When contacting clergy, one should know spiritual etiquette and, in order to avoid mistakes and awkward situations, one must have a minimum of knowledge. A believer, asking a priest for a blessing, turns to him as a conductor of God's grace. That is, the Lord blesses the priest, and the priest blesses the believer. How should you properly receive a blessing?
Instructions
Step 1
A priest should be addressed only by his Church Slavonic name, not by his first name and patronymic: "Father Peter" or "Father Nikodim", you can refer to "father".
Step 2
The words "Bless!" are not so much a request for a blessing, it is also a form of greeting from a priest. With worldly words "Hello!" and "Hello!" it is not customary to greet the clergy. If you are next to the priest, bow, stand in front of the priest and fold your hands in a boat, palms up, put your right hand over your left. The priest will overshadow you with the sign of the cross, say: "God bless." Then he will touch your palms with his right, blessing hand. You should kiss the priest's hand at this moment. This symbolizes the touch of the mouth to the place of the wounds in the hands of Christ.
Step 3
A man during a blessing after kissing the priest's hand can kiss his cheek, then again his hand. Men and heads of families should be the first to approach the blessing, then women, then children by seniority.
Step 4
When approaching several priests, ask for a blessing in the hierarchy. First with the archpriests, then with the priests. If there are many priests, take the blessing from everyone. Or you can make a general bow with the words: "Bless, honest fathers." Remember, priests do not bless in the presence of a bishop, archbishop, or metropolitan. In this case, ask for a blessing only from the bishop before or after the liturgy. All others, in the presence of the bishop, can bow to them in response to your general bow.
Step 5
Be tactful and patient. You should not, pushing away other parishioners, rush to the priest for a blessing during the service or when he goes from the altar to the place of confession. The blessing will be given to you both before and after the service.
Step 6
The priest can bless even at a great distance. However, you should not run after the priest on the street or in the store, especially if he is in civilian clothes. And it will be all the more inappropriate in any circumstances to sign oneself in front of a priest with the sign of the cross (to be baptized on a priest, as on an icon). In a public place, it is enough to restrict yourself to a shallow bow or nod of the head.
