Touching The Priest's Robe

[Chesterton]

Some people who sit near the aisle in my church will reach out and kind of rub Father's garments as he proceeds by during the Great Entrance. I overheard someone ask Father why they did it, if it had some particular meaning, but he answered that he didn't know; he'd never seen it done anywhere else. Does anyone do this in your church? Does it have a special meaning? One thing that comes to mind is the place in the New Testament where people were touching Peter (or Paul's ?) cloths as he walked by because he had done some healings in that town. ?

 

[Knee V]

Some people who sit near the aisle in my church will reach out and kind of rub Father's garments as he proceeds by during the Great Entrance. I overheard someone ask Father why they did it, if it had some particular meaning, but he answered that he didn't know; he'd never seen it done anywhere else. Does anyone do this in your church? Does it have a special meaning? One thing that comes to mind is the place in the New Testament where people were touching Peter (or Paul's ?) cloths as he walked by because he had done some healings in that town. ?

I've seen it done at a parish I once visited while travelling, but I don't know why it's done.

 

[inconsequential]

I was told it was symbolic of the woman touching the hem of Christ's garment as He passed by, since He IS passing by (in the chalice).

 

[Mary of Bethany]

I think it's pretty common in Greek & Antiochian parishes. I've seen it done in both. Not in Russian/OCA parishes. Just a different "t"radition.

And Inconsequential's explanation is also what I've been told.

Mary

 

[InnerPhyre]

It symbolizes the woman touching the hem of Christ's garment and being healed. The priest is an icon of Christ, so it is a symbolic way of asking Christ for healing.

 

[katherine2001]

In my OCA parish, we have a couple who do it, as they are Greek. We are the only Orthodox parish within our area. The closest one is a 2 hr drive away (when roads are good). Therefore, we have just about every Orthodox country represented in our parish. Actually it is interesting since we have customs from all of them that we do in our parish.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Being Jewish, Christ would have worn a fringed garment (Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12). The woman with the issue of blood touched these fringes and was healed. Jesus asked who had touched Him, because He felt power leave Him. These garments were used when praying called a Talith (meaning little tent). You can also read about it in the life of Elijah and Elisha. All Orthodox clergy wear fringes on their robes. In fact, during services and confession/absolution this garment (stole) is used in the same way in Orthodoxy. He says "Blessed is God Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like unto the precious ointment on the head, which runneth down upon the beard, even the beard of Aaron, which runneth down upon the fringe of his raiment."

 

[ArmyMatt]

I was told it was symbolic of the woman touching the hem of Christ's garment as He passed by, since He IS passing by (in the chalice).

this is what I heard as well, my OCA parish actually I have seen do it more than my Antiochian one.

 

[E.C.]

I was told it was symbolic of the woman touching the hem of Christ's garment as He passed by, since He IS passing by (in the chalice).

Yes

It is a mostly Arab tradition. At the Jerusalem Vicariate parish that I'll visit about half of the congregation ends up touching the priest's vestments.

I remember my old parish had a few Arabs and a lot of Russians. After some time the Russians started doing it because they saw the Arabs do it, but never realized why they did!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I've never seen that done in my Serbian parish, but we do kiss the hand of the priest constantly.

 

[Chesterton]

Yes, my church is Antiochian. Cool, thanks for the answers.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

Only time I've seen it does is at an Antiochian parish. The kids seemed excited for it.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Why did the woman believe she would be healed by touching the fringes on Jesus garment? Here is an interesting explanation.

Fringes of the Garment (Episode 22) | FFOZ TV

 

[Tigger45]

Back when I was visiting an Antiochian parish many of the parishioners would reach out and touch the priest rob as he past with the communion chalice. After a couple of services I finally worked up the nerve to reach out and touch his rob. I had always wondered why and now I know why the bible used the word power over spirit that flowed from Jesus' rob to the woman with the blood issue. It only happened the first time I tried it but I'll tell ya I got exactly what I needed.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I had always wondered why and now I know why the bible used the word power over spirit that flowed from Jesus' rob to the woman with the blood issue. It only happened the first time I tried it but I'll tell ya I got exactly what I needed.

glory to God!