It is very important for a believer to observe church etiquette, which is significantly different from secular. For example, when meeting a clergyman on the street, you need to address him in a special way.
Instructions
Step 1
When you meet a priest without vestments on the street, greet him with a nod of your head, or say hello as usual, wishing him a good day. On Easter day you can say "Christ is Risen!" Shake hands with the priest only if you have known him personally and for a long time. Otherwise, it will be perceived too familiar.
Step 2
Having met a priest in a vestment (in a cassock with a cross or in liturgical vestments with an epitrachilia and in orders), ask him for a blessing, this will be your greeting. Approach the priest, bend a little, fold your right hand over your left, palms up and say: "Father, bless."
Step 3
In response, the priest will put the sign of the cross on you and may even put his hand in your folded palms - it needs to be kissed like the right hand of God himself, who invisibly blesses you through the priest. If the priest has put his hand on your head, then you do not need to kiss it.
Step 4
If there are several priests, headed by the Bishop (administrator of the entire diocese), approach only him for a blessing. If there are many priests and the Bishop is not among them, go up and ask for a blessing from your senior. You can find out by the cross worn by the priest on his chest.
Step 5
The archpriest wears a cross with decoration, the priest wears a gilded or silver cross. If you took a blessing from one priest, and there are several more nearby, address them with the words "Bless, honest fathers" and bow down.
Step 6
If you are in a group of believers, men by seniority first come up for the blessing (church ministers first of all, as if setting an example), then women follow by seniority, and children (by seniority) come last. This rule also applies to the family: first the husband, the wife, then the children.
Step 7
When parting, ask the priest again for blessing with the words "Forgive me, father, and bless me."
Step 8
A telephone conversation with a priest should begin with the words "Bless, father." Next, tell us the essence of the matter on which you are calling. End the conversation by asking for a second blessing.
Step 9
When referring to or referring to the priest in the third person, say, "The Father Superior blessed." The combination of "father" and the surname of a priest is used in purely official cases.
