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I have some questions in regards to relic veneration in the eastern Church.

1. How does the relic especially if it is in a theca/reliquary arranged near the altar for the veneration of the faithful?

2. If there is a relic veneration, how does one properly venerate the relic?

Dear Elexei,

Perhaps this varies from tradition to tradition, but doing the sign of the cross, a partial metanoia, and then kissing the relic is what I have done and seen.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

I see but what does "partial metanoia" means? I have a diffent understanding of metanoia = radical change of mind.

I know that in Orthodoxy there is no classification of relics that is done in the Latin Church, i.e., 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class. Also, does the Orthodox Church gave relics in theca for the faithful if they request it like in the Roman Church wherein postulators prepares relics in thecas.

Partial metanoia means a bow at the waist and your right hand touching the ground. It is a partial prostration in other words.

ALICE:

Does "partial metanoia" mean the same thing that the Russians call "metania" as distinguished from "proklon," the full prostration? I thought "metanoia" was the ongoing reforming of one's life we're all called to be doing.

BOB

Bow--this is a simple momentary inclination of the head and shoulders, without bending the knees. In some situations it is accompanied by the Sign of the Cross

Metanoia (metany; poyasnoy poklon)--similar to the bow, but deeper; sometimes referred to as a "bow to the waist." The metanoia requires making the Sign of the Cross either before or after the bow, depending upon the tradition of the church;[3] bending at the waist without bending the knees, so that the worshipper's head is level with his or her waist; touching the floor with the fingertips of the right hand; and straightening up again. The metanoia is an abbreviated form of full prostration.

Prostration (zemnoy poklon)--This requires making the Sign of the Cross, getting down on hands and knees, touching the forehead to the floor, and standing up again upright. The requirement to stand upright again is commonly explained as being because Christ not only descended into hell, but rose up from the dead.

Under "metanoia" Wikipidia notes that the word can mean many things, though most often translated as change of heart, change of mind, or repentance, it can also refer to a rhetorical figure in which the speaker states something, retracts it, and then restates in a new and more apt way.

I don't know why the Greeks call it this. There must be a correlation however...perhaps when you do this humbling gesture you are also assuming/asking repentance as you venerate.

If you think about it, a prostration of any sort is a sort of physical way of seeking forgiveness.

If we were to see our Lord, we would fall flat onto the floor in a full prostration because we worship Him but also because we feel unworthy to stand before Him, so in this feeling of being unworthy, we are also hoping for forgiveness...