Evil eye?

[Kypreos]

I just want to make sure my understanding of the evil eye is correct:

According to http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7079.asp, "Vaskania is simply a phenomenon that was accepted by primitive people as fact. They believed that certain people have such powerful feelings of jealousy and envy, that when they looked on some beautiful object or individual it brought destruction. Vaskania is recognized by the Church as the jealousy and envy of some people for things they do not possess, such as beauty, youth, courage or any other blessing. The Church essentially rejected Vaskania as contradicting the concept of divine providence. The prayers of the Church to avert the evil eye are, however, a silent recognition of this phenomenon as a morbid feeling of envy."

So the evil eye exists. But what about the wearing of the eye? That cannot be Orthodox, right?

[Nina]

Wearing of the eye is not Orthodox.

[Kypreos]

Wearing of the eye is not Orthodox.

Thank you Nina.

[Nina]

A gem from Geronda Porphyrios (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/elderporphyrios_dispositions.aspx).

Also I have a book about St. Kyprianos and it mentions things as such (vaskania=evil eye). I do not have time to quote/translate it now though... so sorry. Maybe God willing in the future.

[Kypreos]

A gem from Geronda Porphyrios (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/elderporphyrios_dispositions.aspx).

Also I have a book about St. Kyprianos and it mentions things as such (vaskania=evil eye). I do not have time to quote/translate it now though... so sorry. Maybe God willing in the future.

Thank you again.

I have Wounded by Love, and have re-read those passages. There is no need to quote the other text, Elder Porphrios answers everything with such clarity.

I seemed to answer my question immediately after posting. But I appreciate your help in driving the point home.

[Nina]

Thank you again.


:) No reason to thank me. All thanks are to God and His holy saints that provide us with their beautiful words and spiritual treasure.

Sorry that I added all these replies. I did it for the sake of the thread, because it is indeed an important issue and I liked the fact that you brought it up.

Also I am glad you retrieved the message and posted it, since (in the GO tradition) many think that the wearing the eye is Orthodox. One of the most pious women I have met in this continent, brought as a souvenir to me, from Greece, a bracelet with many blue eyes :). I can not describe it here how much pious she is and how much knowledgeable in matters of faith she is though, but this little thing it had escaped her.

[Paul Cowan]

Fr. Pat on Ancient Faith Radio also has a homily on the evil eye. We say prayers to guard against this when a child is born to ward off envious people from taking? the child. It has been a while since I listened to this particular homily, perhaps a reason to go back and listen again.

Paul

[David S.]

Just out of interest is the wearing of the evil eye then to repel off people's feelings of jealousy..?

[Jeffrey Wiater]

Curses are real things, just as blessings are real things.

When we wish evil upon a person, the devils gain greater ability to oblige this wish.

[Nina]

Just out of interest is the wearing of the evil eye then to repel off people's feelings of jealousy..?

That is not Orthodox. The Church does not allow the wearing of the blue eye, or its hanging in the wall.

However to satisfy your curiosity, the superstitious beleif is that the 'blue eye' which people wear, since it is beautiful, will attract the evil eye first and catch the evil energy instead of something else being affected by the evil eye.

[David S.]

Curiosity satisfied. Thank you, Nina.

[Alice]

However to satisfy your curiosity, the superstitious beleif is that the 'blue eye' which people wear, since it is beautiful, will attract the evil eye first and catch the evil energy instead of something else being affected by the evil eye.

I never knew this! It is interesting that the Turks and the Jews also use these type of superstitious amulets.
Fortunately for us, we have the power of the Cross to wear and we should remember that envy, jealousy and coveting, if not caught and acknowledged by ourselves, can become a poison that not only destroys our heart and soul, but can sends out its darts to harm others. As Elder Porphyrios says, our souls are all interconnected.

Here is an interesting, short and easy to read article (it is from a secular source, but it covers the subject well and has commentaries from a priest and a nun) I had saved regarding this phenomenon:

The Evil Eye in Greece (http://www.athensguide.com/journalists/articles/evileye.htm)