Questions & Answers

Tradition

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Church › Tradition

The question

Why do people kiss the priest's hand?

The answer

This tradition exists in the Orthodox Churches and some eastern Catholic Churches. It is a sign of respect and honor to the servant of God (the priest) who was entrusted by God to carry His Body and His Blood in his hands. So actually we kiss the hands that are blessed by the Body and the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

How do you convince a non-denominational person of the importance of tradition along with the Holy Bible? The Holy Book of Romans 10:9 is the verse used against the…
" Beware lest any one cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according…
Must all the teachings and writings of the early Church Fathers and of all the Saints be indiscriminately believed in and accepted as Holy Tradition? Do all saints…

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 653 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.