www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology How Common Is This Practice ?

I do not regard this as such. The bishop has the particular office to righty divide the Word of Truth. A presbyter is but his representative in a parish. I could never suggest to anyone not to venerate in the traditional manner the Gospel Book or an Icon, or change the way Holy Communion is administered, If the Bishop does so, I would have to support him. This I could not do.

Perhaps this is a real fault line between Orthodox and Catholics.

Fr David Straut

Perhaps this is a real fault line between Orthodox and Catholics.

Father,

This is an ambiguous statement. Can you clarify a bit, please.

I agree with Father David on this. I expect that should a bishop see a need for a pastoral letter on this issue he would only reaffirm that kissing the Gospel Book (and other holy things) is not and has never been a source of an illness epidemic within the Church.

I would firstly ask the bishop to re-examine what he has stated and to consider the enormity of what he is teaching with his statement.

I would also not teach something other then what the Church teaches (in this case the proper way to venerate). How an individual believer actually venerates and how a priest addresses improper veneration within his parish is a pastoral issue. My suggestion would be for the pastor to either 1) quietly speak to the individual(s) who venerate improperly to teach them (using humor, which helps a lot!) or 2) maybe just before the next veneration of (a Gospel Book) explain "for the visitors" the proper way to venerate.

I, too, am unclear on Father's statement on the line between Orthodox and Catholic. Bishops in both Churches do make mistakes.

I was back at this church yesterday, and yes, this practice occurs just before the Little Ektenia. I quite like it, but see where it could be a problem in a larger parish,