Kissing icons

[Andreas Moran]

For most of us, kissing icons is usual. I see what is involved in kissing an icon of a saint - we are expressing our love and devotion to that saint. But when it comes to icons of feasts - for example, an icon of the Publican and Pharisee - why do we kiss it? Who are we kissing? Is it really right to kiss an icon of a feast? In any case, I've some sympathy with the practice of Old Rite Russians who do not kiss icons but venerate them by bowing before them.

[Paul Cowan]

Since we are venerating the saint depicted in the icon, why would we not be venerating the occurence of what is depicted in the icon? We venerate and kiss the Holy Life Giving Cross...

[Dimitris]

Hallo!

That's funny, I had exactly the same question nearly exactly three years ago. You may like to find it here: http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?3469-Venerating-icons.

Kind regards,
Dimitris

[Olga]

For most of us, kissing icons is usual. I see what is involved in kissing an icon of a saint - we are expressing our love and devotion to that saint. But when it comes to icons of feasts - for example, an icon of the Publican and Pharisee - why do we kiss it? Who are we kissing? Is it really right to kiss an icon of a feast? In any case, I've some sympathy with the practice of Old Rite Russians who do not kiss icons but venerate them by bowing before them.

Some may argue that the icon of the Publican and Pharisee, being an icon of a parable, is intended as more a didactic image rather than an icon to be venerated in the usual way. There are a few examples of parable icons which many would regard as suitable to place on a church analogion and venerate. These would include the Good Samaritan and the Sower of Seed; as Holy Tradition tells us that both the Samaritan and the Sower are types of Christ. On the other hand, neither of the characters in the Publican and Pharisee parable represent Christ, and, even though the Publican did indeed return to his home "justified", he is not shown with a halo, nor does Tradition ascribe a name to him, as it does to the unnamed (in the Gospel) Samaritan woman who conversed with Christ at the well - Tradition names her as St Photeini (Greek) or St Svetlana (Slav), both names meaning "illumined". The characters in the Publican and Pharisee parable are types of ourselves, sinful and fallen as we are. Our lot is to examine ourselves and see whether we are, at heart, pharisees or publicans, and to imitate the humility and compunction of the publican, not the open self-righteousness of the Pharisee.

Regarding the veneration of a festal icon, there is no question as to the propriety of venerating these, whether they are feasts of Christ, the Mother of God, the Cross, etc. Venerating such icons or the Cross, we are, in effect, venerating Christ, His Mother, the Cross which Christ has sanctified. Yet again, may I say, a look at the liturgical material for any of these feasts should dispel doubts as to whether such icons should be venerated.

On the Old Believer practice: The only possible reason that comes to mind which would justify only bowing to an icon would be an absence in their culture of kissing as a sign of honour and reverence. Given that the Old Believers were and are drawn from Slavic cultural traditions, I find it difficult to imagine that such kissing was never part of their culture. Rather, it seems to me to be more a gesture of asserting their difference to "mainstream" Orthodox practice.

[David Hawthorne]

When I kiss the icon of a parable like that of the Publican and Pharisee, both of whom may have been fictitional characters, I think that I am kissing the Lord who told the parable and accepting its message. But its a good question, I never really thought of it before.

[Theodora E.]

Hah! That's funny because I had the same thought this evening when I approached the analogian to venerate this icon before Vespers. I just compromised by kissing a lower corner. Seemed to me to be the best option.

[Eric Peterson]

Why not just kiss the icon, rather than any particular figure? I wonder if this practice of putting these sorts of icons for veneration on stands is relatively new, since those sorts of icons are usually on walls, in mosaic or fresco.