Touching the hem of the priest's vestments

[OuterWater]

I have noticed at liturgy that a couple of women have taken to touching the priest's vestments as he passes during the Great Entrance. I can understand and appreciate the reasons for this, but I was wondering if this is common practice? Do women do it in your parishes? Do men do it as well?

 

[Megaloskhemos]

I've noticed things like this in my parish, particularly among the yiayias. I don't think it is a specifically female thing; I've seen men do it as well, more commonly during the processions on the major feast days.

 

[gracefullamb]

Men, women and children in my church do this. I would say about half the members of the church try to get close enough to do this each week.

 

[E.C.]

I believe it originates from the Syrian tradition.

The Russians at my parish, both men and women, have picked it up even though it isn't a "Russian thing".

 

[gzt]

It's a Greek/Arabic thing. Men do it, too.

 

[cobweb]

Yep. The only ones who do it in my parish are the ones who have come from Antiochian parishes.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I saw it in my OCA parish by a few of the older ladies

 

[-Kyriaki-]

I don't do it a lot, but I do when I'm in a bad place health-wise, or just really need God's help. One particularly moving memory was standing in the row facing the aisle that went sideways as the bishops and priests processed through during great vespers next to a friend with very bad osteoarthritis, both of us young and in a lot of pain at the time, standing on a cold stone floor, holding our hands so that they just brushed the vestments of the clergy as they passed. There were about thirty clergy all told, and I'll never forget that moment.

 

[Kristos]

they have been doing for 2000 years...

 

[Christ's_Warrior]

Yeh ladies at our Church do it also.

 

[OuterWater]

Thanks for the responses. So beautiful.

 

[Damaris]

I used to go to a church where that was very common, but I never did it because I'm so clumsy I worried I'd knock the priest over. I've never seen it done anywhere else.

 

[Antony in Tx]

Several people at my church do it. I never made the connection, but they are all Arabic. When the Bishop is there, a lot more Greeks get in on the act.

 

[JesusIsTheWay33]

I would assume this is done in recollection of the woman in the Bible who touched the hem of Christ's robe?

 

[OuterWater]

I would assume this is done in recollection of the woman in the Bible who touched the hem of Christ's robe?

And because the priest is an icon of Christ.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

ya this is really cool, im in an Antiochian parish but i dont really see it done, being as though they are a bit too far from the aisles most likely.

 

[Dorothea]

Yes, I do so ever so often. It's not too common, but we still do so at times.

 

[katherine2001]

One of the Greek women in my parish does it. It's interesting to see how she always manages to get in a position to do this during the Great Entrance.

 

[JesusIsTheWay33]

And because the priest is an icon of Christ.

Is this similar to the Western concept of the priest being in persona Christi during the liturgy?

 

[ma2000]

We have it too, although it's more common in the country parish where my parents live.