Gift for priest?

[Mary E.]

Hi everyone,

I have been journeying into Orthodoxy from Roman Catholocism during the past year.  My daughters and I will be received into the Church through chrismation this Sunday, Feb. 24.  Is it customary to give the priest a gift?  If so, any suggestions?  Also, what would be an appropriate gift for our sponsor?

Thanks!

Mary E.

[choy]

Hi everyone,

I have been journeying into Orthodoxy from Roman Catholocism during the past year.  My daughters and I will be received into the Church through chrismation this Sunday, Feb. 24.  Is it customary to give the priest a gift?  If so, any suggestions?  Also, what would be an appropriate gift for our sponsor?

Thanks!

Mary E.

It is always good to give a priest a gift.  Icons are nice gifts, or books if you know there is a particular author, book or subject he would like to read on.  Or if you really love your priest and you have a ton of cash to spare, new vestments are always appreciated.

[Michał Kalina]

LEGO.

[LizaSymonenko]

You can just give him a cash donation, gift card or a good bottle of wine. 

As for the sponsors, give them a memento...something that will remind them of the day for years to come.

I was once given a fancy pen....which I used to sign the official baptism papers....and every time I used it I would remember my godchild.

Another time I was given a picture frame....and later came a photo of me holding the infant to place in the frame.

Other times, I got nothing....and it was fine.

Simply being a godparent is more than enough of a "gift".

[choy]

LEGO.

If that is the case, he might like Jabba's Palace.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267062/Lego-accused-racism-Turkish-community-say-toy-offensive-based-mosque.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

[Michał Kalina]

LEGO.

If that is the case, he might like Jabba's Palace.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267062/Lego-accused-racism-Turkish-community-say-toy-offensive-based-mosque.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

+1

[LizaSymonenko]

How are the Lego posts helpful to the OP? 

I think few priests have time to sit around and play with Legos.

By the way, Mary E., welcome to the Forum!

I hope you will enjoy it here....and congratulations on your upcoming chrismation!  You must be very excited!!!!

[choy]

How are the Lego posts helpful to the OP? 

Maybe the priest likes Lego.

I think few priests have time to sit around and play with Legos.

I think it was on Good Guys Wear Black where there was a post that is an advice to seminarians headed for the priesthood.  One of the advices was to get a non-religious hobby.  Otherwise, the non-stop theology will burn them out.  Lego could be one of them.

[Michał Kalina]

If I were a priest and every time the gift I receive would be some church-related stuff I would go insane.

I'd really appreciate something less serious and I like LEGOs.

[Mary E.]

Thank you everyone for the replies!  I am thinking of a gift certificate to a restaurant or maybe cash. I'm not good at picking out wine!  And the priest doesn't seem like the LEGO type but thanks for the interesting suggestion! 

I am very excited - it's like we are at the edge of the deep end of a swimming pool and are about to jump in.  This forum has been very helpful, so thank you everyone.  Looking forward to more conversations here.

Mary

[choy]

If I were a priest and every time the gift I receive would be some church-related stuff I would go insane.

I'd really appreciate something less serious and I like LEGOs.

I can imagine a priest's home having more icons than his parish

[choy]

Thank you everyone for the replies!  I am thinking of a gift certificate to a restaurant or maybe cash. I'm not good at picking out wine!  And the priest doesn't seem like the LEGO type but thanks for the interesting suggestion! 

I am very excited - it's like we are at the edge of the deep end of a swimming pool and are about to jump in.  This forum has been very helpful, so thank you everyone.  Looking forward to more conversations here.

Mary

I'm sure he'll appreciate whatever you give.

[Michał Kalina]

Imagine you have 20 catechumans in a year, everyone chooses St. Tikhon as a patron saint and everyone prestents you St. Tikhon's icon as a gift...

[LizaSymonenko]

A person suggested an icon be given as a gift.  Who knows...perhaps it's a new church, and in need of icons.

[Asteriktos]

A book might work, if you know what kind he'd enjoy reading, and can guess at what he might not have yet. I've given books several times as gifts, and they were generally well received, especially since, even if the priest doesn't use it, he can always put it in his library and use it at a later time as a reference or give it to someone else who'd like it.

And the priest doesn't seem like the LEGO type but thanks for the interesting suggestion! 

Ask him if he's an AFOL, then you'll know!

How are the Lego posts helpful to the OP? 

I think few priests have time to sit around and play with Legos.

First, the plural of LEGO is just LEGO, not legos.    Second, lawyers, doctors, and all sorts of people play with LEGO. I see nothing absurd in a priest having time to play with LEGO, especially if he does so instead of equally trivial past-times like watching sports or exercizing or reading theology boards. I would think a more substantial objection is that it's a pricey hobby to be involved in.

[LBK]

Wine. Coffee. Cognac. Chocolate. Yet to come across an Orthodox priest (married or monastic) that'll say no to these.

[Mary E.]

Would it be proper to re-gift my husband's extensive collection of LEGO?

Just kidding.

The coffee, chocolates & cognac sounds nice.  I also thought of a book called "The Seven Deadly Sins" which he might like because he says everyone has one major area which they are working on, which the book addresses.  He does have a lot of books, though.  I would have no idea how to pick out an icon for someone.

[choy]

If your jurisdiction said Russian or Ukrainian, I would have said Vodka

[KBN1]

Wine. Coffee. Cognac. Chocolate. Yet to come across an Orthodox priest (married or monastic) that'll say no to these.

This.

[Orthodox11]

Wine. Coffee. Cognac. Chocolate. Yet to come across an Orthodox priest (married or monastic) that'll say no to these.

With the exception of coffee, I have a constant supply of all of the above from my bishop who is always given them but neither drinks nor eats chocolate First time for everything.

[LBK]

Wine. Coffee. Cognac. Chocolate. Yet to come across an Orthodox priest (married or monastic) that'll say no to these.

With the exception of coffee, I have a constant supply of all of the above from my bishop who is always given them but neither drinks nor eats chocolate First time for everything.

First time, all right, that's shocking! Poor man! 

[Dominika]

If I were a priest and every time the gift I receive would be some church-related stuff I would go insane.

I'd really appreciate something less serious and I like LEGOs.

+1

That's enough that priests receive some church stuff (mainly icons) from the congregation or bishop for their e.g anniversaries of priesthood. It can be something more practical (chocolate, a book, wine - provided that he drinks alcohol) or a bit not serious, but still being practical like LEGO (that's not so stupid: e.g I love LEGO and if even the preist don't like it, it can be for his children).

And, in my case, that's the priest who gives me some church stuff, not vice versa.
When I was chrismated, I just gave him a box chocolates. It's very universal, because most people  like chocolate, and even if not, it can be for his wife or children. Although, I can say, the priest was a bit confused that I have a present for him.

[Russell]

I try to make something tasty to give him, that he can enjoy with his family, like
Banana bread or Cranberry bread

[Αριστοκλής]

Mary E.

Do you have a budgeted dollar amount in mind?

[podkarpatska]

Imagine you have 20 catechumans in a year, everyone chooses St. Tikhon as a patron saint and everyone prestents you St. Tikhon's icon as a gift...

I can think of something a bishop would give that priest with 20 converts a tear  - a promotion! 

[biro]

I try to make something tasty to give him, that he can enjoy with his family, like
Banana bread or Cranberry bread

Sounds good!

I would also consider a basket of fruits from the local market.

[mabsoota]

i gave my priest (OO) once some anointing oil (mir / myron) from a romanian (EO) monastery.
he was really pleased with it!
ok, so u have to be passing by a church that sells monastery oil, so it may not be convenient.
otherwise chocolates are fine.

if you have a computer but no money, you can print out a really beautiful icon, personalised with some writing (typed if you are really good at the computer) from you at the bottom.
we copts range from the stingy paper-icon types, to the (awful) bling flashing light ones!
(u can guess which one i am!)

it is less common to give gifts in OO churches generally, so don't take my money-saving solutions too seriously for an EO priest.
if u have lots of money but are not sure what to get, then maybe get a small gift (e.g. something edible for the family) and put the rest of the money in the church box on sunday.

ok, so i am rubbish at gifts.
the last gift i got my God mother was an icon style fridge magnet, don't copy me too much.

[Mary E.]

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies. 

I am sad to say that the chrismation will not go through.  My teenage daughter decided to stay Roman Catholic, and the priest thought it might be best for family unity if we all worshipped in one place.  So I will find a liturgy that nourishes me within my own tradition.

Thanks again for your replies and blessings to all of you.

Mary E.

[biro]

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies. 

I am sad to say that the chrismation will not go through.  My teenage daughter decided to stay Roman Catholic, and the priest thought it might be best for family unity if we all worshipped in one place.  So I will find a liturgy that nourishes me within my own tradition.

Thanks again for your replies and blessings to all of you.

Mary E.

I wish you happiness where you are.

[Father H]

If I were a priest and every time the gift I receive would be some church-related stuff I would go insane.

I'd really appreciate something less serious and I like LEGOs.

I can imagine a priest's home having more icons than his parish

And more wall crosses.   

[Mary E.]

Thank you, Biro.

[choy]

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies. 

I am sad to say that the chrismation will not go through.  My teenage daughter decided to stay Roman Catholic, and the priest thought it might be best for family unity if we all worshipped in one place.  So I will find a liturgy that nourishes me within my own tradition.

Thanks again for your replies and blessings to all of you.

Mary E.

I really admire Orthodox priests because of this.

This must be God's will. You are in my prayers.

[Mary E.]

Choy, thank you for your support during this sad time.

[podkarpatska]

If I were a priest and every time the gift I receive would be some church-related stuff I would go insane.

I'd really appreciate something less serious and I like LEGOs.

I can imagine a priest's home having more icons than his parish

And more wall crosses.   

On a serious note my late father, an Orthodox priest of over sixty years' service , accumulated many religious items as gifts over the course of his career. On his passing we gave many away to younger clergy who were his friends or who were inspired by him or to people touched by his ministry. We were able to remember how an item related to the particular person. It was a profoundly moving time for us and a beautiful way of "paying forward" the kindness of those who gave the items to my dad.

[Tags:]

OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Convert Issues (Moderator: Thomas) > Topic: Gift for priest?