Why kiss the priest's hand. On clergy and spiritual leadership

Priest Valentin Makarov explains.

The Lord created man in such a way that each of his organs or parts of the body, as a rule, has two functions: practical and sacred. The head contains the brain, as the main vital organ of the whole organism, and all the sense organs, but the head is also the highest part of the body from the earth, and it is commanded to be covered or open during prayer, otherwise a person will shame his head.

The heart for a cardiologist is a muscle pump, which must work flawlessly like a German car engine or Swiss Watches. But we also mention the heart as the center of the sensual side. human life which can cry and hurt, be stony and cold, contrite and humble, moreover, the language Holy Scripture speaks of the possibility of having a "circumcised" heart. The eye can water from dust or injury, but it can also seduce the whole person to death or be the bearer of a log. Legs, arms and all parts of the body also have their dual characteristics. The great prophet Elijah, denouncing the whole people, uses the image of spiritual lameness, and on both knees at once.

So the sacred function is inherent in the mouth - to kiss, or modern language- kiss. Through the mouth of one of the disciples, the Teacher was put to death, by whose wounds we were healed. Another great prophet, Isaiah, was once cleansed by touching the lips of a hot coal, for the sake of the same struggle with idols. With our lips we express love for our loved ones, with our lips the mother touches her sick child, believing that this touch will alleviate his illness. From the contact of lips under the marriage cover, a new life can be born.

In our church, before the beginning of the singing of the Creed, all the worshipers give each other a “Holy Kiss”. Indeed, how mysterious and reverent it all is. Is it in our church life there will be no room left for giving a kiss to Christ Himself? And not like Judas, whom we always mention before Communion, so as not to repeat that treacherous kiss, but as faithful followers of the rest of the disciples, once gathered at one meal. Since the priest, first of all, is called with his hands and mouth to repeat this Meal that once took place, he, too, is worthy of kissing. And the honor is paid not so much to him personally, but to the most sacred dignity, along with the prefix word “father” or “father”. As far as I know, there is no such problem within the Church. It is more typical for beginners. Therefore, it is possible to kiss not necessarily the hand, but the cuffs - part of the priestly clothing that is worn on the wrist.

And the last thing that can be said about kissing is the “decoration” of the lips with all sorts of lipsticks. In addition to the practical smearing of icons, clothes, and other sacred objects with animal fat that is part of them, there is also an allegorical meaning. Applying lipstick symbolizes covering one's mouth with something external. This is a screen, a mask that hides your true intentions. And it turns out that you touch with crafty and deceitful lips, and do not communicate the holy kiss with an open heart.

When and who introduced the custom of kissing the blessing hand of a priest?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

In biblical times, kissing was a common form of respectful greeting, especially hand kissing. To do this, one had to bend over to the hand of another person, kiss it and pass it over one's forehead. Kissing as a symbol of love and respect was also perceived by the early Christians: "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss" (1 Thess. 5:26).

Kissing the priest's hand, which occurs when he gives the cross or blesses, in contrast to a simple greeting, has a special spiritual and moral significance. Receiving grace from God through a cross or priestly blessing, a person mentally kisses the invisible right hand of God, which gives him this grace. At the same time, kissing the priest's hand also expresses respect for the dignity. Saint Nicholas (Velimirovich) wrote about this to the printer Yu. Don't you know the story about Prince Milos and the young priest? This story is as follows: one young priest served a liturgy in Kraguevets in the presence of Prince Milos. The old prince was very pious, he came to the temple long before the beginning of the service, until the end of the service he stood as if rooted to the spot and contritely prayed to God. When the young priest finished the service, he left the altar with a cross and an antidoron. The prince came up to venerate the cross and kiss the priest's hand. But the young man withdrew his hand, as if ashamed of the fact that old man, prince, wants to kiss his hand. Prince Milos looked at him and said: “Let me kiss your hand, for I kiss not your hand, but your dignity, which is older than me and you!” I think this explains everything. The old prince spoke words in the church from the Holy Spirit Himself. Think for yourself, if your priest is 25 years old, then his rank is 1900 years old. And when you kiss his hand, you kiss the rank, which passed from the apostles of Christ to many servants of the altar of God. And kissing the priestly dignity, you kiss all the great saints and confessors who have carried this dignity, from the apostles to the present. Kiss St. Ignatius, St. Nicholas, St. Basil, St. Savva, St. Arseny and many others who served as an adornment of the earth and became an adornment of heaven and who are called "earthly angels and heavenly people." Kissing the priest's hand is not an ordinary kiss, but, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, a holy kiss (cf.: 1 Cor. 16:20). Kiss without embarrassment the blessing hand and dignity, which is blessed by the Holy Spirit ”(Missionary Letters. Letter 157).

What does it mean to "take a blessing from a priest"?

To take a blessing is to ask the priest to prayerfully intercede before the Lord for the sending down of the strengthening and sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit.

When should you take a blessing from a priest?

When meeting with a priest, after the word “hello” (or instead of this word), they immediately say: “Father, bless” - and take a blessing. They take a blessing from the priest even after Confession.

In addition, blessings should be taken in all important points spiritual and worldly life. Before deciding on something, it would be good to consult a priest and ask for his blessing.

How to take a blessing from a priest?

To do this, you need to fold your right hands on left palms up, bow your head and say: "Father, bless." The priest overshadows the person with the sign of a priestly blessing, says: "God bless" - and puts his right hand on the folded palms of the blessed one. After that, they kiss the blessing hand of the priest - but not as a human hand, but as an image of the blessing right hand of the Giver of all blessings - the Lord.

Why kiss the priest's hand?

Kissing the priest's hand is not an ordinary kiss, but, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, a holy kiss (1 Cor. 16:20).

What is a spiritual father for?

A spiritual father is necessary for help and guidance in spiritual life - for its arrangement, maintenance and improvement, that is, for the salvation of the soul. A spiritual father is needed in order to help a person learn to live like a Christian. Through obedience to the spiritual father, a person rejects his addictions, cognizes the will of God and brings his own human will in line with it.

How to find spiritual father(confessor)?

First of all, you should start going to church regularly, going to confession, taking communion and praying earnestly that the Lord would help you find a spiritual father.

Can priests be chosen?

When a person begins to live a spiritual life, regularly visit the temple, participate in the Sacraments, check his life with the institutions of the Church, he needs to consult with the priest on various issues- both worldly and spiritual. That's when he starts looking for a mentor. And of course, for spiritual guidance, you can choose the priest to whom the heart is most disposed, to whom a person can entrust his soul.

How to treat a priest if you know that he lives unworthily?

The priesthood is not made defiled by an unworthy person: personal human infirmities cannot take away the grace of ordination. The priest is only an instrument in the hands of God, and all the Sacraments are invisibly performed by Christ Himself, and therefore a clergyman who is unworthy in his spiritual qualities is a full-fledged performer of the Sacraments.

Whatever the priest, only through him can you get permission from sins. And for their deeds, everyone is responsible before God - both the mentor and the one who obeys. If you see a sinning priest, remember the words of the holy apostle: “Whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do; but do not do according to their works” (Matt. 23:3).

M hello to you, dear visitors of the Orthodox island "Family and Faith"!

At Is it local to address a priest: “Holy Father?”

H Is it necessary to kiss the priest's hand after anointing with oil?

With Is it necessary to kiss the cross and the priest's hand on the day of communion?

H Is it necessary for little girls to cover their heads with headscarves when they go to the Temple?

Archpriest Sergiy Nikolaev answers:

« O the appeal to the clergyman "Holy Father" is accepted in Catholic Church, as well as among the Orthodox in some western regions Ukraine. In the Russian tradition, the official address is your reverend or your reverend. In other cases - father such and such (name), or father.

Sometimes, instead of the name of the priest, his obedience or position is called: father rector, father viceroy, father dean, father housekeeper. Addressing the bishop, they say: Lord. To the deacon: father deacon or father such and such (name).

However, sometimes we can hear the appeal: "holy father", in which the word "saint" does not mean the holiness of the person, but the dignity of the priest. So, the Russian translation of this Slavic appeal is rather unusual than incorrect.

Is it necessary to kiss the priest's hand after anointing with oil?

The custom of kissing the hand is very ancient. AT secular society Today, only the tradition of kissing the hands of women has been preserved. However, such a tradition arose in Europe only in the Middle Ages, during the time of the fascination with the cult of the Beautiful Lady. Prior to this, in most societies, the hand was kissed by men. Kissed the hand giving or able to give. And the owners, the owners were mostly men. Vassal kissed the master's hand. Slave and servant - the hand of the master. The wife is the hand of her husband.

In such action was deep meaning: by kissing a hand, a person expressed gratitude for the real or possible graces emanating from this hand. By the way, the custom, when receiving a gift, to apply to the hand of the giver, was preserved in many Christian countries until very recently.

The priest is also giver of mercy- blessings, therefore, having received a blessing, people kiss his hand. In addition, every priest is a servant of God, he gives us not his own, but what he received from the Lord, and, kissing the hand of the priest, we express gratitude not to him, but to the True Giver of mercy - the Lord. Only a very proud person can experience embarrassment in this case.

Holy oil is a symbol of God's mercy. The priest teaches it to us not from himself, but from the Lord. And we, thanking God, kiss the hand through which He showed us this mercy.

Sometimes in this case they are applied to the cross on the priest's hand. Poruch- this is part of the priestly vestment, a ribbon with a cross, tightening the wrist, as a sign that the priest does not do actions with his own hands, but the Lord Himself acts through him.

Should one kiss the cross and the priest's hand on the day of communion?

- On the day of communion, at the end of the service, we kiss the cross, but we no longer kiss the priest's hand. On this day, it is also not customary to venerate icons and other shrines. In communion we already have the most great shrine and looking for something else is pointless. As if someone, having received help from the king himself, then turned to his nobleman and thereby humiliated the king with disbelief in his power.

- Do little girls need to cover their heads with scarves when they go to the Temple?

- Veil on the head of a woman - sign of obedience; a handkerchief on the baby's head is also a sign of obedience. Children should be taught to obey from an early age.

A handkerchief in the service is the first difference for a child special space of the temple from the space of the house and the street, the difference between the time of communication with God from everyday time. A light handkerchief is the first and lightest burden of Christ placed on a girl. Due to her age, she still cannot fast, she does not know prayers, but already, through a handkerchief, she is familiar with piety. The Apostle Paul, among the instructions of the spiritual life, wrote about the cover on the head of a woman. What care the great apostle showed for you! Why not return obedience to his love?”

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

Kissing the priest's hand, which occurs when he gives the cross or blesses, in contrast to a simple greeting, has a special spiritual and moral significance. Receiving grace from God through a cross or priestly blessing, a person mentally kisses the invisible right hand of God, which gives him this grace. At the same time, kissing the priest's hand also expresses respect for the dignity. Saint Nicholas (Velimirovich) wrote about this to the printer Yu. Don't you know the story about Prince Milos and the young priest? This story is as follows: one young priest served a liturgy in Kraguevets in the presence of Prince Milos. The old prince was very pious, he came to the temple long before the beginning of the service, until the end of the service he stood as if rooted to the spot and contritely prayed to God. When the young priest finished the service, he left the altar with a cross and an antidoron. The prince came up to venerate the cross and kiss the priest's hand. But the young man pulled his hand away, as if ashamed that the old man, the prince, wanted to kiss his hand. Prince Milos looked at him and said: “Let me kiss your hand, for I kiss not your hand, but your dignity, which is older than me and you!” I think this explains everything. The old prince spoke words in the church from the Holy Spirit Himself. Think for yourself, if your priest is 25 years old, then his rank is 1900 years old. And when you kiss his hand, you kiss the rank, which passed from the apostles of Christ to many servants of the altar of God. And kissing the priestly dignity, you kiss all the great saints and confessors who have carried this dignity, from the apostles to the present. Kiss St. Ignatius, St. Nicholas, St. Basil, St. Savva, St. Arseny and many others who served as an adornment of the earth and became an adornment of heaven and who are called "earthly angels and heavenly people." Kissing the priest's hand is not an ordinary kiss, but, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, a holy kiss (cf.: 1 Cor. 16:20). Kiss without embarrassment the blessing hand and the dignity that is blessed by the Holy Spirit ”(Missionary Letters. Letter 157)
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/answers/7431.htm

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Kissing someone's hand means humiliating yourself. Isn't that disgusting? Believers are real slaves in the worst sense of the word, if they can crawl like that. Why do I need a religion that degrades human dignity?

Kissing the hand as such does not mean humiliation - it all depends on the feelings that we experience. Negative feelings based on distrust forbid showing signs of respect that are common on other occasions. Can we kiss mom's hand. There are many people who respect their parents, who, in a fit of feelings, are able to sincerely kiss the hand of their father to express their gratitude, respect and love. In the old days, when people were intelligent and educated, they did this without hesitation. In our time, we are able to kiss the hand of the father, if only he is probably dying. If the example of the father seems completely unrealistic to the reader, it is probably not worth continuing reading. You just need to keep in mind that kissing the priest's hand is optional. There are no such rules. This is a personal matter for everyone.

For those who have overcome the previous lines, we have something to say.

First of all, let's pay attention to the fact that not everyone kisses the priest's hand and not always. When do they usually kiss? After the end of the service, when the faithful, according to the established tradition, approach the priest to kiss the cross - the instrument of our salvation. All other cases are unusual.
However, in the usual case, not everyone kisses the hand. Some kiss the cross and the hand. Some of the cross and cuffs of the garment, on which again the cross is embroidered. Some only cross. Why? Because it is unpleasant for a man to kiss a man's hand (there is no such barrier for a woman) and this requires additional motivation. It is available, but only for believers. During the service, the priest symbolizes Christ. The cross in the hands of the priest symbolizes the Cross on which the Lord was crucified. Kissing the hand of a priest, a person simply kisses the hand of Christ, who holds out the cross to us, that is, the hand of God, who offers us salvation. That's all. Moreover, a number of priests object to kissing their hand, holding the cross with the fingers of both hands by the long bar so that the hands are far from the cross, and immediately after kissing the cross they take their hands to the side. Why? Ask these priests.

Of course, there are cases of excess of feelings when we understand what this priest is doing for us, and we are not ashamed and want to kiss his hand. The description of these feelings is hardly possible, they are so far from the mentality of the unbeliever. The closest analogy is gratitude. Unfortunately, there are cases of servility. They must be avoided. To even greater regret, there are times when the priest literally sticks his hand in the face, demanding a kiss. Thank God, these cases are rare in the entire ROC. Then just move away from such a priest, and the Lord will judge as He sees fit.
http://www.missionary.su/rejecting/9.htm