Believers, entering the church, kiss the icon. But putting candles at the altar and applying to the icons should be correct, with prayer and bows, observing customs and not interfering with other worshipers. Where and how to kiss the icon and in what cases it is necessary to touch it only with the forehead, the priest can tell, before or after the service.
Instructions
Step 1
To apply (kiss) the Holy Gospel, relics, the Cross and any icons, you should approach calmly and reverently, say a prayer in your mind, cross yourself twice, make two deep bows before kissing. Attach to the icon. Then cross again and bow. It is better to make bows in the waist, touching the ground with your hand.
Step 2
Observe the pious rule when applying to the festive icon and to the Cross: women are instructed to let children go ahead, then men and the elderly. Leave bulky bags and outerwear in the corner before approaching the iconostasis.
Step 3
Deeply believers kiss the icon with their lips, thereby expressing love and respect for the one who is depicted in the icon. Touching the lips is an expression of deep faith and love, humility and reverence. Touching the icon with the forehead literally means "embracing." Everyone chooses his own way, close to him. Attaching to an icon is a celebration that is rewarded by believers to an icon, elevated to the face depicted on it and mentally touching this face.
Step 4
On the icon of the Savior, kiss only the feet (with a half-length image - the hand), on the icon of the Mother of God and on the icons of all saints - hands. If you kiss the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands - the edge of the plate on which the face is outlined. Approaching the icon of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, kiss the image of the hair.
Step 5
If the icon depicts several saints, touch the handle of one of them only once (this way you will not detain other worshipers).
Step 6
Do not kiss the very faces of Christ, the Mother of God and the saints depicted on the icon.
Step 7
Applying to the holy relics also follows after two bows and mental prayer. One should kiss the legs and the head of the saint or one head at a time. Moving away, so as not to disturb others, make a third bow to the ground.
