I'm having a memory lapse. When do we Byzantines use the greeting "God is With Us" with the response "He is and shall be"...? Also, the slavonic is "S Nami Boh". What is the reply?

"God is with us" is sung at Great Compline, and not used as a greeting, AFAIK.

You may be thinking of "Christ is amongst us (Khristos posredi nas)" to which the reply is "He is and shall be (Yest i byst)". This is used most often when the faithful approach to venerate the cross held by the priest, at anointing, etc. (outside the Paschal and Nativity seasons, of course).

Has anyone heard of "God is with us" used as a greeting?

"S Nami Boh." is not used as a greeting among Ukrainians.

I have never heard of it being used by other Eastern Orthodox groups either.

What is used during the Nativity season? I've looked everywhere I know to for it and haven't been able to find it. Unless you mean, "Christ is born!" "Glorify Him!" for the Christmas season, which I know.

Christos Razdajetsja! Slavite Jeho! (Christ is born! Glorify Him!)

Thanks for all the posts. I was confusing "God is With Us" with "Christ is among us". I got hooked on the Emmanuel and S Nami Boh part...

This is only used during the Christmas season, though, right? It isn't used during the Advent season. Is there another one used during Little Lent?

Dear Wondering,

If you do a search here you should find a few threads on the various greetings and when they are used. During the fasting periods we use the same greeting we use most of the year: Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory For Ever!

isn't the common greeting for the pre-christmas fast: "Did you get all your Christmas shopping done yet?"


Seriously now: As mentioned above, in the UC church there is no special greeting for before Christmas, we use the regular "Glory be to Jesus Christ! - Glory be forever."

Fr. Bo

Thank you both! I have found lists in the past but the use of the phrase "Nativity season" made me start questioning again if there was a specific one for Advent as opposed to Christmas. I appreciate the clarification.

-Wondering
(as I wipe my brow and say whew that I haven't been messing it up all these weeks!)