Reverence and participation
Practical explanations for how the body participates in prayer through posture, gesture, stillness, and reverence.
20 answers in this topic
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- When may I sit?
- Is it disrespectful to sit if I am tired, pregnant, elderly, sick, disabled, or overwhelmed?
- Why does everyone stand for the Gospel?
- How is the sign of the Cross made in the Coptic Orthodox Church?
- Do I have to cross myself if I am not Orthodox?
- Why do people bow their heads during certain prayers?
- Why do people kneel or make full prostrations?
- What is a metanoia?
- When are prostrations not done?
- Why do people sometimes remove their shoes in certain holy places?
- Do I have to kiss icons?
- Where should I kiss an icon if I choose to venerate it?
- Why do people kiss the priest’s hand?
- Do I have to kiss the priest's hand?
All questions
- When may I sit?
- Is it disrespectful to sit if I am tired, pregnant, elderly, sick, disabled, or overwhelmed?
- Why does everyone stand for the Gospel?
- How is the sign of the Cross made in the Coptic Orthodox Church?
- Do I have to cross myself if I am not Orthodox?
- Why do people bow their heads during certain prayers?
- Why do people kneel or make full prostrations?
- What is a metanoia?
- When are prostrations not done?
- Why do people sometimes remove their shoes in certain holy places?
- Do I have to kiss icons?
- Where should I kiss an icon if I choose to venerate it?
- Why do people kiss the priest’s hand?
- Do I have to kiss the priest's hand?