Glory to Jesus Christ

Does anyone know the proper way to greet HH Pope Shenouda?

What is the Coptic custom - bow, ask a blessing, and kiss his hand, or is that just the Constantinoplean tradition?

How about a Coptic priest?

Please enlighten

Dmitri

As far as I can tell, the way Copts greet a bishop is as follows:

If the bishop/priest is holding a hand cross (which he most often does), they would put their right hand out, kiss the cross, the hand, and then gently touch their forehead to the cross or hand. If no hand cross is present, they kiss the hand. Perhaps those who are more familiar with Coptic tradition can correct this.

This is all fresh in my mind because last week I was present at the first Liturgy of the new Coptic Orthodox Church in the Poconos. Photos are on my church's site: http://htc.faithweb.com/coptic.html . As far as I can remember, that is how the faithful greeted Bishop David. They greeted my priest in the same way.

Dave

Thanks,

Is this preceded by the sign of the Cross by the recipient or not?


Dmitri

No, I didn't notice anyone making the Sign of the Cross first.

If I'm not mistaken I think it's proceeded by the OK sign. (join the points of the index and thumb fingers of your right hand making a circle and extending the other three fingers more or less at shoulder level, don't forget to smile while making this sign.)
Lauro

I believe to greet a bishop you should first do a metonia (kneel, hands down with your thumbs pointing forwards, head to grownd & up on a day when kneeling is legal, bend at waist & touch fingers to ground on days when kneeling is not legal), then kiss the cross, then the hand, then forhead to hand. If there's no cross just kiss the hand. For a priest it's the same, except no metonia first. It can come off as showy to kneel down if you're not a priest or monk, so most lay people just touch the ground.

I wonder, what is the traditional Latin way to greet a priest or bishop?

Logos Teen

I think you traditionally kiss the bishop's ring, which traditionally contains the relic of a saint.

Here's where I can give a reply without offending someone. The traditional Latin greeting for a bishop is to genuflect on one's left knee and kiss the ring.

Dear LatinTrad,

You can run, but you can't hide!

You are right. One genuflects on the left knee to clergy and sovereigns, and on the right before God.

Do RC's still genuflect before bishops?

When I met the Undersecretary of State of the Vatican, an Archbishop, last year, I went down on my left knee, kissed his ring, hand etc.

No one else did, however.

I also genuflected like this when I met my sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Am I correct in assuming one waits for the nudge in the hand to get up?

Alex

I remember having my hand kissed last year by a very old Ukie Orthodox woman who thanked me with tears for bringing my Ukie male choir to sing the liturgy at her church.I couldn't hold back my emotions and I hugged her and tried to hide my tears as well, looking back, many of the men in my choir were biting their lips.
Interesting what a kiss can do?
Lauro

I've seen most RC bishops these days being greeted by a handshake and a "How you doin' bishop?"

Dave

That just activated my gag reflex. If you're joking, please don't!

Logos Teen

No, not joking. Perhpas it is not across the board, but that has been what I have seen. Many Catholic bishops (and bishops in other churches, I'm sure) like to "make the rounds", shake hands with everybody, etc. I can't say it is right or wrong; many in our culture would be totally thrown off or repulsed by a man who automatically assumes you will kiss his hand. It isn't understood that much if at all. In other cultures, it isn't that odd. I even saw footage of Iraqi's kissing Sadam's hand, so I'm guessing it is common in other Eastern countries for non-religious figures.

Dmitri, how'd meeting Pope Shenouda go?

Slava Isusu Kristu

After all that, I didn't get to see him as his plane was late.

He was in town to consecrate the alter at our local Coptic Church. He was scheduled to attened Vespers and Midnight Praises the night before and then the Raising of Incense, Consecration, and Liturgy on Sunday.

Since I am Cantor at my own church, I could only attend Vespers. And, of course, HH's plane was delayed and he wasn't going to get in until late.
Still, however, it was a wonderful experience. There were several priests there and the local Bishop who gave a very interesting sermon on different ways of hearing the Word (and I was able to greet him)and following it.

I must say, they were the most inviting people I have met in a long time. I was ushered to the front as soon as I got there and greeted very warmly. I sat behind our local Greek Orthodox Priest whom I know well.

I continue to be impressed by the spiritual depth of Coptic Christianity. Their struggles to remain in existance despite constant suppression by Muslims and Byzantines shows through in their strong devotion and piety. We Slavs like to argue amoung ourselves as to who has suffered more. Personnaly, I think the Copts have us beat by more than a few hundred years.

Dmitri