My father had a saying: “Exe O Theos.” It is Greek for, literally, “God has.” In other words, he has enough for you and me and all people.
Greek is an ancient, emotionally evocative language. When spoken, the words are felt in your heart as they pass your lips.
As a child I went to the Greek Orthodox Church on Granby Street in Norfolk, Va. The service was spoken in Greek and the use of incense pronounced. The cantor had a particularly important job of chanting in a way that would evoke the feeling of pain and suffering. It helped to remind the congregation of the pain Jesus’ commitment put him through.
I’ve always felt the presence of God and Christ in my heart during a Greek Orthodox service. Something about the ancient language and rituals command reflection and reverence.
When my father would see I was in a troubled state of mind, he would often say “Exe O Theos” to help calm me and ease my mind, to remind me that God is in my heart and has enough love to help ease my troubles. Those words spoken in that ancient tongue always put a lump in my throat and remind me that God is with me always.
“Exe O Theos” is the mantra I recite inwardly whenever I need to calm and center myself.
Odysseas Nicholas Kiousis
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