RESPECT FOR THE CLERGY
The Orthodox
Christian respects and loves the clergy. Knowing that the clergy are servants
of God and man, devoting their life for the salvation of their flock, the
Orthodox Christian expresses his gratitude and respect to them on every
occasion.
First, the Priest
is addressed as "Father" by all, for he is the spiritual father of
his flock: he is their teacher, confessor, sanctifier, and healer. There are people
that belong to Christian denominations that do not call their clergy,
"Father". But let us consider the words of St. Paul, "For if you
were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many father;
for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel" (I
Corinthians 4:15).
When we also read the gospel according to St. Luke, we find the
rich man calling up to Abraham in heaven with Lazarus in his bosom and addressing
him as "Father Abraham" (See Luke 16:20-31). Abraham's response was
not, "Do you not realize that only God the Father is to be called
Father?" Rather, he replied, '.Son, remember".
Second, when people
greet their Priest they kiss his hand as an expression of respect, as
recognition of his Priesthood, and as a veneration to the holiness of his
sacred office and duties.
The fact that the
Priest handles the Holy of Holies, that is, the Body and Blood of Christ, when
he offers the Divine Liturgy, is recognized by Orthodox people, at all time
throughout the world, as a great and awesome privilege.
The hands that
touch and offer the Bloodless Sacrifice on the Holy Altar; the hands that give
to us the Body and Blood of Christ; the hands that baptize and anoint us with
Holy Chrism; the hands that absolve us in the Sacrament of Penance; the hands
that bless our wedlock in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and anoint our bodies
with the healing oil of the Sacrament of Holy Unction; the hands that sprinkle
upon us the Holy Water of Sanctification; the hands that bless us, alive and
dead, these hands are the instruments of salvation. For this reason Orthodox
Christians through the centuries have kissed the hand of our Priest when we
greet him either in church when he distributes the "Antidoron" at the
end of the Divine Liturgy or outside the church whenever we meet him.
We close these
remarks with the words of St. Paul: "Remember your leaders, those who
spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life and imitate
their faith; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not
be led away by diverse and strange teachings. Obey your leaders and submit to
them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give
account.
Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no
advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:7-9, 13, 17).