A frequently used form of the patriarch addressing his own. Rules for addressing clergy

Instructions

When meeting a priest, it is not customary to say “Hello” and try to shake hands. Pious parishioners ask for a blessing: they bow at the waist, touching the ground, and say: “Father John, bless.” There is no need to be baptized. If you don’t know the priest’s name, you can say: “Father, bless.” In this case, the hands are folded palms up: the right palm is on top of the left. The priest makes the sign of the cross with the words “God bless” or “In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and places his right hand on your palms. In response, you must kiss your hand, which often confuses new parishioners. There is no need to be shy, because by kissing the priest’s hand, you are touching the invisibly approaching Christ, blessing you. The same rule applies to a priest.

It is appropriate to ask for a blessing before a long trip, in difficult life circumstances, for example, before a surgical operation. The important meaning is permission, permission, parting words.

If you need to invite a priest home to perform a religious service, this can be done either in person or by telephone. In a telephone conversation they also say “Bless, Father” and state the essence of the request. When ending the conversation, you need to thank and, again, ask for blessings.

Addressing priest in writing, the forms “Your Reverence” (when addressing a priest), “Your Reverence” (when addressing an archpriest) are used.

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In the traditions of Orthodoxy, a priest is not addressed with the words “holy father.” Instead they say "honest father."

Related article

Sources:

• how to contact father

If you are taking your first steps towards becoming a church member, then it is quite natural that you have different questions. Sometimes you want to know something about the external, ritual side of church life. Sometimes you need to ask about something more serious, for example, asking for advice in a difficult life situation. But many are embarrassed or afraid to approach priest.

Instructions

Choose a convenient time. It is unacceptable to distract a priest during the performance of Church Sacraments. It's best to approach priest after the end of the service. First you need to ask the priest for his blessing. Cross your hands: right over left, palms up. After receiving the blessing, kiss the priest's hand. This is not only a sign to the person bearing the priesthood, but, most importantly, acceptance of blessings from the Lord Himself. After this you can ask a question.

There is nothing terrible if you don’t know how to behave in a particular case (how to ask for blessings, light candles, how to venerate icons, etc.). If it is difficult for you to perform some ritual (for example, ask for a blessing), do not force yourself. Your faith should be free and voluntary, and the performance of rituals must be conscious. The priest will be friendly to you in any case, even if your experience of church life is very small.

Many parishes have specially designated time with parishioners. This is the most suitable option for asking a question, because you can be sure that there is time for you. If such conversations are not held at the temple, just ask the priest when he can devote time to you.

Many people ask questions priest during your own. This is quite acceptable, but you just need to remember that you should not detain the priest for too long, because he will probably have to confess to other parishioners, and this takes a lot of time. In addition, this is a sacrament of a serious prayerful attitude and a deep desire to be cleansed of sins. If you still want to ask your question during confession, consider whether it would be appropriate.

Communication with priests via the Internet is now widely practiced. On various websites, forums, and social networks, you can ask a question to one or another priest. Often this can be done, which, of course, is very convenient. But we must take into account that not all questions Father is able to answer virtually. He can only give general recommendations or direct your thoughts in a certain direction. But you should not rely entirely on virtual communication, since only during a personal conversation will the priest be able to deeply delve into your situation.

Video on the topic

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Do not despair if the answer you receive to a question does not satisfy you or even upsets you. This may be to your advantage, because then you will be able to look at the situation in a new way, and perhaps understand your own mistakes. No matter how your communication with the priest turns out, try to find the answer to your question within the framework of the Church. Read books, articles on Orthodox websites, communicate with believers, and God will definitely reveal to you what to do in a given situation.

Helpful advice

Finding your spiritual father is a very difficult task. Even those who have been regularly going to church for several years often do not have a confessor. But you must strive for this, because a priest who knows your spiritual life well will be able to help you in different life situations.

Sources:

• How to ask for blessings

It is impossible to imagine performing a divine service in an Orthodox church without the service of a priest. However, the elders of the Orthodox Church not only lead the church service, but also, with their conversations and advice, help people in their everyday as well as spiritual issues. Many may wonder how to contact a priest in a private conversation.

In the Orthodox Church, apostolic reception is preserved, expressed in one of the seven sacraments, namely, ordination to the priesthood. Through the laying on of the hands of a bishop (who can be a bishop, archbishop, metropolitan, or even the patriarch himself) on the head of the protege, special divine grace descends on the latter. From the time of ordination to the priesthood, the presbyter of the Church can perform the sacraments established by the Church, as well as other sacred rites. Therefore, the attitude of the laity towards the priest is very reverent.

In a private conversation, you can contact an Orthodox priest in different “ways.” The most common is the address “father,” which reflects the people’s love for their pastor, respect for the holy order and the person’s remembrance that the priest is a spiritual mentor, a father for his flock. Such an appeal is especially appropriate when the believer does not know the name of the priest (for example, a person went to a church in another city, etc.). Another title that may not use the clergyman's name is "father."

When a person knows a priest, it is quite appropriate to address the latter by name. It should be noted that in this case the name of the priest is pronounced according to the pronunciation with the “prefix” “father”. For example, “Father Sergius” (and not “Father Sergei”), Father John (and not “Father Ivan”).

There is another practice of addressing an Orthodox priest, which is used more often at official events, conferences or other similar meetings. So, you can address a priest as “Your” or “Your Reverence.” It is worth considering that priests of the Orthodox Church, depending on their length of service or awards, have the rank of priest, and for the monastic clergy - hieromonk, abbot or archimandrite. The address “Your Reverence” is appropriate for priests and hieromonks, and archpriests, abbots and archimandrites should be addressed as “Your Reverence.”

Video on the topic

The years of Soviet atheism practically eradicated official church etiquette from the lives of our fellow citizens. Many people today do not know how to address clergy. And, if such a need suddenly arises, a person who is far from observing church canons may find himself in an uncomfortable position. Especially if foreign “padres” and “holy fathers” are imprinted in his mind. In fact, to the priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, especially to to the patriarch, must be handled in accordance with special rules.

How to greet a clergyman? Should I receive a blessing from him or just make a request? Archpriest Andrei Ukhtomsky answers.

Blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry...

As a child, when I began to become a sexton, I came to the altar and greeted the priest sitting at a distance: “Hello!” In response I heard: “Didn’t they teach you how to say hello?” Having thought about what had been said, I went up to the priest and took the blessing, remembering how others had done it. Now, already as a priest, during confession I have to hear the address “holy father” addressed to me. And you yourself feel uncomfortable, trying to balance your unholiness with the attempt at politeness of the confessor, realizing that the saints are in heaven, thinking about how to convey to the confessor the options for correct treatment.

Having only recently joined the church, meeting a clergyman in church and wanting to make a request, we are often lost in choosing the form of appeal. Meanwhile, these forms, which have developed traditionally, help not only to observe the rules of greeting, to express respect for the rank, and one’s spiritual disposition towards the clergyman, but also to receive God’s blessing.

First, we need to decide who is in front of us: the Primate of the Church, a priest, a deacon, a monk or a nun. To do this, you need to understand the ranks (ranks or ranks) of the clergy.

There are three degrees of clergy:

1) Episcopal. Bearers of this degree of priesthood: patriarch, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop. Appeal to the patriarch: “Your Holiness...” or “Most Holy Vladyka...”, to the metropolitan and archbishop: “Your Eminence” or “Most Reverend Vladyka...”. If the title of Metropolitan is borne by the Primate of the Church, and he also has the epithet “Most Beatitude,” then the address to him will be “Your Beatitude...” or “Most Blessed Bishop...” (Such an address is appropriate for the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine). Address to the bishop: “Your Eminence...” or “Most Reverend Bishop...”. These addresses are also used in official correspondence and in official settings. There is a popular, “warm” address: “Vladyka...”. After the words of address follows the name of the person to whom we are addressing. Holders of the episcopal degree are called “master” because they are in charge of all other degrees of the priesthood, and they rule over the entire church clergy.

2) Priestly. Bearers of this degree of priesthood: protopresbyter, archpriest, archimandrite, abbot, priest, hieromonk. Appeal to the protopresbyter, archpriest, archimandrite, abbot: “Your Reverence, father (name) ...”, to the priest, hieromonk: “Your Reverence, father (name) ...” There is a popular, “warm” address: “father ...”. Sometimes this epithet is used only in relation to one’s confessor.

3) Deacon's. The holders of this degree of priesthood are: archdeacon, protodeacon, deacon, hierodeacon. Appeal to the arch-, protodeacon: “father of the arch-, protodeacon (name) ...”, to the deacon, hierodeacon: “father (name) ...”.

Why do we call holders of the second and third degrees of the priesthood fathers? This question is answered by the teacher of the Church, Clement of Alexandria (d. 215). He says that we call those who gave birth to us spiritually fathers. It is unethical for the priest himself to call himself: “I, father (name) ....” Usually, priests and deacons, speaking about themselves in the third person, call themselves “I am a priest (protopresbyter, archpriest, archimandrite, abbot, priest, hieromonk) so-and-so” or “I am a deacon (archdeacon, protodeacon, hierodeacon) so-and-so.” that (name).”

When speaking about a clergyman in the third person, they call him san.

In addition to clergy, there are persons in the Church who have chosen the path of monastic life: abbess, monk, nun, novice, novice. Appeal to the abbess: “mother (name)…”, “venerable mother (name)…” Address to a monk who does not have a rank, and a novice: “honorable brother (father) (name)…”, to a nun, novice: “sister (Name)…"

The rules of conversion adopted in the Church can be summarized in a table for clarity.

When the laity greet a bishop, priest or abbess (especially on the territory of their monastery), they can (have the right, must) take a blessing after the words of greeting, saying: “Bless...”. In this case, it is necessary to fold the palms of the hands crosswise and present them to the blessing person, then, having received the blessing, kiss the hand or handrail.

It is customary to address the wives of priests and deacons as “Mother (name).” When I was a sexton, I told the abbot who was performing the service about the unmarried singer, calling her “mother,” to which the abbot asked: “Why is she mother? Where is her father?

The greeting can reflect a current celebrated event or time in the Church. On days of fasting you can add: “with fasting, with fasting day, with Great Lent”, on Easter days - “Christ is risen!”, on days of forefeasts - “with forefeast”, on holidays or days of especially revered saints - “happy holiday ”, during Holy Week - “Happy Maundy Monday, Maundy Tuesday, etc.” Congratulations on the twelfth (or great) holiday bear the name of the holiday itself: “Merry Christmas, Happy Annunciation, Happy Transfiguration...”

There is also a greeting among clergy who are equal in rank: “Christ is in our midst,” the answer: “And there is, and there will be.”

The expression “God bless” is more of a gratitude for something (this is where the usual “thank you” comes from) than a greeting.

The laity address each other as “brother (name)”, “sister (name)”, in the third person they call believers “slave (name)”, “slave (name)”.

All believers call themselves brothers and sisters because that is what we are in Christ.

A monk who is not ordained is addressed as “honest brother”, “father”. To the deacon (archdeacon, protodeacon): “father (arch-, proto-) deacon (name)” or simply: “father (name)”; to the priest and hieromonk - “Your Reverence” or “father (name)”; to the archpriest, protopresbyter, abbot and archimandrite: “Your Reverence.” Addressing a priest: “father,” which is a Russian church tradition, is acceptable, but is not official. A novice and a nun can be called "sister". The ubiquitous address “mother” in women’s monasteries is more correctly applied only to the abbess. The abbess of the convent will consider it quite polite to address: “Venerable Mother (name)” or “Mother (name).” You should address the bishop: “Your Eminence,” “Most Reverend Vladyka,” or simply “Vladyka” (or using the vocative case of the Slavic language: “Vladyko”); to the archbishop and metropolitan - “Your Eminence” or “Your Eminence Vladyka.” In the Local Churches of the Orthodox East, an archimandrite and, in general, a monastic cleric with a higher theological education are addressed: “Panosiologiotate” (Your Reverence; at the root of the word the word “logos” is added, which in Greek has the following meanings: word, mind, etc. .). To the hieromonk and hierodeacon who do not have a higher theological education: “Panosiotate” (Your Reverence). To a priest and deacon who have a higher theological education: “Aidesimologiotate” (Your Reverence) and “Hierologitate”. A priest and a deacon who do not have a higher theological education are addressed respectively: “Aidesimotate” (Your Reverence) and “Evlabestate.” Any ruling bishop is addressed: “Sebasmiotate”; a suffragan bishop: “Theophylestate” (such an address may also apply to an archimandrite); to the titular metropolitan (i.e., to the bishop who bears the honorary title of metropolitan, but does not actually have the metropolis under his control): “Paneirotate.”

The Patriarch, referred to in the title as “Holiness,” must be addressed: “Your Holiness”; to the Primate of the Local Church, whose title contains the epithet “Most Beatitude”: “Your Beatitude.” The specified rules for addressing clergy should also be observed in correspondence with them (personal or official). Official letters are written on a special form, informal ones - on plain paper or on a letterhead with the name and position of the sender printed in the upper left corner (the reverse side of the sheet is usually not used). It is not customary for the Patriarch to send a letter on letterhead. Examples of forms used for official correspondence will be given in the next section. Every letter consists of the following parts: indication of the addressee, address (address-title), working text, final compliment, signature and date. In an official letter, the addressee's indication includes the person's full title and position, which are indicated in the dative case, for example: “To His Eminence, the Most Reverend (name), Archbishop (name of the department), Chairman (name of the Synodal Department, commission, etc.)” . Priests at lower hierarchical levels are addressed more briefly: His Most Reverend Archpriest (or Priest) (name, surname, position); in this case, the surname of the monastic person, if indicated, is always given in parentheses.

Address-title is an honorary title of the addressee with which the letter should begin and which should be used in its further text, for example: “Your Holiness” (in a letter to the Patriarch), “Your Majesty” (in a letter to the monarch), “Your Excellency” etc. A compliment is an expression of politeness with which a letter ends. The author's personal signature (not a facsimile, which is used only when sending a letter by fax) is usually accompanied by a printed transcript. The date the letter was sent must include the day, month and year; in official letters its outgoing number is also indicated. Authors-bishops depict a cross before their signature. For example: “+ Alexy, Archbishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky.” This version of the bishop's signature is primarily a Russian tradition. The rules for addressing clergy accepted in the Russian Orthodox Church are briefly illustrated in the following table.

When writing to the hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches, one should remember that the title of the Primate of the Church - Patriarch, Metropolitan, Archbishop - is always written with a capital letter. The spelling of the title of First Hierarch of the Autonomous Church looks the same. If the First Hierarch bears the double (triple) title of Patriarch and Metropolitan (Archbishop), then all these titles must also begin with a capital letter, for example: His Beatitude Theoctistus, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntena and Dobrogea, Patriarch of Romania. As a rule, the number “II” in the name of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus' is omitted. It must be taken into account that in the Orthodox East only the Patriarch of Constantinople is called “Your Holiness”; all other Primates of Local Churches are titled: “Your Beatitude”, “Most Beatitude”. This is exactly how the First Hierarch of the Church of Constantinople addresses the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. However, in the traditions of the Russian Church it is customary to call the Patriarch of All Rus': “Your Holiness.” The Russian Orthodox Church has developed standard forms of written appeal to a person holding holy orders. These types of appeals are called petitions or reports (as opposed to statements accepted in secular society). A petition (by the very meaning of the name) is a text asking for something. The report may also contain a request, but more often it is an informational document. A secular person may well turn to a clergyman with a simple letter, without calling his appeal either a report or a petition. A type of church correspondence is written congratulations on the holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, the Nativity of Christ, Angel's Day and other solemn events. Traditionally, the text of such congratulations is preceded by a greeting corresponding to the holiday, for example, in the Easter message these are the words: “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” It should be noted that in matters of correspondence, the form of letters is often no less important than the content itself. Speaking about the general style of correspondence, we can recommend taking as a model the letters and addresses of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, published in different years in the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. Regardless of the attitude towards the addressee, it is necessary to adhere to the prescribed forms of politeness in the text of the letter, which ensure respect for the official position of the sender and the addressee and any change in which can be understood as a deliberate disregard for etiquette or insufficient expression of respect. It is especially important to observe the protocol of international official correspondence - here it is important to show the recipients of correspondence the signs of respect to which they are entitled, while at the same time maintaining the relationship of ranks between the sender and the addressee; the adopted protocol is structured in such a way that relations between Churches, states and their representatives are based on equality, respect and mutual correctness. Thus, when mentioning any clergy person, especially a bishop, in a letter, you should not use the third person pronoun “he”: it is better to replace it with a short title: “His Eminence” (this also applies to oral speech). The same should be said about demonstrative pronouns, which, when addressing hierarchs, are replaced by titles, which emphasizes your respect for the addressee (for example, instead of: I ask you - I ask Your Holiness); in some countries (for example, in France) this is the only way to address high clergy. When composing official and private letters, a certain difficulty arises in composing the title address, i.e., the first sentence of a written address, and the compliment, the phrase that completes the text. The most common form of address when composing a letter addressed to His Holiness the Patriarch is: “Your Holiness, Most Holy Master and Gracious Father!”

The epistolary heritage left to us by outstanding figures of the Russian Orthodox Church throughout its centuries-old history reveals a wide variety of forms of addressing, as well as compliments that complete written addresses. It seems that examples of these forms, used in the 19th-20th centuries closest to us in time, can be useful today. The knowledge and use of such phrases in written communication among Church members significantly enriches vocabulary, reveals the richness and depth of the native language, and most importantly, serves as an expression of Christian love.

http://pravhram.prihod.ru/articles/view/id/4990

Before considering how to address clergy in conversation and in writing, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the hierarchy of priests that exists in the Orthodox Church.

The priesthood in Orthodoxy is divided into 3 levels:

– deacon;

- priest;

- bishop.

Before stepping onto the first stage of the priesthood, devoting himself to serving God, the believer must decide for himself whether he will marry or become a monk. Married clergy are classified as the white clergy, while monks are classified as the black clergy. In accordance with this, the following structures of the priestly hierarchy are distinguished.

Secular clergy

I. Deacon:

– deacon;

– protodeacon (senior deacon, usually in the cathedral).

II. Priest:

- priest, or priest, or presbyter;

– archpriest (senior priest);

– mitered archpriest and protopresbyter (senior priest in the cathedral).

Black clergy

I. Deacon:

– hierodeacon;

– archdeacon (senior deacon in the monastery).

II. Priest:

– hieromonk;

– abbot;

- archimandrite.

III. Bishop (bishop).

- bishop;

- archbishop;

– metropolitan;

- patriarch.

Thus, only a minister belonging to the black clergy can become a bishop. In turn, the white clergy also includes ministers who, along with the rank of deacon or priest, have taken a vow of celibacy (celibacy).

“I beseech your shepherds... feed the flock of God which is yours, overseeing it not under compulsion, but willingly and pleasing to God, not for vile gain, but out of zeal, and not lording it over God’s inheritance, but setting an example for the flock.”

(1 Pet. 5:1–2).

Nowadays, monastic priests can be seen not only in monasteries, but also in parishes where they serve. If a monk is a schema monk, that is, he has accepted a schema, which is the highest degree of monasticism, the prefix “schema” is added to his rank, for example, schema-hierodeacon, schema-monk, schema-bishop, etc.

When addressing someone from the clergy, you should use neutral words. You should not use the address “father” without using this name, as it will sound too familiar.

In church, clergy should also be addressed as “you.”

In close relationships, the address “you” is allowed, but in public it is still better to adhere to the address “you,” even if this is the wife of a deacon or priest. She can address her husband as “you” only at home or in private, but in the parish such an address can belittle the authority of the minister.

In church, when addressing clergy, one must say their names as they sound in Church Slavonic. For example, you should say “Father Sergius” and not “Father Sergei”, “Deacon Alexy” and not “Deacon Alexey”, etc.

When addressing a deacon, you can use the words “father deacon.” To find out his name, you need to ask: “Excuse me, what is your holy name?” However, in this way you can address any Orthodox believer.

If a deacon is addressed by his proper name, the address “father” should be used. For example, “Father Vasily”, etc. In a conversation, when mentioning a deacon in the third person, you should call him “Father Deacon” or by a proper name with the address “father”. For example: “Father Andrei said that...” or “Father deacon advised me...”, etc.

A deacon in a church is approached to ask for advice or to ask for prayer. He is an assistant priest. However, a deacon does not have ordination, and therefore does not have the right to independently perform the rites of baptism, wedding, unction, as well as serve the liturgy and confess. Therefore, you should not contact him with a request to carry out such actions. He also cannot perform services, such as consecrating a house or performing a funeral service. It is believed that he does not have special grace-filled power for this, which the minister receives only during his ordination to the priesthood.

When addressing a priest, the word “father” is used. In colloquial speech it is permissible to call a priest priest, but this should not be done in official speech. The minister himself, when introducing himself to other people, should say: “Priest Andrei Mitrofanov,” or “Priest Nikolai Petrov,” “Hegumen Alexander,” etc. He will not introduce himself: “I am Father Vasily.”

When a priest is mentioned in a conversation and spoken of in the third person, one can say: “Father the rector advised,” “Father Vasily blessed,” etc. Calling him by his rank will not be very euphonious in this case. Although, if there are priests with the same names in the parish, to distinguish them, next to the name they put the rank corresponding to each of them. For example: “Hegumen Pavel is now holding a wedding, you can address your request to Hieromonk Pavel.” You can also call the priest by his last name: “Father Peter Vasiliev is on a business trip.”

The combination of the word “father” and the priest’s surname (for example, “Father Ivanov”) sounds too official, so it is used very rarely in colloquial speech.

When meeting, the parishioner must greet the priest with the word “Bless!”, while folding his hands to receive a blessing (if the greeter is next to the priest). It is not customary in church practice to say “hello” or “good afternoon” to a priest. The priest responds to the greeting: “God bless” or “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” At the same time, he makes the sign of the cross over the layman, after which he places his right hand on his palms folded to receive the blessing, which the layman must kiss.

The priest can bless parishioners in other ways, for example, by making the sign of the cross on the bowed head of a layman or blessing from a distance.

Male parishioners may also receive the priest's blessing differently. They kiss the hand, the cheek, and again the hand of the minister who blesses them.

When a priest blesses a layman, the latter should under no circumstances apply the sign of the cross to himself at the same time. This action is called "being baptized by the priest." This behavior is not very decent.

Asking for a blessing and receiving it are basic components of church etiquette. These actions are not a mere formality. They testify to an established relationship between the priest and the parishioner. If a lay person asks for a blessing less often or stops asking for it altogether, this is a signal to the minister that the parishioner has some problems in his earthly life or on a spiritual plane. The same applies to the situation when the priest does not want to bless a layman. In this way, the pastor tries to make it clear to the parishioner that something contrary to Christian life is happening in the latter’s life, that the church is not blessing him.

“...Youngers, obey the shepherds; Nevertheless, being submissive to each other, clothe yourself with humility, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

(1 Pet. 5:5–6).

Usually, refusal of a blessing is painfully endured by both the priest and the laity, which suggests that such actions are not purely formal. In this case, both should try to smooth out the tension in the relationship by confessing and asking for forgiveness from each other.

From the day of Easter and for the next forty days, parishioners should first of all greet the pastor with the words “Christ is Risen,” to which the priest usually responds: “Truly He is Risen” and gives his blessing with the usual gesture.

Two priests greet each other with the words “Bless” or “Christ is in our midst,” to which the answer follows: “And it is, and it will be.” They then shake hands, kiss the cheek once or thrice, and then kiss each other's right hand.

If a parishioner finds himself in the company of several priests at once, he should ask for a blessing first from the senior priests, and then from the younger ones, for example, first from the archpriest, then from the priest. If a layman is not familiar with them, the rank can be distinguished by the cross that the priests wear: the archpriest has a cross with decorations or is gilded, and the priest has a silver cross, sometimes gilded.

It is customary to take a blessing from all nearby priests. If this is difficult for any reason, you can simply ask: “Bless, honest fathers” - and bow. The address “holy father” is not accepted in Orthodoxy.

“The blessing of the Lord - it enriches and does not bring sorrow with it”

(Prov. 10:22)

If several people approach the priest at once for a blessing, the men should apply first, according to their seniority, and then the women. If church ministers are present in this group of people, they are the first to ask for blessings.

If a family approaches the priest, the husband comes out first for the blessing, then the wife, followed by the children in order of seniority. At this time, you can introduce someone to the priest, for example, your son, and then ask him to bless him. For example: “Father Matthew, this is my son. Please bless him."

When parting, instead of saying goodbye, the layman also asks the priest for a blessing, saying: “Forgive, father, and bless.”

If a layman meets a priest outside the church walls (on the street, in transport, in a store, etc.), he can still ask for a blessing if he does not distract the pastor from other matters. If it is difficult to take the blessing, you just need to bow.

In communicating with a priest, a layman must show deference and respect, since the minister is the bearer of special grace, which he receives during the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood. In addition, the priest is appointed to be a shepherd and mentor of the believers.

When talking with a clergyman, you should watch yourself so that there is nothing indecent in your gaze, words, gestures, facial expressions, or posture. The speech of a layman should not contain rude, abusive, slang words, with which the speech of many people in the world is full. Addressing a priest in an overly familiar manner is also not allowed.

When talking to a clergyman, you should not touch him. It is better to be at a distance that is not very close. You cannot behave cheekily or defiantly. There is no need to stare or grin at the priest’s face. The look should be meek. It’s good to lower your eyes a little when talking.

“The highest honor should be accorded to worthy elders who rule, especially to those who labor in the word and in doctrine. For the Scripture says: do not load it, give mouth to the threshing ox; and: the worker is worthy of his reward"

(1 Tim. 5:17–18).

If the priest is standing, the lay person should not sit in his presence. When the priest sits down, the lay person can sit down only after being asked to sit down.

When talking with a priest, a layman must remember that through a pastor who is involved in the sacraments of God, God Himself can speak, teaching the truth of God and righteousness.

When we come to church for the first time, we don’t know how to address the priest. The church obliges parishioners to certain etiquette and rules. After all, this is not a club or a disco, but a rather official place.

Who is he and why do we need a priest?

The officially recognized role of a priest is to serve a religious cult. In the Christian Church, a priest has a second degree, that is, he ranks lower than a bishop but higher than a deacon. This gives him the right to perform divine services, all sacraments, except the handshake. In the Orthodox Church, a person can receive the vestments of a clergyman who:

• He underwent special training: studying at the seminary for 5 years and passing all exams.
• Upon completion of the seminary, the clergyman must marry and become a monk, or postpone taking orders.
• After training, the graduate is assigned to a parish, where he steps up the ladder to receive new orders.
• If a person has not graduated from a special educational institution, then he can become a priest only through a handshake from the head of the parish.
• A son can get a profession from his father.

The priesthood is not a position, but a way of life that requires responsibility and self-sacrifice.

What is the best way to address a priest in a temple?

Do not be afraid - the main task of a priest is to communicate with people in the name of God.

1. In order to show your respect, of course, you must say to him: “You.” At the first meeting, we will address any stranger as “you”. And here it’s the same.
2. Distractions during service are tactless. Wait until the person is free. And this rule of etiquette is typical for everyday life situations: on a tram, in an office or a clinic.
3. It is not customary for priests to shake hands. Keep this in mind.
4. You can bow a little before starting a conversation.
5. He has a name, call him " Father Alexey " If you don't know him - " Father ».
6. When you meet Father on the street, without formal clothes or vestments, just nod slightly.

How to address a priest during confession?

Confession- confession of one’s sins, regret about them and repentance. Repentance is an integral part of the life of a Christian. It is the priests who are entrusted with the fate of absolving people of their sins.

• There is no need to wait for Father himself to start asking you and trying to find out what you did that was not righteous, why you came to repent.
• Be the first to start, because confession is a feat, self-coercion.
• When you talk about your misdeeds, you will, of course, turn to the Holy Father. Therefore, it is better to find out his name; if you are embarrassed to ask the clergyman himself, ask the people working in the temple.
• Confession is a sincere opening of the heart without concealment or self-justification. In this regard, confess to Father honestly: “ Sinful or sinful in everything!»
• At the end, kneel down and listen to the closing prayer.
• No need to thank Father, just kiss his hand goodbye. That's how it is.

How to contact a priest by phone?

Modern technologies dictate their own rules. You can also call the Holy Father by telephone in case of need or close acquaintance.

• A telephone conversation can begin with the words: “Father, I ask for your blessing...” and then tell us why you are calling.
• Don't forget to introduce yourself and say your name.
• Communicating with a church minister by telephone is not the best way, so do not discuss frank topics and do not confess in this way. You can arrange a meeting, or find out other useful information. And leave everything else for a face-to-face conversation.
• You can’t see who’s answering on the phone, so you can start the conversation with the words: “Hello, is this Father Alexey?” and after receiving a positive answer: “Father, bless!”

When saying goodbye, as in church, you can ask for a blessing and hang up.

Appeal depending on the rank of the clergyman

There are three main ranks of clergy that cannot be ignored when converting:

1. Patriarch, metropolitan, bishop: “Your Holiness, Your Holiness, Your Eminence, Your Beatitude” - these are the official rules of address. There are also more popular ones: “Vladyko Kirill.” The majestic word: “Vladyko” elevates a church minister of a given rank above all other degrees and titles.
2. Priestly rank: “Your Reverence (name), Your Reverence (name),” again, these are official words. People usually say to such a rank: “Father.”
3. Deacon, protodeacon, archdeacon: “Father, arch- (name).”

The priests themselves always talk about themselves in the third person: “I am a deacon (my name).” It is customary for wives of clergy to say: “Mother (name). If you come to Father during any holiday, do not forget to greet him and mark the great day of the church calendar: “Christ is Risen!”, “Happy Great Monday!”

Now, you will know how to address the priest depending on the situation, rank, and you will even be able to call him by phone.

Video about addressing priests