Church Practices

[Justin Kissel]

Some questions on practices done at church:

• Is kneeling allowed during the divine liturgy on a feast day?

• Is a priest suppose to cross his arms (with the body and blood of Christ) at some point during the service?

• Are we suppose to refrain from kissing the priest's hand (after we kiss the cross at the end of the service) if we've partook of communion?

[Liudmilla]

Justin:

1. Best of my knowledge, if a feast day falls during the week kneeling is okay. If it falls on a Sunday, kneeling is out.

2. Haven't a clue...someone else will have to answer this.

3. I have always been told that if you received communion, you shouldn't kiss (not even air kissing) anyone. Kissing the cross is okay, but my priest usually removes his hand if you have received.

[Justin Kissel]

LIUDMILLA

Thanks I wasn't sure what to think about the kneeling part, because the reason we aren't suppose to kneel on sundays and after Pascha is that it is to be joyous... so I was confused as to whether it was ok to kneel on a feast day. The crossing of the arms I was just curious about because I'd always been told that it's bad to cross anything (legs and such) in Church, but today I saw the priest doing it, so I was wondering if priests always do that. I had also been taught the same thing as you about kissing the hand of a priest (don't do it if you've communed), but I couldn't remember where I'd heard that from so I figured I'd ask.

[JohnMarq]

I had also been taught the same thing as you about kissing the hand of a priest (don't do it if you've communed), but I couldn't remember where I'd heard that from so I figured I'd ask.

The teaching where I've been is that the bread that's taken right after communion cleanses the mouth, enabling one to venerate the icons and kiss the hand that blesses.

An example that comes to mind is the cloud of children that gather around Vladyka Laurus after each Sunday Liturgy to receive his blessing as he leaves. Most, if not all, have communed and all kiss his hand.

-John

[Mor Ephrem]

Is kneeling allowed during the divine liturgy on a feast day?

I've seen it done. I personally don't do it depending on the rank of the feast, but I've seen it done.

Is a priest suppose to cross his arms (with the body and blood of Christ) at some point during the service?

For what it's worth, this is the practice of the Syrian and Indian Orthodox Churches at a certain moment during the Liturgy.

[Justin Kissel]

Thank you, John and Mor. This is somewhat adding to my confusion, though, lol Also, I read last night in the Commentary On The Divine Liturgy by Nicholas Cabasilas that (apparently) everyone kneeled reverently (before communion) on Sunday, in the Churches he was familiar with. That wouldn't be the first canon from Nicea that was disregarded, but if it's true then it sounds a serious note of caution about being so fussy about such things.

[Methodius]

Thank you, John and Mor. This is somewhat adding to my confusion, though, lol Also, I read last night in the Commentary On The Divine Liturgy by Nicholas Cabasilas that (apparently) everyone kneeled reverently (before communion) on Sunday, in the Churches he was familiar with. That wouldn't be the first canon from Nicea that was disregarded, but if it's true then it sounds a serious note of caution about being so fussy about such things.

Who is Nicholas Cabasilas and what churches was he familliar with?