Asking for a Blessing

[tizziale]

How does one ask for and receive a blessing from a priest?

thanks,

rusty

[Niko]

one would simply ask the priest. he would then do a few diffrent things.

if its a house he comes over and says some prayers and may use some holy water.

if its a smaller item, one would usually just give it to him and he would make the sign of the cross over it, OR you could just leave it at the church for 40 days.

hope i helped

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

I think Rusty means how do *we* receive a blessing from a priest. I actually would like to know the answer to this as well, because I don't think I've ever received a blessing. I've wanted to ask for one, but I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do when he does it.

[Niko]

POST 700 :-)

Im not sure if an actual person can get blessed at any time, but i know for a fact that a person can get anointed on ash wednesday or get myrr flown onto them.

[CyberSponge]

How does one ask for and receive a blessing from a priest?

thanks,

rustyWhat I do:
Ask "May I your blessing?"
Hold out hands, palms ups, one hand laying on top of the other, with your arms hands a little close to your body and mid-torso level (this isn't a big deal but basically it looks kinda weird to, say, outstrech your arms. ;) )
The priest will make the sign of the cross over your hands, then place his hand in your hands.
Then kiss his hand as a sign of respect and thanks, and for his ministy as a priest (celebrating the Eucharist).

Hope that helps!

[gzt]

You mean, like, when you meet him or leave or something? Bow and touch the ground [optional, really, especially if in close quarters or in public], hold your hands out in front of you with the right hand on the left, palms up, in the shape of a cross, and say, "Father, bless," or "Father, your blessing," and he'll make the sign of the cross over you and then put his hand in your hands and you kiss his hand.

If you're talking about having a prayer of blessing read for some special need, though [like travelling or a new house or something], you should just mention it to him.

[anastasios]

We don't have Ash Wenesday in the Orthodox Church. Our Lent starts on Clean Monday. I love that name!

Anastasios

[tizziale]

Thank you guys! very helpful

[katherine2001]

I don't usually say a thing. I just set my hands up like a cross and that's it. I think Fr. is programmed to know that when people do that they want a blessing and he gives it!

[MariaRegina]

I don't usually say a thing. I just set my hands up like a cross and that's it. I think Fr. is programmed to know that when people do that they want a blessing and he gives it!

Receiving a blessing versus receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Arms crossed over chest versus hands imposed one over the other

In the Orthodox Church, when we shouldn't be talking anyway, a priest will generally recognize the request for a blessing when a person places his right hand over his left hand and slightly elevates them.

Notice the possibility for confusion:

This symbol for a blessing in the Eastern Orthodox Churches and (Melkite) Eastern Catholic Churches is generally recognized as the symbol for receiving Holy Communion in the Latin Catholic Church and in some Western Rite Orthodox Churches.

What do the Western Rite Orthodox do? When I visited a Western Rite Orthodox Church in California, the people there approached Holy Communion with their hands held in the typical Latin Rite way. Then one priest placed the consecrated wafer (yes unleavened bread) into their hands, and the other priest then took that wafer and then dipped it into the chalice and gave the communicant both on the tongue. That way the communicant could place the consecrated host on his/her own tongue in the same way the Latin Catholics do or the priest could administer the Holy Mystery by intinction. (Sometimes alcoholics only want the consecrated wafer).

Does anyone here attend a Western Rite Orthodox Church besides Brewmama and could verify this? Is this a universal practice or does it vary?

Interestingly in this same Western Rite Orthodox Church, if a person were to go forward in the communion line (as we did when we were catechumens) with their arms crossed over their chest, the priest would administer a blessing (instead of administering Holy Communion) as is done in the Latin Catholic Church. Yet, in the OCA and Antiochian Orthodox Churches, the people approach Holy Communion with their arms crossed over their chest.

I only mention this because I visited a Latin Catholic Church when I was a Melkite Eastern Catholic. When I went up for Holy Communion I had my arms crossed as we did in the Melkite Catholic Church, the priest looked at me confused and I realized my error. He didn't know if I wanted a blessing or the Eucharist. I suppose the same thing could happen in a Western Rite Orthodox Church.

We really need to get our signs and symbols together!
:D

[CyberSponge]

In the Orthodox Church, when we shouldn't be talking anyway, a priest will generally recognize the request for a blessing when a person places his right hand over his left hand and slightly elevates them.

well, usually when I received a blessing it is outside the building or before/after the service, when the priest comes up to speak to me (or I to him).

[gzt]

Waitaminute - receiving communion on the hand? What? I was shocked for days when I first heard Catholics practiced that, but Western Rite Orthodox do it? Why?

Yes, I guess we should have specified in what context we were discussing receiving a blessing. I meant in the context of a conversation with a priest or meeting him on the street.

[MariaRegina]

Waitaminute - receiving communion on the hand? What? I was shocked for days when I first heard Catholics practiced that, but Western Rite Orthodox do it? Why?

Yes, I guess we should have specified in what context we were discussing receiving a blessing. I meant in the context of a conversation with a priest or meeting him on the street.

I heard both Orthodox and Catholic Priests discussing receiving Holy Communion in the hand. Both said that this was the acceptable custom, and was how the early Christians received Holy Communion. In fact, the early Christians would take home enough to receive it all week - every day. Then came abuses, so this custom was stopped.

In one lecture given by an Orthodox Priest and his Presbytera, they discussed women deacons in the early Church who would go to the homes of sick women and give Holy Communion because it was considered wrong for a man to enter a woman's quarters. These women deacons would not assist at the Divine Liturgy. Their function was to help the priest with the administration of Baptism and Holy Communion for the sick. Later this order of women deacons evolved into women who served the church as tonsured monastics or presbyteras.

Any comments from anyone? Did I hear this correctly?

Lovingly in Christ our God,
Elizabeth

[Michael the Iconographer]

If you are outside a Church and you want the priest to bless you, you may simply just ask "Father (name), may I have your blessing?"

[gzt]

Here's why I'm stunned: if I understand correctly, the practice of reception in the hand in the Catholic Church is a very recent revival of a long-dead custom, quite controversial, not practiced everywhere, and is disliked by the Pope. Therefore I find it surprising that the Western Rite of Orthodoxy, which is already controversial, would accept this controversial practice. Certainly, it may be legitimate and acceptable and all, I'm just surprised.

[Matrona]

Here's why I'm stunned: if I understand correctly, the practice of reception in the hand in the Catholic Church is a very recent revival of a long-dead custom, quite controversial, not practiced everywhere, and is disliked by the Pope. Therefore I find it surprising that the Western Rite of Orthodoxy, which is already controversial, would accept this controversial practice. Certainly, it may be legitimate and acceptable and all, I'm just surprised.
Western Rite Orthodox don't receive leavened bread and wine from a chalice?!

I'm sorry, I think that is absolutely wrong. It is bad enough that they do not use the holy liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, but they have Eucharist in the way that St. Photios condemned when listing heterodox western practices prior to the schism.

Who authorized this deviation from Holy Tradition?

[Michael the Iconographer]

Ovviously, our Little Orthodox Warrior was not consulted on this matter!

Western Rite Orthodox don't receive leavened bread and wine from a chalice?!

I'm sorry, I think that is absolutely wrong. It is bad enough that they do not use the holy liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, but they have Eucharist in the way that St. Photios condemned when listing heterodox western practices prior to the schism.

Who authorized this deviation from Holy Tradition?

[MariaRegina]

Ovviously, our Little Orthodox Warrior was not consulted on this matter!

So, Michael, what is your opinion on this matter? I observed this western communion practice in 1996 at a Western Rite Antiochian parish in California. Have things changed in the Antiochian Church since then?

There were quite a few Western Rite parishes who switched to Eastern Rite, could that be one reason? BTW: Fredrica Mathewes-Green and her husband (an Antiochian Priest) used to be in the Western Rite but switched to the Eastern Rite.

P.S. I just sent a PM to brewmama to clarify the answer. Some of the Bishops in the GOA were upset that this was going on in the Antiochian Church, so maybe things have changed?

PPS: I don't want this topic to become a separate thread for obvious reasons. I don't want folks to become upset. I know that Bishop Joseph of the Antiochians has cracked down on the use of Western hymns that used to be sung during the Divine Liturgy by some of the former evangelicals who converted to Orthodoxy in 1987. I guess the Bishops gave them a grace period to get used to Orthodoxy and this makes sense to me. People rarely become Orthodox overnight. It's a gradual process - and is akin to martyrdom, a death to oneself. We die with Christ and rise with Him as a new creation at our Holy Baptism and Holy Chrismation.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Aria, you had to ask! :)
The more Orthodox I become, the less I feel any need for Western Liturgy. I still like the OLD Tridentine Mass, but it is not Orthodox and even that to me is lacking something inherently, ummm, Orthodox! Western Hymns that were written after 1054 are not Orthodox, and while some may fit with our theology, many do not fit. I dont think having an unleavened Eucharist which is not intincted in the blood and given in the hands fits in with Orthodox Theology and spirituality. I didn't need a Western Rite to tide me over in my conversion, and there are plenty of other former Westerners who converted the same way I did. Just my two cents worth.

[Marjorie]

In regards to the Western Rite, though, whilst it right now is in desperate need of change, I for one would love to be in an actually Orthodox Western Rite parish. I don't like the misconception that people who become Orthodox are doing so for the Byzantine Liturgy and eastern style... when it comes to pure aesthetics, I prefer the traditionally Western aesthetic. I came to Orthodoxy in spite of that.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Matrona]

I dont think having an unleavened Eucharist which is not intincted in the blood and given in the hands fits in with Orthodox Theology and spirituality.
Exactly--the theology behind our Eucharist and leavened bread, the way it was explained to me, would mean a eucharist with unleavened bread given in the hand would be COMPLETELY unOrthodox.

And I have heard people say that the particular liturgy you use is not important, but what could possibly be more important than the Eucharist?!?!

[MariaRegina]

Aria, you had to ask! :)
The more Orthodox I become, the less I feel any need for Western Liturgy. I still like the OLD Tridentine Mass, but it is not Orthodox and even that to me is lacking something inherently, ummm, Orthodox! Western Hymns that were written after 1054 are not Orthodox, and while some may fit with our theology, many do not fit. I dont think having an unleavened Eucharist which is not intincted in the blood and given in the hands fits in with Orthodox Theology and spirituality. I didn't need a Western Rite to tide me over in my conversion, and there are plenty of other former Westerners who converted the same way I did. Just my two cents worth.

Dear Michael:

I agree with you in that I didn't need the Western Rite to convert. However, the Tridentine Mass as canonized by St. Gregory is Orthodox; just like the Pre-Sanctifed Liturgy as given to us by the same St. Gregory is also very Orthodox.

When I was inquiring into Orthodoxy, some Western Rite Orthodox Priests said that I would probably prefer the Western Rite (and this after having spent two years as a Melkite). I was hesitant but visited as I was told. I went to one Western Rite Liturgy and felt like a fish out of water sorry to say. The joy I feel when I participate in an Eastern Divine Liturgy is indescribable. It's the mindset. The Divine Liturgy is a resurrection liturgy. The Mass of St. Gregory doesn't have that resurrectional joy (to me at least).

Lovingly in Christ,
Elizabeth

[anastasios]

While I personally don't get much out of Western liturgy, I am a bit distraught that I see people saying the Tridentine Rite isn't Orthodox. Its basic structure predates the schism and its canon is older than any Byzantine Eucharistic canon. How is it not Orthodox?

Also, why would a hymn written after 1054 be not Orthodox? I think that you could find hymns pre-1054 that are heretical and hymns written post-1054 that are not. I think the key is to analyze the hymn itself for content.

Like I said, I don't need a "fix" of Western liturgy but I support our Western Rite Orthodox bretheren and I do enjoy singing Western hymns every once and awhile :)

Anastasios

[gzt]

I agree with Mr. Anastasios.

Though I'm still puzzled as to why, if they're hearkening back to old Tridentine usage [or not, but they have some philosophy behind this, don't they?], they did so with the controversial novelty of reception of communion in the hand. It's possible that it could be Orthodox, I'm just wondering why they did this.

[MariaRegina]

While I personally don't get much out of Western liturgy, I am a bit distraught that I see people saying the Tridentine Rite isn't Orthodox. Its basic structure predates the schism and its canon is older than any Byzantine Eucharistic canon. How is it not Orthodox?

Also, why would a hymn written after 1054 be not Orthodox? I think that you could find hymns pre-1054 that are heretical and hymns written post-1054 that are not. I think the key is to analyze the hymn itself for content.

Like I said, I don't need a "fix" of Western liturgy but I support our Western Rite Orthodox bretheren and I do enjoy singing Western hymns every once and awhile :)

Anastasios

Thanks for your thoughts. Personally I like St. Thomas Aquinas' hymn Pange Lingua.

[brewmama]

Everything Aria has said is true in our church, and we have a new hymnal which was edited and approved by the Antiochian Church for the Western Rite parishes, which contains many of the great Western hymns. Everything we do has the complete blessing of Bishop Basil and Metropolitan Philip, so I don't know why there is so much criticism and animosity over it. I go along with my heirarchy; you don't have to visit if you don't like it.

[MariaRegina]

Everything Aria has said is true in our church, and we have a new hymnal which was edited and approved by the Antiochian Church for the Western Rite parishes, which contains many of the great Western hymns. Everything we do has the complete blessing of Bishop Basil and Metropolitan Philip, so I don't know why there is so much criticism and animosity over it. I go along with my heirarchy; you don't have to visit if you don't like it.

Thank you very much, Brewmama!

I think it is very important to understand these differences so that if we do visit a Western Rite Parish in our travels we are not so shocked as to cause scandal in their churches. It's something that we have to accept in obedience. If it weren't for the scandalous 1054 Great Schism, we would be attending church side by side with Catholics in our travels, wouldn't we?

[MariaRegina]

Everything Aria has said is true in our church, and we have a new hymnal which was edited and approved by the Antiochian Church for the Western Rite parishes, which contains many of the great Western hymns. Everything we do has the complete blessing of Bishop Basil and Metropolitan Philip, so I don't know why there is so much criticism and animosity over it. I go along with my heirarchy; you don't have to visit if you don't like it.

Dear Brewmama,

I forgot to ask, is this hymnal available for purchase? And would you know the copyright or publishing date and publisher? If so, could you please post it here. I do meet people who may prefer the Western Rite to the Eastern Rite as some of my friends just cannot stand the Arabic Byzantine tones, which I love.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

[anastasios]

A Western Rite person told me that their bread is in fact leavened but still formed to look like a wafer.

As far as communion in the hand, I don't understand how that could be unOrthodox (although it is a bad practice now in my opinion). Up until the 9th century or so in the Byzantine Rite, communion was given under two species and probably in the hand (examine the text of the Byzantine Liturgy of St James's rubrics to see this). Orthodox theology "doesn't change" so if originally Orthodox theology allowed reception of the communion in the hand, you can't say it is unOrthodox--although you can say, as I would, that such a practice is not good today.

Also, I find the statement "it's bad enough that they don't use the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom!" to be a bit Byzantino-centric: if the Copts reunited with the Byzantine Orthodox Church, would people think it is bad that they employed the liturgies of St Gregory, St Cyril, and St Basil (not our St Basil's liturgy) in their Church?

Sincerely,

Anastasios

[brewmama]

Dear Brewmama,

I forgot to ask, is this hymnal available for purchase? And would you know the copyright or publishing date and publisher? If so, could you please post it here. I do meet people who may prefer the Western Rite to the Eastern Rite as some of my friends just cannot stand the Arabic Byzantine tones, which I love.

Thanks,
Elizabeth



Hopefully this will help.
http://www.members.cox.net/frnicholas/Hymnal.htm

[Nickolai]

A Western Rite person told me that their bread is in fact leavened but still formed to look like a wafer.

I have read that same thing on Western rite website.

As far as communion in the hand, I don't understand how that could be unOrthodox (although it is a bad practice now in my opinion). Up until the 9th century or so in the Byzantine Rite, communion was given under two species and probably in the hand (examine the text of the Byzantine Liturgy of St James's rubrics to see this). Orthodox theology "doesn't change" so if originally Orthodox theology allowed reception of the communion in the hand, you can't say it is unOrthodox--although you can say, as I would, that such a practice is not good today.

It's not unOrthodox in and of itslef to cummune with the hand. This is what the priest does in the alter during the clergy communion. But I would say it's probably safer having communion from a common spoon since there is no chance of still having the body on your hands after you commune.

Also, I find the statement "it's bad enough that they don't use the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom!" to be a bit Byzantino-centric: if the Copts reunited with the Byzantine Orthodox Church, would people think it is bad that they employed the liturgies of St Gregory, St Cyril, and St Basil (not our St Basil's liturgy) in their Church?

Sincerely,

Anastasios

I agree. I personaly would rather do St. John Chrysostom's Liturgy over St. Gregory's. But I grew up as an Anglican, and have had more than my fill of western Liturgy. But The Western rite is not heretical in and of itslef. I just find it to be dangerous. It creates possible comprimises.

[Nickolai]

Anyway, back to the OP

When asking a Priest for a blessing you place your right hand over you left hand in the from of a cross and say "Father, Bless"

When asking a Bishop for a blessing you touch the ground with your right hand then do what you did for the Priest, except instead of "Father, Bless" you say "Master, Bless".