How to say hello and goodbye in church
Many people, going out of age, when temptations prevail over the sense of self-preservation, begin to gradually turn to God. This is probably why there are so many elderly people in the Orthodox Church. As they say, the whiskey turned gray and the mind was added.
Of course, it is never too late to start going to church, praying and trying to atone for the sins committed throughout your life with good deeds and a tolerant attitude towards the weaknesses of the people around you. Yes, and humility also does not hurt to have more - old age will quickly teach you to humility, especially if it is accompanied by weakness.
Church etiquette
But when you come to church, you don't always know how to behave correctly, how to say hello, say goodbye, and address people. And therefore, it is better to prepare in advance, to study church etiquette so that the habit overcome embarrassment. What is the embarrassment - I'll tell you.
For example, many women whom I have known for a long time, they are much older than me, well, I can’t just call them by name. It is uncomfortable for me to call an elderly doctor, teacher, judge, whom I respect, simply Maria, Nina, without adding a middle name. And in the church they do not call them by patronymic. Here every person is a person, regardless of origin. And they don't hide behind their parents. It may be a little rough, but on the whole it is so. Therefore, it is difficult for me personally to get used to such treatment.
It is also not customary to greet the word "hello" in the church. Although outside the walls of the temple - it is quite acceptable. Here on holidays and Sundays they say "Happy Holidays!" Or answer the same "Happy Holidays." From Easter to Ascension, for 50 days, believers greet each other with the words "Christ is Risen - Truly Risen". Usually all people do this only on Easter week, but it would be more correct to greet each other like this during this entire period.
But the priest, for sure, does not say "hello." He is greeted with a slight bow, folding of hands and the words "Bless, Father Ivan", or "Bless, Father" if the priest is unknown. This, too, at first terribly embarrassed me, it seemed to me that I was bothering the priest with such requests that I was asking him for undeserved grace - somehow I could describe my feelings. But then, seeing that everyone was doing the same, and Father was blessing everyone with joy, she quickly got used to it.
Came to visit
But I really like another greeting, which corresponds to Orthodox etiquette. Coming to someone else's house, you should say: "Peace to your home!". And this is very good and beautiful. And the owners answer, "We accept it in peace!" If in the house they are already sitting at the table, or taking food, then they say "Angel at the meal." Saying goodbye, the guests are told: "An angel on the road." And in response those leaving wish to the owners: "God save you", or "Christ save".
Such knowledge can be useful to many, especially since it is our Orthodox tradition. After all, Russia and Russia have been an Orthodox country for many centuries. And only the last century has knocked out such wonderful traditions and habits from people.