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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Dec 2005
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I am a Roman Catholic moving towards the Orthodox Church. Question: how do I properly venerate an icon? Are there different traditions of icon veneration between the various Orthodox churches? I now attend the Divine Liturgy at an Antiochian Orthodox Church - icons do seem to garner less attention here than they did at OCA Churches (previous experience at the Three Hierarchs Chapel at SVS).
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Joined: Jun 2002
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This might be the Russian tradition (there ARE many ways and traditions of venerating Holy Icons)
You approach the Icon, make the Sign of the Cross and make a poklon (touch palm of hand face up to the ground), do this again, venerate the icon, make another Sign of Cross and poklon)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 33
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As Brian said, bowing, crossing yourself, and kissing the icon are the basics, and there aren't any real "rules." When venerating an icon, I generally do as Brian explained, and then use it as a time for prayerful meditation. The icon I have is of Jesus, and I use it to assist me in making a closer, more fulfilling, spiritual bond with God. I look at the image and think about everything He did for us, say prayers - generall the Our Father and a few Hail Marys - and often I read scripture with it. However, it's a very personal thing. Personal prayer is as personal as each person's own relationship with Christ, and can be equally unique. That said, it's always nice to learn from others' advances in their faith and how they express it, and I look forward to seeing further responses to this. =D
In Christ,
-Steve
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Joined: Jul 2003
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I saw in one instruction, to not kiss the face on the icon even the icon of the Holy Face. That is considered a bit rude. Hands, feet or clothes of the person in the icon but not the face, never the face.
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I am a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. At the church I attend, after we approach the icon we cross ourselves and bow, then cross ourselves and bow a second time. After this we cross ourselves a third time and kiss the icon, then cross ourselves and bow one last time. At an OCA(Russian Orthodox)church that I attend with a friend from time to time, one bows to the congregation after venerating, and the congregants bow in return to the person who has just venerated. Hope I didn't overwhelm you! My priest told me that there are several variations - Just do your best and don't stress out! The only absolute rule of which I am aware is for women to remove their lipstick for obvious reasons. Welcome to Orthodoxy!
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Oh! - Pavel Ivanovich is right! Please follow his instructions on what part of the icon you kiss!
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Forum Keilbasa Sleuth Member
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No one really counts how many times you bow or sign yourself, so feel free to do what is comfortable to you.
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Catholic Gyoza Member
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My pt. Fr. Bob just gave me an Icon for Christmas. I believe it is a Pantokrator, but it's just a "head shot" for lack of a better term.  Our Lord's hands, shoulders and arms are not in the Icon. Is there a difference in venerating an Icon of Our Lord and one of the saints, even the Theotokos? 
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38
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Dear Dr Eric,
Yes, whenever there is an icon of our Lord's Head or Face, we kiss the Beard.
In all things, we emulate the woman with the issue of blood in the Gospel of Luke who touched the edge of our Lord's garment (which was also the most religiously significant part of His garment where the fringes would have been, symbolic of Grace).
We never kiss the face of any sacred subject presented in an icon.
There is no difference between the way we venerate an icon. We honour God Who is present in the Most Holy Theotokos and in His Saints.
Moreover, one Icon of the All-Holy Spirit in the East is, in fact, the icon of All Saints.
Alex
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Originally posted by John Seraphim:
I am a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. At the church I attend, after we approach the icon we cross ourselves and bow, then cross ourselves and bow a second time. After this we cross ourselves a third time and kiss the icon, then cross ourselves and bow one last time. At an OCA(Russian Orthodox)church that I attend with a friend from time to time, one bows to the congregation after venerating, and the congregants bow in return to the person who has just venerated. Hope I didn't overwhelm you! My priest told me that there are several variations - Just do your best and don't stress out! The only absolute rule of which I am aware is for women to remove their lipstick for obvious reasons. Welcome to Orthodoxy! WOW! No wonder the fastest sign of the Cross motion I ever saw was by a Greek Orthodox. You guys have to do it so many times, you better be pretty darn fast at it! It was at a Pan Orthodox Vespers which I attended and this guy was like Billy the Kid or something!  His hand moved so fast it was like a blur. Now I see why.
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