www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Those Who May Bless

Blessing of God, it reminds me that the incensation of the people and then to the center of the isle is really a blessing of God's universe. Do I understand that right?

When my husband, as a deacon, is asked by someone for a blessing, he tells them he cannot bless, but leads them in the Lord's Prayer together. He tells them in doing so they receive all the blessings of God becasue they are praying as Jesus taught us too.

Pani Rose

Dear Pani Rose,

Historically the incensation was taken over from the ancient East royal and religious practice. There was some precious stuff to be burnt in the presence of a sacred thing or a person. It was a kind of gift and also regarded to have medical significance. So, in my humble opinion, in the Church it seems to be a sort of respect that corresponds to Deity and spiritual Royalty including God himself, a temple, and all the people that are getting divine in the Lord.

Valerius

Dear Friends,

St Herman of Alaska was not a priest, as I understand, but, instead of a blessing, allowed his visitors to kiss his (very heavy) neck cross and scapular.

Also, some of my priest friends want to kiss my hand after I've kissed theirs.

Of course, I resist such nonsense.

Why do they want to do that?

Alex

Because they are embarrassed; I didn't know Eastern priests were infected with this creeping egalitarianism. It is common among Latins, some of whom say, instead of the traditional blessing at the end of Mass, "May Almighty God bless US, Father, Son and Holy Spirit", giving, in essence, a layman's invocation instead of a priestly blessing...

Common? Really? I've never heard that in any church I've been to in Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia or DC, even in the most liturgically abusive environments.

Dear Mike,

Yes, Daniel is right - I've heard that in our Latin parishes up here, especially in our high school chapel!

Alex

Dear Daniel,

Yes, I think you have it!

One EC priest I greeted by kissing his hand in the street turned to my wife and said, "I think you better watch out for him - he wants to kiss a man's hand . . ."

What I find is that the so-called "Latin" priests among ours don't find that tradition bad (they do sometimes ask me if I'm a recent immigrant from Ukraine!).

But for truly Byzantine priests to make such comments is beyond all telling.

Also, I want to apologise to you for leaving the issue of my icon hang for so long.

I'm getting back on my feet and will contact you later!

Just so you know I haven't forgotten or else am being ignorant.

I am never ignorant about THOSE things!

Alex

Late as usual - but an interesting add on here

I have heard of an EC Church where when one of the Priests was asked in the traditional way for a Blessing ,he gave it willingly - but hastily snatched his hand away when he realised that the parishioner was going to kiss it, as even I know, is the custom.

After all surely at that point we are not kissing the hand of a 'man' but a Priest who is someone Consecrated to do God's work ?

This experience certainly did not happen to me in Lourdes last month when I was greeted ,entering the Ukrainian Church for DL on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, by the Priest there and I asked for and received his Blessing .

Anhelyna

Dear Anhelyna,

What a great priest you would make!

If you were a man, that is . . .

There is a portion in a service to St Xenia of Petersburg that calls her, "Manly-minded."

I think women are stronger in faith than men, so I think that phrase is ill-placed!

Don't you?

Alex

No way am I rising to that one Alex - whatever I said would be wrong

Anhelyna

Mikey- I too lived near DC, and I did hear it there, though not with the frequency I have heard it in the Midwest...
Alex- no problem; I figured you had gotten distracted by your new ventures. I have plenty to do anyway; I have a Christmas deadline for a large Mystical Supper icon I have been working on. However, as it is too large to work on at home I still have time for commissions in my spare time...

And by the way: God bless you all!

It used to be a normal Royal tradition in the Russian Orthodox Church. When the Czar was receiving a blessing from a priest or bishop and kissing his hand the latter in his turn was doing the same. Could your priest friends mistake you for the Czar?

Valerius

Dear Valerius,

Well, actually, I am distantly related to Tsar St Nicholas Romanov .

I think Iconophile has the rights of it with his comment on embarrassment.

But, since you are here, could you explain the full rite of kissing the priest's hand?

I think one should bow down with fingers touching the floor first, then rise and give the three-fold kiss before asking for the blessing. (And one should exchange the greeting "Christ is among us" with the priest or bishop).

What is the tradition in Russia now?

Alex