Questions about addressing a Priest

[SeekingTheLight]

Ok, we've gotten to know the Priest, where we've been attending Vespers, pretty well. My husband emails him quite a bit, and we nearly always talk for quite a while after services.

Anyway, I know that he knows that we don't know what we're doing, but at the same time, I don't want to be disrespectful, so what are the proper ways of addressing him outside of church times. Like, what if we see him at the grocery store? I would assume we would still address him as Fr. Chris and continue from there. Or what if he were sick and in the hospital? Could we pray over him? Or would another Priest need to do that?

I guess I'm just wondering about etiquette.The reason I'm wondering, is because the other day my husband told me that when he would email Fr. Chris he (my husband) always closed with "God bless" and then it dawned on him that that was probably inappropriate since he should be the one blessing us and not the other way around.

Ok, so what are the rules? I don't want to do something disrespectful.

[Akathist]

Ok, we've gotten to know the Priest, where we've been attending Vespers, pretty well. My husband emails him quite a bit, and we nearly always talk for quite a while after services.

Anyway, I know that he knows that we don't know what we're doing, but at the same time, I don't want to be disrespectful, so what are the proper ways of addressing him outside of church times. Like, what if we see him at the grocery store? I would assume we would still address him as Fr. Chris and continue from there. Or what if he were sick and in the hospital? Could we pray over him? Or would another Priest need to do that?

I guess I'm just wondering about etiquette.The reason I'm wondering, is because the other day my husband told me that when he would email Fr. Chris he (my husband) always closed with "God bless" and then it dawned on him that that was probably inappropriate since he should be the one blessing us and not the other way around.

Ok, so what are the rules? I don't want to do something disrespectful.

:wave: If it were possible and you looked back several years ago when I was new to TAW you would find almost an identical thread that I started.

I even asked "do you say 'bless you' if he sneezes?"

I call my Priest "Father" and skip saying his name most of the time, except to introduce him. Now that we have a deacon, I sometimes say it so the deacon doesn't think I am referring to him.

When I see my Priest, I say "Bless father" and cup my hands to accept his right hand which I kiss. He then gives me a blessing. But I only do this once a day and honestly, sometimes he is busy and I don't do it at all. I do love to get the blessing when I can.

I always pray for my Priest. It is built into the prayers that I say. If he were sick I would pray an akathist for him. But I wouldn't go into the hospital and put my hands on his head and shout Glory to God for the immediatey healing I was proclaiming in the name of Christ.

I would probably not ask if he wanted to pray with me in a visit to the hospital but I would tell him that I do pray for him.

When emailing my Priest (a frequent thing I do) I start it like this...

Bless Father,

content of email.

Christ is in our midst! (or right now I would say "Christ is born, Glorify Him")
Xenia

I don't think a Priest would ever be offended if someone said "God bless you". Or if someone didn't ask for a blessing. So, you don't need to worry too much about this most likely.

Technically, they give the blessings so we wouldn't say "God bless". I accidently said that once when he sneeezed and he looked at me when I apologized for saying it and told me it was ok. His facial expression was "get real" but he didn't say it.

BTW, you asked about prayers for someone at the hospital. Any of us EO in the hospital would get a sacrement called "Holy Unction" which is a prayer and annointment with oil (and when done in a church service, there is a lovely reading of all of the miracles in the Gospels.)

A Priest has someone they go to for confession so most likely that other Priest (or hiermonk) would do the Holy Unction but if not available, any other EO Priest would do it.

[Philothei]

No need to say more... I think Xenia covered it ....

Also if the priest is in the hospital usually another priest would visit him. I do not think it would be wrong to ask to pray for him.... now that it depends on the priest. Some might find it odd for other denomination clergy prayng with them... but then it all depends... I am not familiar with this at all...

Usually though other EO priests would visit them and pray with them, giving them the Holy Unction or Communion. I remember my husband visiting his old priest and offering him communion in his house because he had Alziehmer's.....

As far as "God bless" some EO priests they do not like it...Like Xenia said a more appropriate salutation in the end would be "Christ is in our midst" or just a simple "In Chist" will do.

Asking for a Priest's blessing the way Xenia described it is so deeply respectful and proper. When it comes to Bishops is accompanied by a bow... that shows respect to our high ranked clergy....

Protocol will come with time... please do not stress right now you are doing fine. :) No priest expects for non-orthodox Christians to know automatically the protocol....

Christ is born!

Philothei

[gzt]

You should always pray for your priests! They need your prayers most of all.

[SeekingTheLight]

thanks so much everyone! It has always been a big fear of mine to look silly in front of other people, and now that I'm totally in "unfamiliar" territory, I feel that way all the time.

Anyway, thank you for your responses, they made total sense, and I know that he doesn't think negatively of us for doing silly things. He is a very kind man, and also a Methodist convert, so I'm sure he understands.

Oh, and FYI, after New Years, he wants to start meeting with us both, to sort of start our "Catechumin-izing" (Is that a word?) Ha! He knows that we can't fully convert, since hubby is still a minister, but he knows that we are working toward getting out of that job, so I guess he figures any instruction we can get right now will be of great benefit once we ARE ready to convert. I am so thanksful for Fr. Chris!

[flod logic]

thanks so much everyone! It has always been a big fear of mine to look silly in front of other people, and now that I'm totally in "unfamiliar" territory, I feel that way all the time.

I worry about a lot of the same things too since I started going to an Orthodox church a few months ago, so you're not the only one. :)

[Akathist]

thanks so much everyone! It has always been a big fear of mine to look silly in front of other people, and now that I'm totally in "unfamiliar" territory, I feel that way all the time.

Anyway, thank you for your responses, they made total sense, and I know that he doesn't think negatively of us for doing silly things. He is a very kind man, and also a Methodist convert, so I'm sure he understands.

Oh, and FYI, after New Years, he wants to start meeting with us both, to sort of start our "Catechumin-izing" (Is that a word?) Ha! He knows that we can't fully convert, since hubby is still a minister, but he knows that we are working toward getting out of that job, so I guess he figures any instruction we can get right now will be of great benefit once we ARE ready to convert. I am so thanksful for Fr. Chris!

What wonderful news about the catechumen classes!

[SeekingTheLight]

I worry about a lot of the same things too since I started going to an Orthodox church a few months ago, so you're not the only one. :)
Good to know I'm not alone!

Akathist, thanks. Yeah, we are pretty excited about starting.