Holy Vodka?

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Why would a priest bless vodka?

But I suppose if he did, it could technically be called that.

Still, there doesn’t seem to be much sense to it.
 
Russian for water is вода “voda”, and for vodka is водка “vodka”.

Standing russian joke.
 
malphono said:
Is this a joke? If so, I don’t get it.
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Many Russian ikon painters that use the egg tempera method use vodka as a “setting agent” when mixing the egg yolk with the powdered pigments.

It is common, among some Orthodox ikon painters, to bless the materials that are going to used to paint an ikon. This would include the vodka as well.

hope this helps…
 
Patchunky said:
Many Russian ikon painters that use the egg tempera method use vodka as a “setting agent” when mixing the egg yolk with the powdered pigments.

It is common, among some Orthodox ikon painters, to bless the materials that are going to used to paint an ikon. This would include the vodka as well.

hope this helps…
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OK, so it’s a Slavic thing. Gotcha.

This kind of reminds me of a Maronite bishop who once referred to 'arak (a clear dry liquor of Lebanon and Syria made from fermented grapes (or sometimes, figs), and flavored with anise, similar to Turkish raki or Greek ouzo) as “water blessed in the shadow of the Cedars.” Oh, BTW, 'arak is not used in iconography. Only as an apéritif. 😉
 
Aramis said:
Russian for water is вода “voda”, and for vodka is водка “vodka”.

Standing russian joke.
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It’s no joke! There’s an actual etymological relationship.
Also look at Gaelic, and their word for “water”…10 points for this one 😉
 
Spirithound said:
It’s no joke! There’s an actual etymological relationship.
Also look at Gaelic, and their word for “water”…10 points for this one 😉
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I’m well aware of the relationship… it’s still a standing joke to serve one instead of the other… especially when dealing with non-russian speakers.

It’s one of those things you actually get warned about in Russian I, simply so you don’t fall prey to it…

the use in iconography is not something that was in the texts, but was discussed over папиросий with my instructor.
 
Aramis said:
I’m well aware of the relationship… it’s still a standing joke to serve one instead of the other… especially when dealing with non-russian speakers.

It’s one of those things you actually get warned about in Russian I, simply so you don’t fall prey to it…

the use in iconography is not something that was in the texts, but was discussed over папиросий with my instructor.
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Ah! I understand more fully now 😉
 
When you visit Russian monasteries, you’re given a shot of vodka, even on a fast day.

In Greek monasteries, it’s ouzo.

Romanian ones serve slivovitz (plum brandy).
 
KephasAugustine said:
Why would a priest bless vodka?

But I suppose if he did, it could technically be called that.

Still, there doesn’t seem to be much sense to it.
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In the Western Church there are blessings for almost everything that can be blessed. I believe there is even a blessing for beer.
 
I don’t claim to be a theologian, but I think I prefer just the traditional wine. Holy vodka sounds wrong.
 
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