The greeting 'Peace be with you'

[Paul]

I bought Christmas cards recently and inside it had 'Season's Greetings'
It just didn't feel right, and what I wanted to wish people.
To me it was like saying Hello - a greeting, so I put '& wishing you a happy Christmas' underneath.

But then I thought why are they called greeting cards.
In my country our greetings seem to be: hello, alright, hi - a sort of acknowledgement - a hello.
I don't really know what the word hello means or where it comes from.

I've come to really apreciate the words Jesus used and that Jews and Muslims still use, which was also on the Christmas cards I bought last year 'Peace be with you'.
It also had inside the card 'wishing you peace at Christmas'.

Most Muslims and I think Jews still use this very beautiful and meaningful greeting.
Do Orthodox Christians?

I think it maybe the case that Muslims and Jews may say it to each other of their religion, and maybe in the dialect of their countries.
But in maybe another country where such a greeting is not commonly used amongst it's people, maybe they use the common greetings of that country to those who are not of their religion and culture.

How do Orthodox Christians greet each other, or does that vary?

I recall also somewhere in the new testament, I think it was when Jesus first sent out His disciples, and said something about if they were'n't received about letting their peace return to them, or something similar I think.

Anyway, I wish you all here and your families the peace that comes from God, by our submitting to His loving will.
May it be truly with you and your families this Christmas time, and always.

[Effie Ganatsios]

I bought Christmas cards recently and inside it had 'Season's Greetings'
It just didn't feel right, and what I wanted to wish people.
To me it was like saying Hello - a greeting, so I put '& wishing you a happy Christmas' underneath.

But then I thought why are they called greeting cards.
In my country our greetings seem to be: hello, alright, hi - a sort of acknowledgement - a hello.
I don't really know what the word hello means or where it comes from.

I've come to really apreciate the words Jesus used and that Jews and Muslims still use, which was also on the Christmas cards I bought last year 'Peace be with you'.
It also had inside the card 'wishing you peace at Christmas'.

Most Muslims and I think Jews still use this very beautiful and meaningful greeting.
Do Orthodox Christians?

I think it maybe the case that Muslims and Jews may say it to each other of their religion, and maybe in the dialect of their countries.
But in maybe another country where such a greeting is not commonly used amongst it's people, maybe they use the common greetings of that country to those who are not of their religion and culture.

How do Orthodox Christians greet each other, or does that vary?

I recall also somewhere in the new testament, I think it was when Jesus first sent out His disciples, and said something about if they were'n't received about letting their peace return to them, or something similar I think.

Anyway, I wish you all here and your families the peace that comes from God, by our submitting to His loving will.
May it be truly with you and your families this Christmas time, and always.

Beautiful post, Paul.

Here in Greece we say "Chronia Polla" at Christmas and on namedays and also on major Orthodox saints days. Chronia Polla literally means "Many Years". But to us it means "be happy on this day and may there be many such days".

A normal greeting - not formal - is (Ygeia)Geia sou which means "your health". Another is Herete which means "be happy".

Kalimera means good morning and when someone doesn't greet you at all when they first see you, the response is "the words "good morning" are God's words".

Thus implying that those who believe in God should always greet people with these words.


Effie

[Herman Blaydoe]

How do Orthodox Christians greet each other, or does that vary?

It varies. In our parish we greet each other with "Glory to Jesus Christ", the response is "Glory Forever". During the Nativity Feast we say "Christ is Born!" and the reply is "Glorify Him". For Theophany we say "Christ is Baptised" to which the proper response is "In the Jordan". Of course the standard greeting exchange for Pascha is "Christ is Risen!", "Indeed He is Risen!"

Clergy will often greet the parish with "Christ is in our Midst!" and we respond "He is and always will be!" Some priests will say "The Peace of Christ be with you" and I respond "And also with you!"

[Anthony]

I don't really know what the word hello means or where it comes from.

Nor do I, so I looked it up in an on-line etymological dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=hello&searchmode=none). Hardly inspiring (if correct), but there it is.

[Effie Ganatsios]

It varies. In our parish we greet each other with "Glory to Jesus Christ", the response is "Glory Forever". During the Nativity Feast we say "Christ is Born!" and the reply is "Glorify Him". For Theophany we say "Christ is Baptised" to which the proper response is "In the Jordan". Of course the standard greeting exchange for Pascha is "Christ is Risen!", "Indeed He is Risen!"

Clergy will often greet the parish with "Christ is in our Midst!" and we respond "He is and always will be!" Some priests will say "The Peace of Christ be with you" and I respond "And also with you!"

Herman, your parish sounds very interesting. We have none of the above except, of course, for the 40days following Easter where we also greet each other with "Christos Anesti" and "Alithos Anesti". Christ is Risen - Indeed He is Risen

[Mary]

Greetings! May I toss in what I have gathered in my cluttered brain?

In Ethiopia - specificially, in the language Amharic:

Salaam = peace (used rather informally)

Tena-Yistiling = May He give you health (for me - or on my behalf) I like this one. But writing Amharic in English is quite challenging. Remind me not to try again. I'll bet everyone who reads this will read it differently, and others who know Amharic would probably choose to spell it a different way. Those who hate the bold font, please forgive me. I was trying to show which sounds carry more weight.

Hmmm.... there's another greeting that's bouncing around in the back of my head...

"May the Force be with you".

Is that Orthodox or is it from the ghosts of my past?

I like this one from a fiction series:

"May you always find shade and water." (Desert dwellers, of course.)

In Christ,
Mary.

[Anthony]

A couple that I like:

One of several possible Georgian greetings, "Peaceful morning" (dila mshvidobisa).

And in Irish Gaelic, "God with you" (Dia dhuit).

[Effie Ganatsios]

Greetings! May I toss in what I have gathered in my cluttered brain?

In Ethiopia - specificially, in the language Amharic:

Salaam = peace (used rather informally)

Tena-Yistiling = May He give you health (for me - or on my behalf) I like this one. But writing Amharic in English is quite challenging. Remind me not to try again. I'll bet everyone who reads this will read it differently, and others who know Amharic would probably choose to spell it a different way. Those who hate the bold font, please forgive me. I was trying to show which sounds carry more weight.

Hmmm.... there's another greeting that's bouncing around in the back of my head...

"May the Force be with you".

Is that Orthodox or is it from the ghosts of my past?

I like this one from a fiction series:

"May you always find shade and water." (Desert dwellers, of course.)

In Christ,
Mary.

I have been trying to say Tena-Yistiling accenting on the bold type. It sounds lovely - sort of flows from the mouth.

Effie

[Nina]

We also say 'A Blessed Christmas' 'A blessed day' 'Many God pleasing years'

Kalo Paradiso (Good Paradise) - it is used very much in Mount Athos in every occasion.

When we meet a priest or monastic we ask for the blessing 'Your blessings' and they respond 'May you have the blessings of God'

Also 'May God be with you and you with God' and of course the beloved saying 'May Panagia be with you'

Etc.

[Effie Ganatsios]

We also say 'A Blessed Christmas' 'A blessed day' 'Many God pleasing years'

Kalo Paradiso (Good Paradise) - it is used very much in Mount Athos in every occasion.

When we meet a priest or monastic we ask for the blessing 'Your blessings' and they respond 'May you have the blessings of God'

Also 'May God be with you and you with God' and of course the beloved saying 'May Panagia be with you'

Etc.

Η Παναγια μαζι σου................. so beautiful but this is usually a farewell saying, isn't it Nina. We say it often when someone is starting something new or going on a journey and you wish them all the best and wish that our beloved Panayia be with them to help and guide them. I forgot to include this beautiful saying in my list. Thanks for reminding me of it.

Effie

[Effie Ganatsios]

Some more Dickens.........


HERE are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!

From "A Christmas Carol."
Charles Dickens.

[Nina]

Η Παναγια μαζι σου................. so beautiful but this is usually a farewell saying, isn't it Nina. We say it often when someone is starting something new or going on a journey and you wish them all the best and wish that our beloved Panayia be with them to help and guide them. I forgot to include this beautiful saying in my list. Thanks for reminding me of it.

Effie

Dearest Effie,

I thought farewell saying can be a greeting too. Since Paul asked how we Orthodox greet each other. Maybe I am wrong but we greet when meeting and we greet when we leave. Enlighten me if I am wrong, please.

Panagia mazi sou, is one of my beloved sayings because my mom said it to us always when we would go to school, or out, or somewhere without her - therefore entrusting us to Panagia. I miss her voice saying that and the feeling when hearing that blessing. (Grandmothers also said "Na pas me ton Kalo!" (May you go with the Good One - God)). Also some nuns I speak on the phone also tell me at the end "Panagia mazi sou". And I know also other Orthodox mothers that when their children are leaving for a short period they say Panagia mazi sou. My dad says- 'May you have blessings' and also "You have my blessings' and "God be with you".

There are many greetings and blessings that I know from my grandparents but I do not have time right now to write them. Sorry.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Dearest Effie,

I thought farewell saying can be a greeting too. Since Paul asked how we Orthodox greet each other. Maybe I am wrong but we greet when meeting and we greet when we leave. Enlighten me if I am wrong, please.

Panagia mazi sou, is one of my beloved sayings because my mom said it to us always when we would go to school, or out, or somewhere without her - therefore entrusting us to Panagia. I miss her voice saying that and the feeling when hearing that blessing. (Grandmothers also said "Na pas me ton Kalo!" (May you go with the Good One - God)). Also some nuns I speak on the phone also tell me at the end "Panagia mazi sou". And I know also other Orthodox mothers that when their children are leaving for a short period they say Panagia mazi sou. My dad says- 'May you have blessings' and also "You have my blessings' and "God be with you".

There are many greetings and blessings that I know from my grandparents but I do not have time right now to write them. Sorry.

Να πας με το καλο - May you go with the good one (God).
Yes, everyone says that here.

Να εχεις την ευχην μου - You have my blessing - as your dad says - this always makes me feel so wonderful and I try to be a better person. Some people say this instead of "Thank you".

Also - να'σαι καλα which means not "Be good!" but May you be well or all things will be well for you.

Have you noticed Nina, that all these old sayings are very positive. Even when someone was not feeling 100% they always said (and still do) Δοξα το Θεο - Glory to God. Try and keep on being sick when you constantly say "Glory to God" - you just can't.

Effie

[Nina]

Have you noticed Nina, that all these old sayings are very positive. Even when someone was not feeling 100% they always said (and still do) Δοξα το Θεο - Glory to God. Try and keep on being sick when you constantly say "Glory to God" - you just can't.

Effie

They still do that. All the pious Orthodox and the monastics I know say that even in the worst moments of their life. Because the focus is Christ and Paradise instead of this illusionary life. I wish I could have the same strength to glorify God always. God willing.

[Andreas Moran]

Farewell greetings have been mentioned. 'Fare well' itself is a wish for the person to be safe as he goes. 'Goodbye', of course, is, 'God be wi' ye' - God be with you. Far better than the awful, 'take care' we hear today. I mean - as though you're not going to be careful; and in any case it is God Who 'takes care' of us, not us.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Farewell greetings have been mentioned. 'Fare well' itself is a wish for the person to be safe as he goes. 'Goodbye', of course, is, 'God be wi' ye' - God be with you. Far better than the awful, 'take care' we hear today. I mean - as though you're not going to be careful; and in any case it is God Who 'takes care' of us, not us.

Andreas, one thing I am becoming more and more aware of the older I get, is that seemingly meaningless words and actions often have something wonderful behind them - something that people are no longer aware of. i.e. Goodbye = God be wi'ye.

This is also true of the many traditions in our church. I used to find that old men and women did some things that seemed meaningless to me. But the more I read and research our religion, the more I find that they are acting in accordance with the teachings of our Church.

In a monthly magazine that I receive there was an article about the meaning of the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". I threw the magazine out but I will try and find a copy of the meaning of this carol on the Internet.

All the words in this carol are symbolic of religion and the birth of Christ.

Effie

[Effie Ganatsios]

Just found this :

Partridge in a pear tree Jesus Christ, symbolized as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from helpless nestlings.

Two turtle doves Old & New Testaments
Three French Hens Faith, hope, charity
Four Calling birds The Four Gospels
Five Golden Rings The Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
Six geese a laying Six days of creation
Seven Swans a swimming 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids a-milking 8 Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten Lords a-leaping 10 Commandments
Eleven pipers piping The 11 faithful disciples
12 drummers drumming 12 articles of the Apostles Creed.

From another site :

Religious Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the 3 Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

[Andreas Moran]

Many thanks for that, Effie. So much of the English language (at least as I grew up with it) is based on the KJV Bible ('apple of my eye', 'rod of iron', 'from strength to strength') and the BCP ('peace in our time'), but of course the connection is lost now. One tradition is that the quarter days for paying rent are Lady Day (25 March), Nativity of St John the Baptist (24 June), Feast of Archangel Michael (29 September), and Christmas Day. So prominent were these feasts in England that, at a time when calendars and diaries were rare or unknown, people would remember when their rent was due.

[Paul]

...writing Amharic in English is quite challenging. Remind me not to try again.


I would like to ask you could you do it again, or know of someone who may be able to?

I've heard these beautiful songs on Youtube, I think the name of the singer is something like Mitrenesh.
It says they are Ethiopian Orthodox, I would very much like to know what she is singing.

Here's a link to one of the songs, I'll post more links to others if you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg4zbiXkdF4

Do you know anyone who may be interested in translating them into English?

[Vitalis]

The old ritualists say "Peace be with you" or "Peace be unto your house" when entering the dwelling of another Christian after doing the Prayer of the Publican. Only then they greet each other.