www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall The Evil Eye

Dear friends,
My wife, her family and many of my Eastern Orthodox friends, carry this notion that one is able to put an evil jinx (if you will) on another person. So much so that they whenever they would attend a wedding or some other social function, would pin, what looks to be an eye, made from a jewel somewhere hidden on their clothing.
I have a hard time accepting this. There have also been cases, where if someone thinks they've received the evil eye, someone would do these crazy concoctions to rid all evil spirits from their body, thinking that they would be able to cure this person of any sickness.
Why not wear a cross, or a crucifix ?
Is this a predominantly Eastern mentality and practice ?
Please help me understand ?

Brad - a doubting Thomas.

Good morning Brad.

The concept of the "evil eye" is not peculiarly eastern European. It is found in many cultures, and I became aware of it from my Italian friends. In Italy is is called "malocchio". I Googled the term and found an interesting explanation of it at the following site:
http://home.earthlink.net/~girowt/site/archivequestions/malocchio.htm

Google will provide a wealth of sites on the subject.

I believe that the idea of the "evil eye" could be classified as folklore. I consider it superstitious, but there are many superstitious things that people do every day without much thought. When I was selling my co-op in Connecticut, one of my friends told me to put a coin under a statue of St. Joseph ... or was it St. Anthony? ... to obtain a speedy sale. My
co-op sold quickly without a coin under a statue.

Have a good day.

Peace,

Charles

Dear Brad,

The concept of having so much hidden jealousy in the heart that one can harm another is prevalent in the Middle East and is spiritually grounded.

There is an ancient prayer that is still read by priests and monastics over those who have suffered maladies that go beyond reason. These maladies are ofcourse demonic in nature.

What is NOT spiritually grounded AT ALL, and many priests have gone on television in Greece to say this, is WEARING a blue eyed talisman, or any of the other concoctions you speak of (and which I know exactly what you are speaking of)...this is superstition at best, and dabbling in the occult and the evil one's world at worst.

If you need to convince them, you may tell them that my spiritual father is practically a saint (has charisms of supernatural discernment-a true starets) and is a Greek monastic elder from Mt. Athos, where Orthodox Christian doctrine, spirituality and religion is in its purest form.

Besides reading prayers for those who he discerns from their stories may be afflicted (he knows that witchcraft, occultic practices, and extreme jealousy are something which are very real--especially in the Middle East) he ADAMANTLY advises against partaking of any folk 'formula' which is equally evil AND SINFUL in the eyes of God, and to simply fast, make GOOD confessions, (he said that no real harm from any of these sources can afflict those who confess their sins, and especially the grave/mortal sins--some of which are sexual in nature)and pray alot, including doing prostrations. Ofcourse, the sacramentals, such as drinking holy water and the sacraments, such as Holy Communion and Holy Unction are also prescribed. He said that the demons flee the most feared sacrament, which is confession.

Now getting back to those priests that I heard on Greek television, as well as all Greek Orthodox priests in this country: the cross is defeat and protection against all evil. Period. My priest freaks when he sees those talismen with the intent of 'protection' and he approaches them to teach them that the Church does NOT allow this.

Please feel free to share this with your wife and her family. If you would like I could also p.m. you the ancient Orthodox prayer (also saw it in the RC book of 'An exorcist's Tale' (or something like that--written by a Vatican exorcist) they can take to their priest to be read.

Evil does indeed exist in the hearts of man, and manifests itself through the windows of the soul, our eyes. That is why my SF looks into people's eyes as soon as he meets them.

I must admit that although I knew of the afflictions people can experience in being the recipient of jealousy, I could never understand the 'evil eye' by means of my American cultural outlook. However, a few years ago, I did see it twice in Greece--a look in the eyes of two very jealous women (one was a bystander in church, and her jealousy seemed to be aimed towards the beautiful baby girl I was baptizing) and perhaps it was a discernment the Lord gave me, but it was both obvious and frightening....

I have analyzed this phenomenon from a cultural point of view, and have come to the personal conclusion and theory that in the West this does not exist because we are a more open culture. In the Middle East (and Southern Italy), people have been oppressed by occupations and were psychologically suppressed in expressing feelings and emotions (such as anger, jealousy and envy) as they were not only dependent on the generosity of others to live (no social welfare ever existed, and that is why the wealthy were often asked to be godparents to their children) but were also fearful of their oppressors/occupiers.

That is also the reason that the Church, which was basically underground, could not teach proper catechisis for four hundred years, and superstitious practices proliferated within the lay community.

The humility one may perceive in some old timers in those parts of the world can also be two fold.

Among the most religious, it is true humility and their religious beliefs are solid.

Among others, it is an acquired practice for survival (they suffered much in recent history). There was, until recent times, no such luxury as avoiding someone you don't like or are jealous of, because that someone may be someone you will need one day for work, for money, etc. So, there is a common understanding there that although they may smile and adulate you to your face, behind your back, and most often through their hearts, they may be stabbing you: thus: 'the evil eye'.

Ofcourse, through CHRIST, and all the means I described above, we have nothing to fear of other's evil hearts!

I hope this has helped. Forgive me if I have gone too in depth, but it is something I have given much time and thought to over the years.

Superstitious occultic practices and talismen are pagan in nature and are harmful to the souls of those who dabble in them.

In Christ,
Alice, a cultural American, who has experienced, studied and come to understand the very different ethos of the Middle East by having lived there on and off through the years.

Alice,

Thanks for all of the above. Very informative. I have heard of this but not in any depth.

I think there is such a thing as a wrongful, evil, if you will, "spirit" of jealousy which can sometimes be generational, i.e.coming down from family to family. Much prayer needs to be done in order to break such a bondage.

We don't really give it a name as such in the West to my knowledge, but you can definitely see it in the eyes, and sometimes if you are in tune to the Holy Spirit feel the oppression and heaviness of it when you are around it.

It is more than resentment and faults - it goes very deep and seems to sort of drive people who allow such jealousy to rule their thinking and lives. Getting to confession and the sacraments is the answer if done with repentance and sincerity as well as prayer and turning around one's life.

Such a thing is a real trap of the enemy of our soul to rob those who allow "jealousy" to enter in. It harms others and robs all of the Joy of the Lord.

Again, thanks for the great post.

Bless you,

Mary Jo

Dear Mary Jo,

Thank you for your post too.

I have heard of the generational bondage. Please tell me more about it.

In Christ,
Alice

We should be more concerned over the evil "I" rather than the evil "eye"...

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

My Dear Alice, +CHRIST IS IN OUR VERY MIDST---RISEN AND ACTIVE! Thank you for your post...it is excellent. When you said: "...the cross is defeat and protection against all evil. Period."---this is EXACTLY correct. Evil is REAL and active in the world...but we must always remember the grace of baptism and chrismation. We are consecrated to HIM and sealed with HIS SPIRIT! Greater is He that is within me, than he who is in the world! We have nothing to fear---provided that we stay close to HIM and His Church and have constant recourse to the Holy Mysteries of the that Church! I will not leave you orphans! Thanks and praise to God for His constant protection and by 'covering us' with His Spirit!

In the Risen Lord Jesus,
+Fr. Gregory

Alice,
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much for your detailed explanation.

God Bless You.

Brad

Pani Rose can give you lots of information on this. She recommended a couple of books I ordered, which made a lot of that understandable.

The only evil eye that I personally know of, is the one they teach in teacher training courses. It's that focused stare, preferably over the top of glasses, that conveys the "you will suffer greatly if you don't straighten up," message. I call it one of the necessary survival skills we teachers have to have.

First of all, Alice, that was a remarkable post! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the forum.

The book you are referring to is An Excorcist Tells His Story by Fr. Gabriel Amorth. A fascinating read and one that I would recommend to all.

God bless all,

LatinTrad

Thank you Latin Trad!

Yes, that was the title of the book.

My memory on titles escapes me after a few years...I was close though!

I read the book and it was indeed very good. I do highly recommend it.

In Christ,
Alice

Belief in the "evil eye" was common among pagan Slavs. It is one of those customs that the Church did not condone but which nevertheless survived over the centuries (such as the practice of setting out food & drink for the spirits of the dead in Belarus on the autumn feast of Dzjady - something the clergy still fights, though many practice it).

I know one very intelligent Russian doctor who gave birth to a seriously handicapped child & then was abandoned by her husband, but under absolutely unbelievable circumstances has cared for that child for 14 years. She is an Orthodox believer. She also believes that the child's disability was caused by an evil eye during her pregnancy.

Considering the sacrifices she has made in her life, I believe her reward in the next life will be tremendous.

Stojgniev

There is a prayer against the evil eye in the Greek Euchologion; it has been translated at least three times into English. I've never seen it in Church-Slavonic, but the Church-Slavonic Trebnik is not standardized, so I may yet find an edition which includes this prayer.
Prayers are one thing - and it is certainly true that there are strange people around who will invoke curses on people, including infants.
Folk superstitions are another matter - several cultures have a "custom" of spitting in the face of an infant, lest the malevolent powers should suspect that the infant is attractive and should therefore be abused in some satanic fashion. This we can do without - the sensible thing to do in any event is to have the priest bless the infant immediately after birth, have the parents and potential god-parents pray for the infant almost without ceasing, and refrain from delaying the infant's baptism for social reasons. We then should bring the child frequently to Holy Communion, see to it that the newly-baptized infant remains "armed" with the Cross of Christ, and tell people who suggest bizarre remedies (or show signs of intending to spit in the child's face!) that prayer and the Cross and the protection of the Church are quite sufficient, thank you.

Words of wisdom! AMEN Father Gregory AMEN

You have reminded me of Psalm 22 for some reason
1 A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. 2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: 3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake. 4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. 5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.