IC̅ XC̅ NIKA ☦
Instagram
How to Greet an Orthodox Priest: Ask for a Blessing
What the video says
Many people feel awkward about how to greet an Orthodox priest, unsure whether to shake his hand, kiss it, or just say hello. The proper way is to ask for his blessing: place your right palm over your left, facing up, and say, 'Father, bless me.' The priest makes the sign of the cross over you, places his right hand in yours, and you kiss his hand.
When blessing, the priest shapes his fingers into the letters IC XC, the short form of Jesus Christ in Greek, so he blesses in Christ's name, not his own. Kissing his hand honors the hands that hold the body and blood of Christ at every liturgy.
Key moments
- Many people feel awkward greeting a priest because they do not know whether to shake his hand, kiss it, or just say hello.
- The proper greeting is to ask for his blessing: put your right palm over your left, facing up, and say, 'Father, bless me.'
- The priest makes the sign of the cross over you, places his right hand in yours, and you kiss his hand.
- When blessing, the priest shapes his fingers into the letters IC XC, the short form of Jesus Christ in Greek, so he blesses in Christ's name, not his own.
- Kissing the priest's hand honors the hands that hold the body and blood of Christ at every liturgy.
- Next time you see a priest, hold out your hands and say, 'Father, bless me.'
Many people feel awkward when greeting an Orthodox priest because they do not know whether to shake his hand, kiss it, or simply say hello. The video explains the proper greeting: ask for the priest's blessing. You place your right palm over your left, both facing up, and say, 'Father, bless me.' The priest then makes the sign of the cross over you, places his right hand in yours, and you kiss his hand.
The video also explains the gesture the priest makes while blessing. He shapes his fingers to form the letters IC XC, the short form of the name Jesus Christ in Greek. This means the priest blesses in Christ's name, not in his own.
Kissing the priest's hand is explained as a way of honoring the hands that hold the body and blood of Christ at every liturgy. The video closes with a simple instruction: the next time you see a priest, hold out your hands and say, 'Father, bless me.'
Main points
- Many people feel awkward greeting a priest because they do not know whether to shake his hand, kiss it, or just say hello.
- The proper greeting is to ask for his blessing: put your right palm over your left, facing up, and say, 'Father, bless me.'
- The priest makes the sign of the cross over you, places his right hand in yours, and you kiss his hand.
- When blessing, the priest shapes his fingers into the letters IC XC, the short form of Jesus Christ in Greek, so he blesses in Christ's name, not his own.
- Kissing the priest's hand honors the hands that hold the body and blood of Christ at every liturgy.