In Orthodox Christian practice, it is customary to take the blessing of a priest on any important matters that do not negatively affect spiritual life. It can be a blessing for the prayer rule, work, wedding, travel and other actions vital for a person.
The blessing of the priest symbolizes a kind of permission to complete some work. In addition, the blessing of a presbyter means the granting of some divine help, the Lord’s help for a good beginning.
The blessing of the Orthodox priest is not given for sinful undertakings, because the very essence of this action is the invocation of the grace of the Holy Spirit on a person. That is, through blessing, the priest asks God to send help to the Christian in his good undertaking. That is why the blessing of the priest must be treated with special reverence.
A priest can bless a person at any time, regardless of whether the priest is in the church or not, while the vestment of a priest or a bishop in spiritual clothes is also not related to the act of blessing.
In order to ask for a blessing from a priest, you need to contact a shepherd by name, for example: “Father (name), bless” or “Father, bless”. In this case, you can simply ask for blessings or specifically say what needs to be done. For example, you can explain your desire to the priest to marry, get a job, take a blessing to study or surgery. Church blessing can extend to different aspects of the life and work of the believer, if they do not contradict the divine commandments. To receive the blessing, the hands are folded right on top of the left, palms up:
The priest overshadows the cross with the sign of prayer, after which he puts his hand in the palm of the faithful. A Christian should accept this blessing as from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, the Orthodox believer kisses the hand of the priest (as if applying to the hand of the Savior). Some clergymen do not allow their hand to be kissed, but after the blessing they lay it on the head of the person asking.
The Holy Fathers of the Church say that through blessing they are directed to good undertakings and replenished by the strength and actions of man, as God's creations.
Orthodox Christians, having their spiritual father, resort to their confessor for advice on all vital issues. If you wish to perform any spiritual deeds (prayer, fasting, worthy preparation for communion, etc.), a blessing is requested. On the whole, the whole life of a believer, his life should correspond to the high destiny of the person, which consists in the pursuit of holiness. That is why blessing, as asking for God's help, is so important for a believer.
