www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Hand-Kissing

Alice,

I was referring to your comment that you just take the hand and do not expect a blessing.

From the internet:

In the Roman Catholic Church, a Catholic meeting the Pope or less often a Cardinal, or even a lower-ranking prelate, will kiss the ring on his hand. Again this has become uncommon in circles not used to formal protocol, even often dispensed with amongst clergy. However it is still more common in the more demonstrative Mediterranean cultures, especially the Italian baciamano. Sometimes, the devout kisser combines the hand kissing with a genuflection as an even stronger expression of filial respect for the clerically high-ranking father. The cleric may then in a fatherly way lay his other hand on the kisser's head or even bless him/her by a manual cross sign. In the Catholic Church, it is also traditional for the laity to kiss the hands of a newly-ordained priest after his inaugural mass, in veneration of the Body of Christ, which is held in the priest's hands during the Holy Eucharist.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Macedonian Orthodox Church, throughout the world and even in America, it is appropriate and common for laity to greet clergy, whether priests or bishops, by making a profound bow and saying, "Father Bless" while placing their right hand, palm up, in front of their bodies. The priest then blesses them with the sign of the cross and then places his hand in theirs, offering the opportunity to kiss his hand. Orthodox Christians kiss their priest's hands not only to honor their spiritual father confessor, but in veneration of the Body of Christ which the priest handles during the Divine Liturgy as he prepares Holy Communion. The profound bow is frequently omitted. A similar ritual occurs when an Orthodox Christian approaches an icon he wishes to venerate. First the Christian makes a profound bow and makes the sign of the cross twice. Then he approaches the icon more closely, kissing the icon, usually on the representation of Christ's, or the saint's, hand or feet. Lastly, he will make a final profound bow and make the sign of the cross. Orthodox theology teaches that, honor given to the Virgin Mary, ascends to him who was enfleshed by her. This applies to saint's relics or icons and in this case, to the priest's hand. Lastly, it is a common practice when writing a letter to a priest to begin with the words "Father Bless" rather than "Dear Father" and end the letter with the words "Kissing your right hand" rather than "Sincerely."

I've been thinking about that last week, the kissing the prsiest bishop... hand. I used to find it really absurde. But then one time i was holding the peice of clothe we hold while communion so that peices of the Body of Christ wont fall on the ground and i was thinking how great is the privilege the presit has to hold Jesus in his hands and for that just reason that he takes Jesus in his hands that i now understand a bit more the kissing of the hand. I don't know if you can understand what i am saying, i am sorry it is hard to express things in english...

Lather,

Well, now that any old body can hold the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of OLGS Jesus Christ in his hands, I guess I should go around kissing every Catholic's hand I can get my lips on.

I wonder one would say, "Communion in the hand must be destroyed" in Latin? "Communio in manus delenda est"? Someone with good Latin skills and a sense of humor, help me out!

Alexis

I never understood the communon in hand myself... oe a nun told me to take in my hand in a Latin Church and i felt really really uncomfortable...

by yeah if they have Christ in their hand it is worth kissing ;)
^_^^_^

To all,

Apart from customs, what are actual rubrics for kissing of the hand? I am aware of only one instance in the Ruthenian Liturgicon and Ordo that is also in Rome's Slavonic Volgata and Greek texts of the liturgy. As far as I know, the only one so directed and the only time is the deacon when he receives from the priest's hand the holy bread:
Others?

This is one of those totally new traditions in Orthodoxy that I have just recently found out about. It is very foreign to me, and I would imagine it could take quite awhile for those such as I, fresh out of 30+ years of Evangelicalism, to adjust to it let alone to do it. I learned of this in my Catechism Class a few months ago, but at this point I have not seen anyone in my church do it. Perhaps in time .....
abby
<*)))><

Lather,

Regardless of what that sister told you to do, no one is ever obliged to take Communion in the hand.

Alexis

Living in the D/FW area we get the occasional visiting clergyman as he travels from coast to coast. It is still surprising how some clergy have no problem having their hand kissed while others have eyes bulged as if we'd released snakes into the room.

When I have visited local OCA parishes I've seen a very formalized hand kissing process. At the same time the local GOA parishes don't seem to do it at all.

That is true but i was 16 and i was shy and she had authority. Now i never accept it. it is just too holy take it myself...

I don't recall seeing anyone kiss the priest or bishops hand in the Ruthenian or Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches. Since I've become Orthodox,(OCA) it seems to be routine and somewhat expected. I've seen it done in Ukrainian, and Serbian Orthodox churches. Haven't been to Greek or Romanian Orthodox liturgies yet.

We're full of converts so I guess it should be expected that we are "all in" as far as Eastern practices go. How sad that without a priest the flow of converts has changed directions.

What do you do at the end of Divine Liturgy? Do you not go forward to receive the priest's blessing, and kiss his cross, then his hand? At Matins after the Gospel reading, when you kiss the Gospel, do you not then kiss the priest's hand?

I'm asking about actual rubrics, apart from customs; what's written as a directive in the liturgical books -- something that is quotable, as in the example I gave.