I have long noticed that when “outsiders”, that is, New Believers, come to us, while in the vestibule, they strive to venerate the icons that are there. When there is a large flow of people, it is difficult to explain to everyone that this cannot be done. Not only do women leave their lipstick on icons, but for some reason they also try to touch their foreheads? Where did this tradition come from among the Nikonians? It is clear that people are not to blame and do as they see in New Rite parishes, but still being in ignorance is, to put it mildly, not good.
How to apply correctly is clearly described in the Requirements.
Every kissing is performed according to rank and seniority. First come the clergy; the older ones, then the younger ones. When a senior clergyman (bishop or priest) venerates the image, or the Gospel, or the Cross, he ascends to the pulpit and bows to the worshipers at the waist with the words: “Christ is in our midst” (if this is a bishop, then he blesses the people with his hand in the same words). However, everyone in the church bows to him on the ground, without the sign of the cross, answering: “It is and will be.” After this, the younger ministers (priests, deacons and readers, if there are any) approach the kissing in pairs, then those standing in the temple, first the men, then the maidens and women.
The kissing order is as follows:
...approaching the icon, two parishioners make two bows to the ground, with the sign of the cross, saying a prayer corresponding to the holiday, usually a chant from the holiday canon, for example, on the feast days of the Most Holy Theotokos: “Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save us,” and on the holiday St. Nicholas: “To Saint Nicholas of Christ, pray to God for us.” Then, with the same prayer, crossing himself and, according to sacred tradition, folding the fingers of both hands, as if for the sign of the cross, and folding the hands themselves crosswise on the chest (the fingers - two fingers - of the hands should touch the shoulders), and the right hand should be on top of the left, - are applied to the icon, always to a strictly defined place. Usually in these cases one of the church ministers stands at the icon and points with a candle to the place where it should be applied. The parishioner standing on the right is the first to kiss the icon; usually he is the eldest. After kissing, the worshipers again bow to the ground in front of the icon with the sign of the cross and the above prayer and then, without crossing themselves, bow to the ground with the words: “Forgive for Christ’s sake, honorable father” or “Lord of the saints” to the priest or bishop standing to the right of the icon. Then, also without crossing themselves, they bow to the ground to each other, so that they are on each other’s right hand. At the same time, the one on the right (who approached the kiss first) says: “Christ is in our midst,” and the one on the left answers: “There is and will be.” In the period from the Holy Resurrection of Christ until the celebration of Holy Easter, instead of the above “greeting and response”, we pronounce the Easter greeting: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly he is risen!” This instruction also applies to clergy.
The same order is observed during the kissing of the Holy Gospel, when during the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening (before Sunday), after reading, it is taken to the middle of the church for worship. Only here there are some differences. When a bishop or priest carries the Gospel through the Royal Doors, one should cross himself and bow at the waist with the words: “Glory, Lord, to Thy Cross and Resurrection.” Those who then approach kissing the holy book for their first prostration on earth say the prayer: “With fear and love I approach You, O Christ, and I believe in Your words.” For the second bow: “Fear for sin’s sake, but love for salvation’s sake.” Then, having crossed themselves, they kiss the image of the crucified Savior on the right leg on the Gospel, with the Jesus Prayer. After this, they bow to the ground again, saying: “I believe, Lord, in Your holy Gospel, Christ God, help me and save me.” Next - according to the above-described custom. When all those praying have joined the Gospel, the priest takes it to the altar through the Royal Doors and, turning from there to the church, makes the sign of the cross over everyone with the Gospel, pronouncing the words: “By the power and intercession of Your holy Gospel, save us, Lord.” To this, everyone in the church makes a bow from the waist, with the sign of the cross and the prayer: “Glory, Lord, to Your Cross and Resurrection.”
When kissing the Honest Cross, the prayer “Glory, Lord, to Thy Honest Cross” is said at all bows; the image of the Savior on the Cross is kissed, just as when kissing the Gospel, on the right leg. This order has the following explanation. In the image of the Crucifixion of the Lord, the right leg of Christ is always raised, while the left leg is lowered. According to the interpretation of the book “Iconographic Original” (16th century), this means the Gospel dogma that those who will stand to the right of Christ (“at His right hand”) at the Last Judgment will be rewarded with eternal bliss for a righteous life, ascended to Paradise, those those who find themselves at the Judgment on the left (“the back of Christ”) will be cast into hell to eternal torment for their sins. Therefore, of course, wishing to be among those who were exalted and not cast down at the Judgment of Christ, faithful Christians venerate the right, raised foot of the Savior in the image of His Honorable Cross. The book “Son of the Church” suggests that when kissing the Gospel, one should kiss not the image of the Crucifixion, but the evangelist, whose gospel was read. However, there is no such custom in modern Old Believers.
In Orthodoxy there is such a practice as applying to holy icons. A person entering a church for the first time may be confused by the sight of parishioners kissing the image. What does this action mean, is it mandatory? Let's try to figure it out.
The tradition of venerating icons is quite ancient. In addition to icons, they also kiss the Crucifix and shrines containing the relics of saints, if there are any in the church. The love of the Russian people for shrines is great. When a rare, revered icon is brought to a particular city, local residents and visiting pilgrims sometimes stand in long lines for days on end in order to then have the opportunity to stand in front of the icon for a few seconds, pray, and venerate it.
The Orthodox ritual of venerating icons and relics of saints has nothing to do with idolatry, since by kissing an icon, we pay tribute not to the actual material image - the board, paints, precious setting, but we testify our respect and love directly to the one who is depicted on it .
What rules should be followed when applying to icons?
So, you entered the temple and see many icons around you. Which one should you approach first, and how to venerate an Orthodox icon in church correctly? The rules of behavior in the temple teach us that first of all we should approach the Gospel or the holiday icon, which lies on the lectern in the center of the temple. After this, go to the main temple icon, then to the Crucifixion and then, if possible and willing, go around the rest of the icons.
Before venerating a church icon, you should cross yourself twice, then kiss the icon, cross yourself a third time and move away without delaying those who follow you. When approaching the icon, you should not jostle and try to skip the line. You should not do this during the service, so as not to distract other worshipers. Orthodox tradition does not allow kissing the person depicted on the icon on the mouth. On icons of Christ and the Crucifixion they kiss His feet or hands, and kiss the hand of the Mother of God and the saints. If the icon shows only the head, then it is permissible to kiss the hair. The Guardian Angel and the archangels can be kissed on the wing. Never forget about the rules of hygiene.
Before venerating icons or relics of saints, women should wipe off their lipstick. Near the icons, church servants often prudently leave handkerchiefs for wiping the icon before and after applying it - do not forget to use them. If you don’t have a scarf, use your own. Always remember that after you another person will kiss this shrine, show respect to him so that it will be shown to you.
Is it possible to venerate icons at home?
The Orthodox Church does not prohibit touching icons at home. This can be done after morning and evening prayers in front of the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God.
You can also venerate the icon at home on the days of the twelve holidays or especially revered icons. You can buy icons for home prayer in an icon shop, in an Orthodox online store, or you can embroider them yourself with beads or a cross.
How to venerate icons correctly
Icons are the focus of real presence. Saint John Chrysostom advises that before you begin to pray, stand in front of the icon and close your eyes. He says: “Close your eyes,” because it is not from looking at the icon that we receive help for prayer.
You try to close your eyes - and you will understand how much easier prayer is, more focused, and you yourself will be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, which you did not feel with your eyes open.
The honor given to the icon is directed to the face depicted on it, so that by kissing it (kissing it), we touch mentally to this person.
An icon is a shrine, and one should approach it slowly, without fuss. Addressing the icon must be respectful, since it depicts a holy face. Say a prayer mentally, cross yourself twice with bows from the waist, venerate the icon, make the sign of the cross for the third time and bow again.
In the same order, you should approach any shrines: icons, the Holy Gospel, the Cross, holy relics.
When kissing the icon of the Savior, one should kiss His feet;
on the icon of the Mother of God and saints - a hand;
applying hair to the icon of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and to the icon of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
You should not kiss the face on icons!
In front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, you can say a prayer: “To my Queen, my Most Blessed Mother of God, my hope to the Mother of God, a refuge for the orphans and the strange, the intercessor of those who grieve with joy, those who are offended by the patroness. See my misfortune, see my sorrow, help me as I am weak, feed me as I am strange.
Weigh my offense, resolve it as you will: for I have no other help except You, no other intercessor, no good comforter, except You, O Mother of God, for you will preserve me and cover me forever and ever. Amen".
Or this prayer: “O All-Singing Mother, who gave birth to all the saints, the Most Holy Word, accept now this small prayer and, for the sake of Your greatness and the abyss of Your bounties, do not remember the multitude of our sins, but fulfill our good petitions, giving health to the body and salvation to the soul , delivering from all need and sorrow and making the Kingdom of Heaven heirs of all who faithfully cry out to God: Alleluia.”
An icon may depict several sacred persons, but the icon must be kissed once, so that when worshipers gather, they do not detain others and thereby disturb the decorum of the church.
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Among the entire Orthodox people there are people who can be classified as “nominal” Christians. They go to church on Christmas or Easter and strive to perform all the rituals of “folk” Orthodoxy, i.e. they bake Easter cakes, consecrate vodka, swim in an ice hole at Epiphany, but inside they are ordinary laymen who deceive, steal and lead extremely indecent lives. To avoid such a frivolous and superficial attitude towards the church, ministers strive to convey to Christians in as much detail as possible the meaning of this or that sacrament - in order to prevent the spread of heresies, but to raise an intelligent and thinking flock.
Such rituals also include applying to an icon. In the 8th-10th centuries, the fires of iconoclasm burned because the ministers decided to understand the images higher, since people pressed so hard that they even bit off the gilded frame. How to venerate an icon correctly, and most importantly, why do it?
One should venerate icons with a special sense of awe and reverence.
Is it necessary to kiss images in church?
It should be understood that for an Orthodox Christian, an icon is not just a board with paints or a picture, it is a reverent imprint of the personality of the saint who is depicted on it. People worship not a painting, but a saint who deserves to be captured.
Important! Through a sacred image, Orthodox Christians can enter into mysterious communication with the depicted person.
This is revealed in the rationale of the VII Ecumenical Council, which states that the honor given to images is an honor that relates to the person of the saint who is depicted. It is also clearly stated that the boards are given reverential worship and the Lord is given Divine worship. And reverence for icons does not mean worship at all, since only the Lord deserves worship.
It is important to understand and feel the difference between an ordinary painting or photograph and an icon. In the first case, it is simply a sealed person, and in the second, it is a sacred image of the holiness of a person who was obedient to God and laid down his whole life before His throne. The board has a different content; it speaks in its own language and expressions. Even the person who is depicted on it does not look like himself due to the fact that they are not painting corruptible flesh, but the sacred spirit that was invested in the person by the Creator.
An icon is an image of a saint, through which veneration and prayer will reach him
So why is it necessary to venerate images of saints? All at the same Ecumenical Council, a definition was given for what this is necessary: to remember the life of a person and his torment (in the case of the depicted martyr), in order to share in this memory and become involved in some kind of sanctification. At the same time, it is worth understanding that all worship, the entire liturgy is aimed at only one thing - to understand and hear the Lord, to worship Him. And everything else - applying to icons, lighting candles, placing the banner of the cross, etc. - are only means of achieving a gracious feeling of worship.
Read about revered icons of saints:
How to venerate an icon
Many priests advise coming to the icons a little earlier than the start of the service - this will allow everything to be done slowly, without fuss, and thereby sincerely and reverently worship God. Therefore, it is better to come before the bulk of people, crowds and bustle.
It is extremely useful to be in church not only on Sunday, but also during the week, especially if there is a service in the church every day.
You should tune in to the service in advance, even before entering the temple - this will allow you to listen to the Word of God as openly as possible and accept teaching and instruction. Before entering, you should cross yourself three times, interspersed with bows from the waist. Women should tie a scarf on their heads, and men, on the contrary, should remove their headdress. Immediately after entering the temple, you need to purchase church candles - they can be placed in front of the images.
If you need to pray for your loved ones, you can write a prayer note in the church shop and give it to the priest.
Having crossed themselves twice, lightly apply their lips to the very edge of the icon, then apply their foreheads
To venerate the holy image, you should go deep into the church to the iconostasis and first bow to the main church icon. First, you should bow at the lectern and cross yourself twice. The main image is usually located in the center of the iconostasis and is richly decorated with flowers or other decor.
During the celebration of a saint, his image is decorated and placed next to the main temple icon. On such days, you should first venerate this image. There are a number of tips and recommendations on how best to do this:
- Leave bags and packages at the entrance or under someone's supervision. Let your hands be free, as well as your thoughts.
- Take your time and don’t push those in front - respect and haste are incompatible concepts. You should approach the iconostasis calmly and courteously, without rushing or running.
- Women should remove lipstick or not wear it at all before worship. Touching the glass of an image with painted lips is not only indecent, but also unacceptable.
- Bows and the sign of the cross should be made when approaching the lectern and two more times directly in front of the image.
- If there is a priest in front of the icon who anoints everyone with oil, then you should first bow to the icon 2 times and cross yourself (also 2 times), go up for anointing and blessing and then make another bow with the sign of the cross.
- It is necessary to apply to the image in the places where the arms, legs or robe are depicted. It is unacceptable to touch the glass near the image of the face - it is impolite and is not allowed by church etiquette. Applying to the vestments and hands and feet of a saint shows that a person is not worthy of more due to his sinful nature. It is permissible to kiss the image of hair or hands (regarding the icons of the Savior Jesus Christ and John the Baptist).
- If the image is group, i.e. Several saints or even a group are drawn on it, then you can venerate the base of the icon once.
Read about famous icons of the Savior:
How to light candles
Candles are also lit as a gesture of reverence and reverence. Usually they are placed near a lectern or a specific image. To do this, install a special device with holes into which a church candle can be inserted. Light a candle from already lit candles and carefully place it in the free holes. During this, you can say: “Lord, have mercy” or read any prayer.
Candles are placed at a lectern or at a specific image
To light special funeral candles, you need to step aside a little. Usually on the left there is a special table for 40 candles - eve. It is there that funeral candles are placed during the reading of the prayer service. At the same time, there is no need to buy a separate candle for each deceased relative; it is enough to put one for everyone. Funeral candles are placed at the end of the service before leaving the temple.
On a note! If a person has just started attending religious services and cannot figure out how to light candles, usually there are clergymen standing next to them who can help with this.
In general, veneration of an icon is a sacrament that is designed to break human pride and allow a Christian to strengthen in his faith. Disgust and perseverance in this case are a manifestation of a proud heart that should be humbled. Applying to an icon is a reverent and respectful tradition, which is aimed at cultivating respect among believers for their ancestors and those people who gave their entire lives to serving the Lord.
Important! Empty attachment to an image without faith and for the sake of “this is how it should be” and “everyone does this” will not benefit the human heart; on the contrary, it will lead it even further into sin.
How to venerate icons correctly
The relics are the remains of the bodies of the Great Martyrs and Saints who once lived on Earth. During their lifetime, the saints were given a gift from above from God to heal and help people in various everyday situations. Divine Power of the Saints was so strong that even after death they help people. It is known that the relics of saints have miraculous powers and after death the saints help, you just have to ask for help and venerate the relics.
For example, the Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow, the famous and revered Elder, who helped people in absolutely everything during her life, after death also helps those who come to touch her relics. During her life, she said: Come to me, as if you were alive, I will see you, hear you and help you.
People turn to saints through prayers, visit churches, pray to icons and venerate relics. It is known that with strong faith and sincere prayer, the saints will definitely hear and help.
How should one apply the relics correctly?
Many people ask this question, especially those who turn to holy relics for the first time.
- To do this, you need to cross yourself twice in two bows, touch the relics with your forehead and lips, then cross yourself again and bow.
- At the moment when you stand at the relics and venerate them, say your request with which you came or mentally think about it.
- You can also attach church attributes to the relics, for example, a ring, a cross, since shrines have miraculous healing powers.
- There is a legend that to the holy relics is necessary come 3 times or touch them exactly three times in order for your requests to come true. In fact, this has not yet been proven, but it is known that the more often you venerate the relics, the more divine grace is poured out on you.
Help comes to everyone in different ways. It happens that it is enough to go to the relics once and in the near future your request will be fulfilled. In some cases you need to wait for a longer period of time, the most important thing is to be patient and have faith. If possible, it is advisable to visit churches more often and read prayers, because the Lord interacts with us only when we turn to him often and sincerely believe in his power and mercy.
Most importantly, don’t forget to give thanks for everything you receive every day. It doesn’t matter whether your wishes come true or not, you need to be happy with what you already have, rejoice at the opportunity to change yourself for the better, and then every minute everything in your life will be better and better, and your dreams will come true.
