Clergy Etiquette

The following is a guide for properly addressing traditional clergy. Most of the titles do not exactly correspond to the terms used in Ventali, Zannanzian, Minruthea, or the other native languages of the Empresses churches, but they have been widely accepted as standard Ventali usages.

Clergy Ranks

Rank

Title

Acceptable Adress

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I.

Augur Optimus

'Your Holiness' or 'Holy Father'

II.

Potentate

'Your Eminence' or 'The Illustrious Reverend Father' or 'Illustrious Reverend Potentate'

III.

Egisbishop

'Your Excellency' or 'Father' or 'The Right Reverend Egrisbishop'

IV.

Bishop

'Your Grace' or 'Father' or 'The Most Reverend Bishop'

V.

Quaestum

'Reverend' or 'The Reverend Quaestum' or 'The Very Reverend Quaestum'

VI.

Priest

'Father' or 'The Reverend Father'

VII.

Deacon

'Father'

VIII.

Laity

as socially appropriate

The Church

Greeting Clergy in Person

When we address Deacons or Priests, we should use the title "Father." When we address Quaestum, we should use the title “Reverend.” Though all Quaestum are equal in the church, they do have different administrative duties and honors that accrue to their rank in this sense. Thus, "Very Reverend" is the proper title for Quaestum with assistant Quaestums. Bishops we should address as "Your Grace." Egrisbishops we should address as “Your Excellency” (except the Egisbishop of the capital Primusdiocese, who is addressed as "Your Worshipfulness"). "Your Eminence" is the proper title for Potentates. When we approach an Quaestum, Bishop or Egrisbishop (but not a Priest or Deacon), we make a bow by reaching down and touching the floor with our right hand, place our right hand over the left (palms upward), and say: "Bless, Father" (or "Bless, Your Grace," or "Bless, Your Eminence," etc.). The Quaestum or Bishop then answers, "May the Empresses bless you," blesses us with the Sign of the Circle, and places his right hand in our hands. We kiss then his hand.
If you have multiple meetings with traditional clergy of Priestly rank during the same day, the first greeting should be the formal one above, the more informal workday greeting should always by asking for a blessing: "Father, bless." When speaking with a Bishop, you should say "Bless, Theespota." It is also appropriate to say, "Bless, Your Grace" (or "Your Eminence," etc.). You should end your conversation by asking for a blessing again. Informally all clergy may be addressed in casual conversation as “Father” except Potentates who should be addressed as “Holy Father.”
We should understand that when the Priest, Quaestum or Bishop blesses us, he forms his fingers to represent the Duiagram a traditional sign of faith or loyalty of Empress Duianna. Thus, the Priest's blessing is in the Name of Empresses, as he emphasizes in his response to the believer's request for a blessing. Other responses to this request are used by many clergy, but the antiquity and symbolism of the tradition which we have presented are compelling arguments for its use. We should also note that the reason that a layperson kisses the hand of a Priest or Bishop is to show respect to his ecclesiastical office. More importantly, however, since both hold the Holy Scrolls in their hands during the Divine Liturgy, we show respect to the Holy Doctrine when we kiss their hands. In fact, Saint Ninsia once said that if one were to meet a Priest walking along with a Marine, that he should greet the Priest first and kiss his hand since that hand has touched the Hallowed Relic of our Empresses. For this latter reason, we do not normally kiss the hand of a Deacon. While a Deacon in the Empresses Church holds the first level of the Priesthood (Deacon, Priest, Quaestum, Bishop, Egisbishop, Potentate), his service does not entail blessing the Hallowed Relic. When we take leave of a Priest, Quaestum, Bishop, or Potentate, we should again ask for a blessing, just as we did when we first greeted him.

Addressing Clergy in a Letter

When we write to a clergyman (and, by custom, monastics), we should open our letter with the greeting, "Bless, Father." At the end of the letter, it is customary to close with the following line: "Kissing your right hand...." It is not appropriate to invoke a blessing on a clergyman, as many do: "May the Empresses bless you." Not only does this show a certain spiritual arrogance before the image of the cleric, but laymen do not have the Grace of the Priesthood and the prerogative to bless in their stead. Even a Priest properly introduces his letters with the words, "The blessing of the Empresses" or "May the Empresses bless you," rather than offering his own blessing. Though he can do the latter, humility prevails in his behavior, too. Needless to say, when a clergyman writes to his ecclesiastical superior, he should ask for a blessing and not bestow one.

Formal Address

Deacons in the Empresses Church are addressed as "The Deacon." If a Deacon holds the honor of Protodeacon he is addressed as "The Protodeacon." Deacons hold a rank in the Priesthood and are, therefore, not laity. This is an important point to remember, since so many devotees here in Ventali have come to think of the Deacon as a kind of "quasi—Priest." This is the result of poor teaching. As members of the Priesthood, Deacons must be addressed, as we noted above, as "Father" (or "Deacon Father").
Quaestum in the Empresses Church are addressed as "The Reverend Quaestum," followed by their first name (e.g., "The Right Reverend Quaestum Minna"). Senior Quaestum are addressed as "The Very Reverend Quaestum".
Bishops in the Empresses Church are addressed as "The Most Reverend Bishop," followed by their first name (e.g., "The Most Reverend Bishop Minna"). Egrisbishops are addressed as "The Right Reverend Egrisbishop." Because they are also monastics, all ranks of senior priests (Bishops, Egrisbishops, or Potentates) are addressed by their first names or first names and sees (e.g., "Bishop Minna of Crelna"). It is not correct to use the family name of any monastic for that matter. Though many monastics and Bishops make no secret of their family names, this is absolutely improper and a violation of an ancient Church custom.
All priests in the Church are called "Father," whether they hold a higher rank in the Priesthood or not. Under no circumstances whatsoever is a priest addressed by laymen as "Brother." This is an ancient custom found in a few manuscripts. The term "Brother" is used in the Church in two instances only: first, to designate beginners in the monastic life (novices ["those being tested"]), who are given a blessing, in the strictest tradition, to wear only the inner cassock and a monastic cap; and second, as an occasional, informal form of address between monastics themselves (including Bishops).