Clergy Etiquette

Information on the forms of addresses and salutations for Orthodox Christian Clergy.

Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy

The Clergy of the Orthodox church are set apart through the Sacrament of Ordination or the "laying-on-of hands" and are divided into three orders:

1. Deacons; 2. Presbyters or Priest ( hiereas );
3. Bishops (Episkopos)

An Orthodox presbyter is either married (usually serving as a parish priest) or celibate, generally belonging to a monastic order (hieromonachos) called "Archimandrite". Bishops are usually chosen from the ranks of the Archimandrites.

An Orthodox bishop, depending on his jurisdiction and rank, may be called Bishop (usually auxiliary to an Archbishop) ; Metropolitan (head of a large city or a Diocese) ; Archbishop (head of an Orthodox country or capital city); Patriarch (head of an ancient or ethnic Church). The bishops of the ancient Sees of Rome and Alexandria are also called Popes. Orthodox clergy of all orders wear the cassock ( rasso ) in public, but when participating in a church service wear the the vestment of their own order and rank. In some Balkan countries (including Greece) they also wear a black cylinder-like hat ( kalimafi ) on top of which the celibates (except deacons) wear a black veil dropping down the back ( Epanokalimafkon ).

The form of address for Orthodox clergy varies according to order, rank, and level of education. The most common forms are the following:

Gr. = Greek Sl. = Slavonic

Addressee's Title	Form of Address	Salutation
1. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople	His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Gr. Panagiotatos Sl. Sviatieishyi Ro. Sanctitatea Sa	Your All Holiness Panagiotate Vashe Sviaschenstvo Sanctitatea Voastră
2. Other Patriarchs	His Beatitude the Patriarch of ________ Gr. Makariotatos Sl. Ego Blazhenstvo Ro. Prea Fericirea Sa	Your Beatitude, Makariotatev Vashe Blazhenstvo Prea Fericirea Voastră
3. Archbishops of independent Churches, Greece, Cyprus, etc.	His Beatitude, the Archbishop of ___ Prea Fericirea Sa	(as above)
4. Archbishops of Crete, America, Australia, England (under Ecumenical Patriarchat	His Eminence Gr. Sevasmiotatos , Sl. Ego Vysoko Preosviashchenstvo Ro. Înalt Prea Sfinţia Sa	Your Eminence Sevasmiotate Vashe Vysokopreos- viashchenstvo Înalt Prea Sfinţia Voastră
5. Metropolitans	(as above)	(as above)
6. Titular Metropolitan	His Excellency. Gr. Panierotatos Sl. Ego Preosviashchenstvo Ro. Înalt Prea Sfinţia Sa	Your Excellency, Panierotate Vashe Preosviashscentstvo Înalt Prea Sfinţia Voastră
7. Bishop	The Right Reverend (Rt. Rev.) Bishop of ____ Gr. Theophilestatos . Sl. Preosviashchenyishy Vladyka Ro. Prea Sfinţia Sa	Your Grace, Theophilestate , Vladyka Prea Sfinţia Voastra
8. Titular Bishop	(as above)	(as above)
9. Archimandrite	The Very Reverend Father. Gr. Apanosiotatos Sl. Otets Protopresvyter Gr. Panosiologiotatos Ro. Înalt Prea Cuvioşia Sa	Dear Reverend, or Dear Father Panasiotate Dorogoe Panasiologiotate Înalt Prea Cuvioase
10. Presbyter (Priest) -married -married theologian -celibate -celibate theologian	Reverend Father Gr. Aidesimotatos Gr. Aidesimologiotatos Sl. Otets Protoierei Gr. Osiotatos Gr. Osiologiotatos Ro. Prea Cucernicia Sa	Dear Reverend, or Dear Father Aidesimotate Aidesimologiotate Uvazhaemyi Osiotate Osiologiotate Prea Cucernice Părinte
11. Deacon -Theologian	Reverend Father Gr. Evlavestatos Gr. Ierologiotatos Sl. Ierodiakon Ro. Cucernicia Sa	Dear Reverend, or Dear Father Evlavestate Ierologiotate Bogoslov Cucernice Părinte Diacon
12. Abbot	The Right Reverend Abbot Gr. Igoumenos Sl. Igoumen Ro. Prea Cuvioşia Sa	Dear Reverend Father, or Dear Father Agie Igoumene Bogoslov Prea Cuvioşia Voastra Părinte Stareţ
13. Abbess	The Reverend MotherSuperior Gr. Igoumeni Ro. Prea Cuvioşia Sa	Reverend Mother Hagia Igoumeni Prea Cuvioşia Voasta Maică Satreţă
Brother Gr. Adelphos Sl. Monach Fr. Frate (Monah or Călugăr)	Dear Brother Adelphe Frate
15. Nun	Sister Gr. Adelphi Sl. Monaschka Ro. Cuvioasă Sora (Monahie or Călugăriţa)	Dear Sister Adelphi Monashka Soră
16. Spiritual Father	Gr. Geron Sl. Vladyka Ro. (Prea) Cucernice Părinte Duhovnic	Geronta Vladyka Părinte Duhovnic

Clergy Etiquette

Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy

1. Deacons; 2. Presbyters or Priest ( hiereas ); 3. Bishops (Episkopos)

Ad Book Misprint

1. Deacons; 2. Presbyters or Priest ( hiereas );
3. Bishops (Episkopos)