The Orthodox Understanding of Vaskania1 or the Evil Eye

Vasilikis S. Vasilopoulos The Meaning of Vaskania The word vaskania, or the evil eye (, ) is ancient and comes from the ancient Greek verb, vaskaino (), which originally meant envy and I hurt someone motivated by envy. Then the verb was extended to mean malign, denigrate, insult someone because slanderers and insulters are above all malignant and envious people. It goes without saying that the damage proceeding from envy manifests upon the victim with a visible action such as a beating, theft, injury, murder (physical or moral), slander, and generally every other harm that comes from backbiting or whichever action of the envious person. The Apostle Paul uses the verb evaskanen () with the same concept (Gal. 3:1). St. Paul was saying that some envious enemy of his and his work had persuaded the Galatians to depart from the Christian faith by using slanders and perverted teachings that he presented as genuinely Christian. This resulted in harming them in the matter of their salvation. This is also why vaskania means envy or evil proceeding from some crafty act of an envious person in ecclesiastical language. Here, lets remember the famous phrase ill fate ( ) which is often said about unpleasant situations (illness, death, misfortune, etc.). This phrase is not Christian and is not appropriate on the lips of true Christians who naturally do not believe in the ancient pagan Divine Chance, nor fate, destiny or kismet.2 Christians only believe in the one, true Triune God and trust in His providence. However, the above phrase helps us understand that vaskania is a negative act and energy in the mens life and it comes from envy, jealousy, malice and the harmful power and impact of contrary persons, either physical or spiritual, i.e. humans or demons. Through the Churchs teachings, we know the Devil is mans envious and baskanos enemy above all, and then his co-workers; demons and humans. This is why the Church renders every evil that happens to the direct or indirect energy or impact of the devil. For only good and beneficial gifts proceed from God. Our Gospel explicitly confirms this: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (Ja. 1:17). Thus, some indications that could be made about vaskania are: 1) Vaskania does not depend on us or more correctly, the victim of vaskania, namely, the person who underwent vaskania. Rather, it comes from other people whether voluntarily or involuntarily. 2) In many cases, we dont know much about it; about how it is formed and manifested and about the sources of its origin. 3) The prayers of the Church which are listed at the end of this booklet are our only way of protection and defense. Misinterpretations of Vaskania From the times of antiquity, vaskania has been connected with what we now call the evil eye ( ). Today, when we hear the word vaskania we immediately comprehend evil eye and nothing else. Vaskaniathe belief that an evil person can harm the one envied with his gaze aloneis an old superstition. Of course, this is not correct and our Church doesnt accept this belief.

Certainly our Church has prayers that mention (Evil Eye). These references are easily explained but also need caution to avoid misunderstandings. The phrase (envious eye) comes from Holy Scripture3 and means the envious person; evil, uncharitable and ruthless (Prov. 23:6). Whereas the opposite phrase, (good eye) means the good person, merciful, etc. (Prov. 22:9). Lets not forget that in ancient Greek, the eye is also called (opsis). As well, in Holy Scriptues (eye), (opsis), (ophthalmos), and (eidos) are also called mans appearance, his appearance, and the whole man. Firstly, it means the envious man when he sees his victim and envies him; this is the root of evil that could follow. Therefore, this envious eye, , is undesirable to everything. Subsequently, the phrase was extended to humans who, as subordinates of Satan, dealt with magic, divination, conjurations, and everything related. And this eye of theirs is vaskanos and undesirable. Finally, the misanthropic devils envious intrigue is also called (envious eye); figuratively of course. Our Church on the one hand doesnt accept the evil eye and on the other hand, it is referred to in its prayers against vaskania. This is not a contradiction but rather a separation of two different things. The so-called Christians who do their cross but then run to conjurations and magic are in contradiction and confusion. The Church understands vaskania as envy and the evil people do driven by envy. This evil could be a harmful act, a slander, a curse, a demonic energy or influence. The Church does not accept that the simple look of a man can magically cause evil to someone else from a distance. In his Interpretation of Galatians, St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite characteristically writes that St. Paul uses the word vaskanias and envy, not because envy itself has such power to effect these things, but because the people harming the Galatiansand generally their fellow manwere driven by their envy and vaskania. Thus some harmful human or demonic energy required mediation. This is why the following superstitions are unacceptable for people of the Church: the belief that someone is vaskanos just because he was born on a certain day; or because he has certain special characteristics on his face; or that one is particularly prone to vaskaniai.e. he can easily have the eye put on himor he can feel sick and indisposed because someone supposedly put the eye on him and other such nonsense. Consequently, we will not make any reference to the so-called made by lay people (such as invocations, hand gestures, beads, etc.) to supposedly remove vaskania. These lay people empirically learn these things from others and empirically apply them and no one knows the how or the why; since the origin of this is obscure and uncertain. This empirical way of curing the evil eye is called and has no relation with the Churchs teaching. It evidently comes from undetermined folk and ancient idolatrous beliefs and practices; this is why it is unacceptable. These pagan residues have no place amongst Christians, nor do they honour our modern progressive era. They are manifestations of ignorance, unbelief and paganism. In wanting to help her members, the Church behaved with much condescension and included words relating to vaskania in her prayers; but the Church gave these words the correct meaning. Unfortunately, many times the erroneous folk belief prevails and is imposed, thereby slowly altering the genuine Orthodox doctrine. The common folk are right in this point only: their conviction that vaskania is manifested by either envy and jealousy or malice and hate and generally from negative feelings for some person. Here, the phrase Bless and do not curse (Rom. 12:14) could be cited because vaskania has some of its roots, if not all, linked with the spirit of cursing, the spirit of evil that always comes from the wicked devil.

The ancient idolatrous peoples and many people today, not only named calumny, envy and slander vaskania, but even the evil that they thought it could cause someone with only a simple look. The latter is certainly a superstition and, as already mentioned, it is not accepted by the Church. But we will now examine here the viewpoint of the ancient idolater and their contemporary remnants. Many ancient GreeksAristotle, Democritus, Plutarchdealt with vaskania and undertook to give a psychological interpretation to this phenomena because they believed that (the evil eye) had the power to assail all animate beings, but especially people who were distinguished in beauty, spiritual qualifications, progress, and successes in general. They also believed that vaskania even hits inanimate objects. Children were considered the easiest victims of vaskania and it was believed that many times the evil eye made them suffer and they had been put under the spell particularly when the parents didnt know the cause. The Orthodox View The Church considers vaskaniawith the meaning of a look alone can magically have a deleterious impact from a distance (which can sometimes also be linked by some word or inner thought of admiration or envy)a superstition. The ecclesiastical writers and Church Fathers did not deny real vaskania; namely envy and the harmful energy that emanates from it. Particularly, they attach the cases of vaskania that have no apparent origins to the influence of demonic energy. In general, they regarded vaskania as the work of the devil and an act of envy. St. Basil the Great wrote a treatise called Concerning Envy and Vaskania. In St. Basils exorcisms, we find the phrase, Who shall bind you that dares with envy to plot against His image ( ). The Church also composed a special prayer against vaskanias, in the sense of envy. This prayer is used in dispensation for people who think they or a loved one have been given the eye. The Church also has other prayers that mention protection from , namely, the envious person, as we will see below. We also see that vaskania means envy to the Apostle Paul. He writes to the Galatians Senseless Galatians! Who then bewitched (=envied and deceived) you not to obey the truth? (3:1). In his Epistle to the Romans, St. Ignatius of Antioch condemns vaskania, writing: Let not envy () find a dwelling-place among you (7:2). The subject of vaskania from the Orthodox perspective has been clarified with everything mentioned and explained thus far. It also explains the expressions such as vaskania can be fatal in some cases: it doesnt mean that someone can kill someone else with his look. This is a senseless, magical, pagan and unchristian perception because then half the earths population could have been killed without war, crime and murder weapons. But it is understood that in some cases, the person who envies and hates his fellow man is able to exterminate him bodily. Almost always, the envious person tries to exterminate his victim ethically-psychically. This is why the vaskanos and envious devil is principally named man slayer and misanthropic. Means of Protection

For those who feel they or a loved one are under the influence of vaskania, they must run to the spiritual priest to be blessed by the crosswhich has great power against evil spiritsand have the special prayer against vaskanias read for them. Many people have contrived various methods against vaskania, such as amulets (), for those under the eye to wear. The Church, attempting to protect its members from every delusion, does not permit Christians to use these charms (beads, leaves, flowers, ecclesiastical objects, etc.) because all these things presuppose a perception of magical function and protection; totally unchristian. Also, it is forbidden for lay people to use different exorcising words against the evil eye because all these folk methods, related viewpoints, and superstitions are a form of magic and paganism, as St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite relates in his book, On Christian Morality. Anything beyond the prayers of the Church constitutes a denial of faith. Every other exorcism removes the Grace of the Holy Spirit from the person and leaves him powerless in the face of the Evil Ones methods. Whoever uses exorcisms and talismans either for himself or his own people should know that he contaminates his baptism, showing lack of faith and impiety towards God. Consequently, instead of being protected from evil, he delivers himself to misanthropic influences. Of course, there are Christian talismans () which the faithful can and should use. The cross is a very effective talisman (). All Christians should wear the cross because the demons fear the power of the cross because the cross is the guardian of the whole world, according to the following tropario: The Cross is the guardian of the whole world; the Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the might of kings; the Cross is the support of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of angels and the wounding of demons. (Exapostilarion of the Exaltation of the Cross) There are of course other means of our faith by which we can invoke Gods power to ward off all evil. However, we should keep in mind that no sanctified means of the Church will help us without the indispensable presupposition of faith. We must have a solid, steadfast faith without doubts, in our Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings. And this faith is translated into works of faith: belief in the God-inspired words of Holy Scripture; implementing and following Gods commandments in our life; to go to Church regularly; fervent prayer; frequent confession and communion of the Immaculate Mysteries. Then, of course, no harm, intrigue, or vaskania can harm us, and mainly it cannot detract us from the faith and salvation of our souls. With prayer, we communicate with God. With confession, we are absolved from our sins which are a burden upon our soul and a wall that prevents Gods grace from sanctifying and protecting us. With Holy Communion, we are united with God Himself and we become gods by grace. These are the main sanctifying means and talismans () that the mother Church offers to all her faithful children. Starting from these things, always with our spiritual Fathers counsels, we must also use the rest: the sign of the Cross, prayers and exorcisms by a priest, the Lesser and Great Blessing of Waters, etc. So be careful and avoid every non-ecclesiastical means of sanctification; be careful of some talisman that certain cunning individuals present as from the Church, with pouches, leaves, exorcisms, small papers, bread rolls, panaceas, etc. They dupe the simpler people and exploit the religious feeling and insecurity of many through these means, with the purpose of desecrating the faith and obtaining easy money.

As mentioned, the Lesser Blessing of Waters is a significant aid. This service must be done every first of the month in all Christian parish churches. Of course, whoever is able and wants and desires, they are allowed to call a priest to celebrate the Blessing of Waters in their homes or stores. This is also a good, additional means of sanctification which in some cases is required to happen, always in accordance with our spiritual fathers suggestions and advice. During the Holy Water Service, through special prayers and the invocation of the Holy Spirit to descend, the priest blesses and immerses the venerable Cross into the water and the water is sanctified and becomes Holy Water. The priest again entreats the Almighty God so that the Holy Water becomes the healing of souls and bodies, as well as, the banishment of every hostile power. Then the priest sprinkles all the faithful in the church with this water. If this ceremony is performed in a private space, then the priest sprinkles the entire family and all the rooms of the house, whence every contrary, harmful power and energy is dispersed. The Prayers of the Church Subsequently, we will quote the most characteristic Church prayers referring to vaskania. Since so much confusion relating to the significance and use of these prayers prevails today, some indispensible clarifications should be made. Firstly, we must say that there exists only one special prayer for vaskania which is found in the ecclesiastical book, Small Euchologian; a book exclusively for priests. There are also some exorcism prayers in this book for cases of magic and divination. These prayers amongst other things also mention vaskania. This is why we will place them immediately after the special prayer for vaskania. In all these prayers, vaskania means envy or the harmful energy and activity that stems from envy. (evil eye) means the envious person but is also understood as anyone motivated by envy who wants to harm someone using either slander, or magic, or proceeds to a more visible harmful act. Essentially, this person is a tool of the devilhumanitys greatest envier, vaskanos and misanthropic enemy. Today we frequently hear, even from some clerics that these prayers can also be read by lay people. But this is wrong and it is said thoughtlessly and casually. The prayers of the Euchologion are for priestly use only. Someone who is not ordained a priest cannot read these prayers to someone who has received influence from vaskania or some other demonic activity. A lay person cant rebuke the devil and say, for example, We pray and beseech you, O Lord, banish every diabolical activity from your servant [Name] ( []); or look down on this your creature ( ); or I expel you, primal source of blasphemy ( ), or Be gone and depart from the servant of God (, ) and many other similar lines. Only one who has the grace of the priesthoodwho has participated in the Mystery of Ordinationis allowed to deliver such commands in Gods name and such supplications to God in plural on behalf of the praying Church. Both the simple lay person and simple monk, even if theyre saints, can read these prayers over another person as if they were a priest. Moreover, not even the patient can read these prayers for himself; just as the best surgeon cannot operate on himself but must undergo surgery performed by other colleagues. It also appears from the prayer texts that these [i.e. vaskania and exorcism] are not personal or private prayers. They are prayers that are said at ecclesiastical gatherings in which the local church (parish) prays, using a specific service, for some exact member of it. Consequently, its a serious mistakea great sin

for lay people to read these prayers like theyre priests doing exorcisms, not to mention they will probably have different results than expected. For those not in the know, were referring to laity who use ecclesiastical books and other holy objects as though they are priests; this is a very common practice and pleasing to occultism and Satanism. We will not elaborate any further on this point as it strays from the subject of the book. However, we want to make clear that these prayers are said only by priests and whoever frivolously says the laity are also use them becomes the cause of confusion and harm. The simple literary reading of these prayers by every believer is a completely different thing. Whoever reads these prayers for information purposes only and not to exorcise himself or others, benefits greatly because he sees what authority the Church has against the devil and how Gods grace protects Christians. Simply reading these prayers only strengthens our faith and confidence in the Churchs sanctifying means. We place the vaskania prayer first. This prayer is newer because it is not in the ancient euchologions. Prayer against Vaskania Let us pray to the LordLord have mercy O Lord Our God, the King of the ages, almighty and all powerful, who create and alter all things by your will alone; who changed into dew the flames of the furnace in Babylon that had been heated seven times more than usual, and preserved in safety your three holy youths; the physician and healer of our souls; the security of those who hope in you; we pray you and beseech you: Remove, drive away and banish every diabolical activity, every satanic attack and every plot, evil curiosity and injury, and the evil eye of mischievous and wicked men from your servant (Name); and whether it was brought about by beauty, or bravery, or happiness, or jealousy and envy, or evil eye, do you yourself, O Lord who love mankind, stretch out your mighty hand and your powerful and lofty arm, look down on this your creature and watch over him(her), and send him(her) an angel of peace, a mighty guardian of soul and body, who will rebuke and banish from him (her) every wicked intention, every spell and evil eye of destructive and envious men; so that, guarded by you, your supplicant may sing to you with thanksgiving: The Lord is my helper, and I shall not be afraid; what can man do to me? And again: I shall fear no evil because you are with me. For you are God my strength, the powerful ruler, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the age to come. Yes, Lord, our God, spare your creature and save your servant (Name) from every injury and brought about by the evil eye, and keep him (her) safe above every ill. For you are our King and all things are possible to Thee, O Lord. Therefore, we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prayers of St. Basil the Great First Prayer of Exorcism and Healing by St. Basil the Great LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. Lord, have mercy.

O God of gods and Lord of lords, Creator of the fiery spirits and Artificer of the invisible powers, of all things heavenly and earthly: Thou Who no man has seen -- nor is able to see; Thou Whom all creation fears and before Whom it trembles; Thou Who didst cast into the darkness of the abyss of Tartars the angels who did fall away with him who once was commander of the angelic host, who disobeyed Thee and haughtily refused to serve Thee, do Thou expel by the terror of Thy name the evil one and his legions loose upon the earth, Lucifer and those with him who fell from above. Set him to flight and command him and his demons to depart completely. Let no harm come to them who are sealed in Thy image and let those who are sealed receive dominion, "to tread on serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy." For Thee do we hymn and magnify and with every breath do we glorify Thy all-holy name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second Prayer of Exorcism by St. Basil the Great LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. Lord, have mercy. I expel you, primal source of blasphemy, prince of the rebel host, originator of evil. I expel you, Lucifer, who was cast from the brilliance on high into the darkness of the abyss on account of your arrogance: I expel you and all the fallen hosts which followed your will: I expel you, spirit of uncleanness, who revolted against Adonai, Elohim, the omnipotent God of Sabaoth and the army of His angels. Be gone and depart from the servant/handmaid of God ______________. I expel you in the name of Him Who created all things by His Word, His Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was ineffably and dispassionately born before all the ages; by Whom was formed all things visible and invisible, Who made man after His Image: Who guarded him by the angels, Who trained him in the Law, Who drowned sin in the flood of waters from above and Who shut up the abysses under the heaven, Who demolished the impious race of giants, Who shook down the tower of Babel, Who reduced Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes by sulfur and fire, a fact to which the unceasing vapors testify; and Who by the staff of Moses separated the waters of the Red Sea, opening a waterless path for the people while the tyrannical Pharaoh and his God-fighting army were drowned forever in its waves for his wicked persecution of them; and Who in these last days was inexplicably incarnate of a pure Virgin who preserved the seal of her chastity intact; and Who was pleased to purge our ancient defilement in the baptismal cleansing. I expel you, Satan, by virtue of Christ's baptism in the Jordan, which for us is a type of our inheritance of incorruption through grace and sanctified waters: the same One Who astounded the angels and all the heavenly powers when they beheld God incarnate in the flesh and also revealed at the Jordan His beginningless Father and the Holy Spirit with Whom He shares the unity of the Trinity. I expel you, evil one, in the name of Him Who rebuked the winds and stilled the turbulent sea; Who banished the legion of demons and opened the eyes of him who was born blind from his mother's womb; and Who from clay fashioned sight for him, whereby He re-enacted the ancient refashioning of our face; Who restored the speech of the speechless, purged the stigma of leprosy, raised the dead from the grave and Who Himself despoiled Hades by His death and Resurrection thereby rendering mankind impervious to death. I expel you, in the name of Almighty God Who filled men with the inbreathing of a divinely inspired voice and Who wrought together with the Apostles the piety, which has filled the universe. Fear and flee, run, leave, unclean and accursed spirit, deceitful and unseemly creature of the infernal depths, visible through deceit, hidden by

pretense. Depart wherever you may appear, Beelzebub, vanish as smoke and heat, bestial and serpentine thing, whether disguised as male or female, whether beast or crawling thing or flying, whether garrulous, mute or speechless, whether bringing fear of being trampled, or rending apart, conniving, whether oppressing him/her in sleep, by some display of weakness, by distracting laughter, or taking pleasure in false tears whether by lechery or stench of carnal lust, pleasure, addiction to drugs, divination or astrology, whether dwelling in a house, whether possessed by audacity, or contentiousness or instability, whether striking him with lunacy, or returning to him after the passage of time, whether you be of the morning, noonday, midnight or night, indefinite time or daybreak, whether spontaneously or sent to someone or coming upon him/her unawares, whether from the sea, a river, from beneath the earth, from a well, a ravine, a hollow, a lake, a thicket of reeds, from matter, land, refuse, whether from a grove, a tree, a thicket, from a fowl, or thunder, whether from the precincts of a bath, a pool of water or from a pagan sepulcher or from any place where you may lurk; whether by knowledge or ignorance or any place not mentioned. Depart, separate yourself from him/her, be ashamed before him who was made in the image of God and shaped by His hand. Fear the likeness of the incarnate God and no longer hide in His servant/handmaid____________; rather await the rod of iron, the fiery furnace of Tartars, the gnashing of teeth as reprisal for disobedience. Be afraid, be still, flee, neither return nor hide in him some other kind of evil, unclean spirits. Depart into the uncultivated, waterless waste of the desert where no man dwells, where God alone vigilantly watches, Who shall bind you that dares with envy to plot against His image and Who, with chains of darkness shall hold you in Tartars, Who by day and night and for a great length of time has devised all manner of evils, O devil; for great is your fear of God and great is the glory of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Third Prayer of Exorcism by St. Basil the Great LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. Lord, have mercy. O God of the heavens, God of Light, God of the Angels and Archangels obedient to Thine Authority and Power; O God Who art glorified in Thy Saints, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thine Only-begotten Son, Who delivered the souls which were bound to death and Who enlightened them that dwelt in darkness; He Who released us from all our misery and pain and Who has protected us from the assaults of the enemy. And Thou, O Son and Word of God, has purposed us for immortality by Thy death and glorified us with Thy glory; Thou Who loosed us from the fetters of our sins through Thy Cross, rendering us pleasing to Thyself and uniting us with God; Thou Who didst rescue us from destruction and cured all our diseases; Thou Who set us on the path to heaven and changed our corruption to incorruption. Hear Thou me who cry unto Thee with longing and fear, Thou before Whom the mountains and the firmament under the heavens do shrink; Thou Who makest the physical elements to tremble, keeping them within their own limits; and because of Whom the fires of retribution dare not overstep the boundary set for them but must await the decision of Thy Will; and for Whom all creation sighs with great sighs awaiting deliverance; by Whom all adverse natures have been put to flight and the legion of the enemy has been subdued, the devil is affrighted, the serpent trampled under foot and the dragon slain; Thou Who has enlightened the nations which confess and welcome Thy rule, O Lord; Thou through Whom life hath appeared, hope hath prevailed, through Whom the man of the earth was recreated by belief in Thee. For Who is like unto Thee, Almighty God? Wherefore we beseech Thee, O Father, Lord of mercies, Who existed before the

ages and surpasses all good, calling upon Thy holy name, through the love of Thy Child, Jesus Christ, the Holy One, and Thine All-powerful Spirit. Cast away from his/her soul every malady, all disbelief, spare him/her from the furious attacks of unclean, infernal, fiery, evil-serving, lustful spirits, the love of gold and silver, conceit, fornication, every shameless, unseemly, dark and profane demon. Indeed, O God, expel from Thy servant/handmaiden _________ every energy of the devil, every enchantment and delusion; all idolatry, lunacy, astrology, necromancy, every bird of omen, the love of luxury and the flesh, all greed, drunkenness, carnality, adultery, licentiousness, shamelessness, anger, contentiousness, confusion and all evil suspicion. Yea, O Lord our God, breathe upon him/her the Spirit of Thy Peace, watch over him/her and produce thereby the fruits of faith, virtue, wisdom, chastity, self-control, love, uprightness, hope, meekness, longsuffering, patience, prudence and understanding in Thy servant/handmaiden that he/she may be welcomed by Thee in the name of Jesus Christ, believing in the coessential Trinity, giving witness and glorifying Thy dominion, along with the Angels and Archangels and all the heavenly host, guarding our hearts by them; for all things are possible to Thee, O Lord. Therefore, we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.4

Notes 1) Though vaskania is usually translated as evil eye in English, I have kept the word vaskania in place of using evil eye, except in specific points. This is a personal rather than literary preference. When I hear the word vaskania, my mind goes to the orthodox patristic understanding. When I hear evil eye my mind goes to the folk superstition understanding. 2) Kismet is of Turkish origin. It means fate, destiny. It is commonly used in Turkey to imply that you have hope but don't want to talk about it to avoid evil eye. 3) Other scriptural verses using vaskania are: For the bewitching () of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind Wisdom of Solomon 4:12) Riches are not comely for a niggard: and what should an envious man ( ) do with money? (Sirach 14:3). There is none more evil than he that envieth himself ( ); and this is a recompense of his wickedness (Sirach 14:6). The envious man hath an evil eye ( ); he turneth away his face, and despiseth men (Sirach 14:8). A wicked eye envieth ( ) his bread, and he is a niggard at his table (Sirach 14:10). A fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious () consumeth the eyes (Sirach 18:18) Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing ( ): and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion (Sirach 31:13) Neither consult with...nor with an envious man () of thankfulness (Sirach 37:11). 4) The translations of these prayers was taken from: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Exorcism