Touching the hem of the priest's vestments

[SpiritlMuse]

I have seen this done mainly by the older women in the different churches - The Romanian parish, I have seen more here.. but its is also a much smaller church easier access as he walks down the aisle. I'm in an Antioch parish now and I have seen it done only around the feast times that I can remember.

 

[27B6]

In my Antiochian parish both men and women commonly touch the hem every liturgy (those who are near the priest during the procession). It's the norm.

 

[ClementofRome]

Men, women and children at my parish. We are a relatively small parish, so it is not a problem to position for the Great Entrance.

 

[Protoevangel]

Several at my parish do. Whenever I'm at the end of the ew, I do.

I think I'll call them "ews" now instead of "pews" (to reference the other thread), it just seems more appropriate.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Noob question -

Do they kneel down to do it? "Hem" meaning the base of the vestments at the floor? Or "hem" meaning sleeves, so you don't have to kneel?

 

[-Kyriaki-]

The edges, somewhere, is my experience. Not the sleeves, but the edge of the (liturgical name escapes me) chasuble like thing they wear in the services, normally.

 

[Anhelyna]

Phelonion ?

 

[-Kyriaki-]

Yeah, that's it. Orthodox fail

 

[choirfiend]

There's a newbie kid (I think he might be a catechumen) now at my parish who did a genuflection (kneel) while taking Fr's hem....I haven't seen him do it again, so I'm pretty sure Fr. corrected him from doing it. It adds to the tripping hazard, and we don't kneel on Sundays, and you don't want to trip Fr. while he is bringing the Gifts to the altar. More displays of "piety" aren't always better!