to your home!” - to which the owners respond: “We accept you in peace!”
0:351 0:360
Having caught your neighbors at a meal, it is customary to wish them: “An angel at the meal!”
0:505 0:514
It is customary to warmly and sincerely thank our neighbors for everything: “God save us!”, “Christ save us!” or “God bless you!” - to which the answer is supposed to be: “For the glory of God.” If you think that they won’t understand you, you don’t have to thank non-church people in this way.
Greetings of Orthodox Christians at a meeting
In pre-revolutionary times, when the Orthodox faith occupied a very important place in the life of Russian people, it was customary to enter the owner’s house with the words: “Peace to your home.” The response to this was “We accept in peace.” This greeting contains much more meaning than the current “hello”, “come on”, “see you”. However, certain features in greetings were developed over time in each individual region. Age and local customs played a role.
The rules of Orthodox etiquette are based on love and affirmation of faith in God
In past centuries, when people met, they said: “Christ is in our midst!”, to which they were answered: “He is and will be!” There was also “Peace be with you!”, with the answer “And to your spirit.” In general, the second option is one of the most ancient. This is how Jesus Christ himself and his apostles greeted people.
Many written materials have reached our time telling us how the laity greeted each other at the dawn of Christianity. By the way, priests always greeted in this way, accompanying the greeting with a three-time kiss on the cheek and a kiss on the right hand. Orthodox Christians say to each other: “Christ is risen!” on Easter days. And it is necessary to respond to these words: “Truly he is risen!”
Important! On holidays established by the church and on Sundays, the laity address their family and friends like this: “Happy Holidays!”
It was also customary among believers to kiss each other on the cheek. The men shook each other's hands firmly. Moscow custom involved kissing the cheek three times - men with men, women with women. In monastic circles, it is customary to kiss the shoulder. Some lay people have borrowed this too. Another custom has monastic roots. For example, when a person wants to enter someone’s room, he says: “Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!” You can enter only after the room answers: “Amen.” This is hardly applicable for secular life, unlike monastic life.
In apostolic times, Christians greeted each other with a “holy kiss”
When meeting a priest, as a rule, they say: “Bless!” Ordinary people can also be greeted. The difference is that the priest responds to such an appeal: “God bless!”, and the layman must answer: “Bless!”
Those leaving home can be greeted with the words: “Your Guardian Angel!”, “God help you!”, “God bless you!”. Orthodox believe that this way you can protect a loved one from adversity along the way.
To address a stranger, in the Orthodox community they say: “sister”, “sister”; married women are addressed as “mother”. Men are called “brother”, “brother”, “father”. You can use the address “madam”, “master”, although in the conditions of current society they cannot always correctly interpret the meaning of these words.
For the service or help provided, our great-grandfathers said: “God save!”, “Christ save!”. Unchurched people will most likely be surprised, so you can simply answer them “Thank you!” This way, everyone can demonstrate that they appreciate what has been done for them.
Questions and answers. Orthodoxy in detail
When entering the house, you must say: “Peace to your home!” - to which the owners respond: “We accept you in peace!” Having caught your neighbors at a meal, it is customary to wish them: “An angel at the meal!” It is customary to warmly and sincerely thank our neighbors for everything: “God save us!”, “Christ save us!” or “God bless you!” - to which the answer is supposed to be: “For the glory of God.” If you think that they won’t understand you, you don’t have to thank non-church people in this way. It’s better to say: “Thank you!” or “I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
How to greet each other. Each locality, each age has its own customs and characteristics of greetings. But if we want to live in love and peace with our neighbors, it is unlikely that short words like “hello”, “ciao” or “bye” will express the depth of our feelings and establish harmony in relationships. Over the centuries, Christians have developed special forms of greeting. In ancient times they greeted each other with the exclamation: “Christ is in our midst!” - hearing in response: “And it is, and it will be.” This is how the priests greet each other, shaking hands, kissing each other on the cheek three times and kissing each other’s right hand. However, priests can greet each other like this: “Bless.” Venerable Seraphim of Sarov addressed everyone with the words: “Christ is risen, my joy!” Modern Christians greet each other this way on Easter days - before the Ascension of the Lord (i.e. for forty days): “Christ is risen!” - and they hear in response: “Truly he is risen!”
On Sundays and holidays, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to greet each other with mutual congratulations: “Happy holiday!”
When meeting, lay men usually kiss each other on the cheek at the same time as shaking hands. It is a Moscow custom to kiss three times on the cheeks when meeting—women with women, men with men. Some pious parishioners introduce into this custom a feature borrowed from monasteries: mutual kissing on the shoulders three times, monastic-style.
From the monasteries, the custom came into the life of some Orthodox Christians to ask permission to enter a room with the following words: “Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.” At the same time, the person in the room, if allowed to enter, must answer: “Amen.” Of course, such a rule can only be applied among Orthodox Christians; it is hardly applicable to secular people... Another form of greeting also has monastic roots: “Bless!” - and not only the priest. And if the priest answers: “God bless!”, then the layman to whom the greeting is addressed also says in response: “Bless!”
Children leaving home to study can be greeted with the words: “Your Guardian Angel!”, crossing them. You can also wish a Guardian Angel to someone heading on the road or say: “God bless you!” Orthodox Christians say the same words to each other when saying goodbye, or: “With God!”, “God’s help,” “I ask for your holy prayers,” and the like.
How to address each other. The ability to turn to an unfamiliar neighbor expresses either our love, or our selfishness, disdain for the person. The debates of the 1970s about which words were preferable for address - “comrade”, “sir” and “madam” or “citizen” and “citizen” - hardly made us any friendlier to each other. The point is not which word to choose for conversion, but whether we see in another person the same image of God as in ourselves. Of course, the primitive address “woman!”, “man!” speaks of our lack of culture. Even worse is the defiantly dismissive “hey you!” or “hey!”
But warmed by Christian friendliness and goodwill, any kind address can sparkle with the depth of feelings. You can also use the traditional pre-revolutionary Russia address “madam” and “master” - it is especially respectful and reminds us all that every person must be revered, since everyone bears the image of the Lord. But one cannot help but take into account that these days this address is of a more official nature and sometimes, due to a lack of understanding of its essence, it is negatively perceived when addressed in everyday life, which can be sincerely regretted.
It is more appropriate to address yourself as “citizen” and “citizen” for employees of official institutions. In the Orthodox community, the cordial addresses “sister”, “sister”, “sister” are accepted - to a girl, to a woman. You can address married women as “mother” - by the way, with this word we express special respect for a woman as a mother. How much warmth and love there is in him: “mother!” Remember the lines of Nikolai Rubtsov: “Mother will take a bucket and silently bring water...” The wives of priests are also called mothers, but they add the name: “Mother Natalya”, “Mother Lydia”. The same address is also accepted for the abbess of the monastery: “Mother Joanna”, “Mother Elizabeth”.
You can address a young man or a man: “brother”, “little brother”, “little brother”, “friend”; to those older in age - “father”, this is a sign of special respect. But the familiar “daddy” is unlikely to be correct. Let us remember that “father” is a great and holy word; we turn to God “Our Father.” And we can call the priest “father.” Monks often call each other “father.”
— — — — —
Priests of various ranks have their own appeals
Of course, no trouble will happen if you simply address the priest as “father” or call out to him with the universal “excuse me, please.” Let's look at the priest's answer:
Sergiy Shalberov
Protodeacon
Usually, when approaching the priest, they make a small nod-half-bow and ask for a blessing: “Bless, father.” The priest answers, “God bless.” After this, they begin to talk. They also say goodbye, while folding their arms crosswise in a boat. However, if you say hello in a mundane way, nothing bad will happen; it’s worse if you remain silent. But shaking hands with a priest is not accepted.
When greeting the priest, you need to make a half-bow and ask for blessings
It is convenient to know how to address the priest based on his rank. To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the table, which, just in case, also shows how to indicate the desired person as the addressee:
| Religious clergy | Secular clergy | Appeal | Specifying the addressee |
| Hierodeacon | Deacon (protodeacon, archdeacon) | Father (name) | Deacon (name) |
| Hieromonk | Priest | Your Reverence, Father (name) | His Reverence, Priest (name) |
| Hegumen Archimandrite | Archpriest Protopresbyter | Your Reverence, Father (name) | His Eminence, Archpriest (name) |
| Abbess | Venerable Mother | Abbess (name of the monastery) Abbess (name) | |
| Bishop (ruling, suffragan) | Your Eminence, Most Reverend Bishop | His Eminence, Most Reverend (name), bishop (cathedra) | |
| Archbishop Metropolitan | Your Eminence, Most Reverend Bishop | His Eminence, Most Reverend (name), Archbishop (cathedra) | |
| Patriarch | Your Holiness, Most Holy Lord | His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (name) |
Another question is how to determine which of the clergy is in front of you, but this is a topic for another conversation.
See also the article by Archpriest Evgeny Popichenko
The wife of a priest or deacon should be addressed as “mother”, adding her name.
When greeting, it is recommended to indicate a certain context of communication associated with a significant date on the church calendar. But this is if possible. For example:
“Happy Great Lent to you, father!”
“Christ is risen, honest father!”
"Merry Christmas!"
These expressions should not be confused, for example, with “Christ in our midst” - this is a greeting from clergy of equal rank. And the expression “God save you” is the full form of “thank you”, and therefore is not suitable for saying hello.
A win-win option on how to greet the priest is “bless!”
Its advantage is that it can be used as a greeting to a group of priests. But in this case it is customary to bow.
How to say goodbye to your father? This is what Hieromonk Aristarchus (Lokhanov) says:
Aristarkh Lokhanov
Hieromonk
“When saying goodbye, as well as when meeting, the layman again asks for a blessing from the priest: “Forgive, father, and bless.”
A little about everyday life
A newcomer to the zone needs to find out as quickly as possible what not to do, so as not to screw up or end up, how to behave, and so on.
Here are some things to always keep in mind:
- never pick up other people's things (you can become someone's servant);
- never take someone else’s dishes (you can become a little goat or offended);
- do not finish smoking other people’s bulls (same as the previous point);
- don’t talk too much (they don’t like people like that);
- do not coyly and do not pretend to be an intellectual (you can fall into the category of those who are despicable);
- do not touch any other people's things without the knowledge and permission of the owner;
- do not sit on a bucket out of great need if someone is eating;
- Don’t spit in the house, don’t spoil the air.
Read more about what you should not do in prison at night in this material.
Orthodox etiquette
The basic rules of Orthodox etiquette are based on love and affirmation of faith in God. Here are the main ones:
Dear brothers and sisters! We invite you to visit the unique resource https://www.slovo-pomoshi.ru/. With its help, you can convey your aspirations to St. Petersburg churches, chapels, monasteries, and also contact the righteous at the place of their burial. We will write a note ourselves, take it to the temple and send you a photo report by email. Turning to God with the help of prayers has helped many people overcome grief, regain health and the joy of worldly life.
Useful articles:
The other day I consecrated an apartment in one house... I saw that the owners were well prepared: icons, cross stickers, candles, incense, oil... Stop. I look: there is some kind of red sediment and suspension in the oil. At first I even thought that this was oil from Unction. I'm starting to find out. They explain to me that, AS SUPPOSED (!), Tabasco sauce is added there!... Read more
He won't drink anymore. One young man became completely drunk and stole everything from the house. The wife could not stand such a life and left with the child. His friend found out that an old monk lives in Vyritsa who treats alcoholics, and began to persuade him to go: maybe the elder will help him be healed. He refused for a long time... Read more
“10 interesting facts about St. Spyridon” On October 30, the Greek delegation of the Orthodox Church brought to Kyiv a gift to Orthodox Christians - an icon of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt and a shoe from the holy relics of the saint. Let us present interesting facts about Saint Spyridon of Trimythous.1. Reverend all his life... Read more
Parable. When the Lord commands... A poor woman from a small family was very religious. And one day, when there was not enough money even to feed the children, she called the radio station and left there an appeal to God for help. While the radio employees treated the believing woman with understanding... Read more
Every morning of a believer should begin with a prayer request. Moreover, it also needs to be read at the beginning and end of any business. It is this that determines the attitude of a particular person towards loved ones and family. Saying “Lord bless” is a good habit that will provide protection from evil thoughts and bad deeds. If you come to visit, then according to the etiquette of a believer, you must say: “Peace to your home,” in answer, the owners of the house answer, “We accept you in peace.” And when everyone sits down at the dining guest table, they always wish each other “An Angel at the meal.” When meeting by chance on the street, it is customary to greet your neighbor with the words “Christ is in our midst,” and in response they answer, “And there is and will".
Such simple greetings help every person strengthen his faith and live with God in his heart.
The Lord is always with you!
Orthodox etiquette
The norms of Orthodox etiquette are aimed, first of all, at establishing the Orthodox faith in a person’s heart and his love for the Lord.
According to these rules, every Christian must:
When you wake up, first of all, pray. Each task and its completion must be accompanied by prayer;
Every morning of a believer should begin with a prayer request
in order to protect yourself from demonic temptation and protect yourself from bad deeds, you need to accustom yourself to say more often: “Lord bless”; when sitting down at the dinner table, everyone present should wish: “An angel at the meal”; it is customary to address the priest exclusively as “you”; to representatives different hierarchical degrees are addressed differently. To a bishop, for example, “Vladika”, to an archbishop and metropolitan - “Your Eminence”, to a patriarch - “Your Holiness”.
Parishioners who have recently started going to church are sometimes embarrassed when meeting the priest, because they do not know how to behave correctly.
Important! It is not customary to greet a priest with a handshake and the words “Hello!”
According to church rules, you need to say “Father, bless!” At the same time, bow from the waist and fold your hands crosswise, right on top of the left. The priest places his hand on top of the believer's and blesses him. In response, the layman must kiss the priest’s hand, expressing his love for Christ. Walking down the street, a clergyman can be greeted with a nod of his head.
Following these simple rules helps a person strengthen his love and faith in the Creator through his neighbors. After all, peace with God and people is the most valuable asset of a true Christian.
How to greet each other in church
Similar articles
Good Russian Orthodox cartoons for childrenGood Russian Orthodox films for the whole familyOrthodox theological coursesOrthodox wedding rings
