Greeting a Bishop or Priest

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Armenian

Name: A bishop is addressed at Srpazan Hayr.  A celibate priest is addressed as Hayr Sourp. A married priest is addressed as Der Hayr.

Greeting: Asdvadz Oknagan (bless me), Srpazan Hayr/Hayr Sourp/Der Hayr as well as a bow to kiss his anointed hand.  One should not kiss his ring.

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Coptic

Name: A bishop is addressed as Sayedna (master).  A celibate or married priest is addressed as Abouna (father).  You’ll also sometimes hear Copts refer to their bishops and priests as Ne’yaftak (“Your Eminence”) and Odsak (similar to “Reverend”) respectively.

Greeting: In the case of the bishop, you bow and touch the floor, then kiss his hand; in the case of the priest, you bow slightly at the waist and kiss his hand.

Syrian

Name: A bishop is addressed as Hasyo.  A celibate or married priest is referred to as Awun or Aboun (father) or sometimes Qashisho or Qasho (presbyter).

Greeting: When you greet a bishop, you say Barekmor (master, bless) and kiss his cross.  When you greet a priest, there is no gesture.

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Malankara

Name: A bishop is addressed at Thirumeni (pronounciation: Thi – roo- many).  A priest is addressed as Achen.  A deacon is addressed as Shemassen.

Greeting: When you greet a bishop, you say Barekmor and kiss his cross.  When you greet a priest, there is no gesture.

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Ethiopian

Name: A bishop is addressed as Abbatachin (our father).  A monastic priest is addressed as Abba.  A married priest is addressed as Kesis. In addition to the “standard” priestly titles, the Ethiopian and Church also employs certain honorifics for priests of rank such as “Melake Selam” (Angel of Peace), “Melake Ganet” (Angel of Paradise), and “Melake Birhan” (Angel of Light).

Greeting: In the case of the bishop, you bow and touch the floor, then kiss his hand; in the case of the priest, you bow slightly at the waist and kiss his hand.

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Eritrean

Name: A bishop is addressed as Abbatachin (our father).  A monastic priest is addressed as Abba.  A married priest is addressed as Kesis.  In addition to the “standard” priestly titles, the Ethiopian and Church also employs certain honorifics for priests of rank such as “Melake Selam” (Angel of Peace), “Melake Ganet” (Angel of Paradise), and “Melake Birhan” (Angel of Light).

Greeting: In the case of the bishop, you bow and touch the floor, then kiss his hand; in the case of the priest, you bow slightly at the waist and kiss his hand.

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