In Russia, laymen should kiss the hands of their priests, but priests should never, ever, kiss the hand of their President!

A few days ago, I reflected on Cardinal Heenan’s reaction to the reduction of liturgical kissing, which came about during the Second Vatican Council. Although in favour of the virtual abolition of sacred kissing during the Mass, Heenan also pointed out that in some countries: “it is the custom for a child to kiss the hand of parents and of those to whom respect and love are due.” By writing this, the Cardinal appeared to acknowledge the profound symbolism behind kissing the hands of priests and sacred ministers -- it is fundamentally and act of love and reverence.

Because a priest is an alter Christus for his people and acts in persona Christi at the altar, there has been a long Catholic (and Orthodox) tradition of kissing the consecrated hands of the clergy. In Britain, the tradition of kissing the monarch’s hands continues to this day, even if it now seems that no actual kiss takes place. This ritual is symbolic of the prime minister’s loyalty to the sovereign -- who rules by Divine right. In both situations -- ecclesiastical and royal -- kissing the hand of a superior is an act of respect towards God and His holy will.

The consecrated hands of kings, who had / have been chosen to reign by God’s special grace, were also highly sought after for other reasons during past centuries. It was often the case that those afflicted with illnesses (especially scrofula, or the ‘King's Evil’) sought miraculous cures by simply touching, or kissing, the 'royal hand' – Henry IV of France is reputed to have touched over 1,500 diseased individuals during one religious ceremony. It is from this tradition that we get the term 'touching for the King's Evil'. 

Hand kissing is a common sign of affection, loyalty, respect and submission in many cultures, especially around the Mediterranean -- one that does not restrict itself to the hands of the clergy or Divinely appointed rulers. To this day, kissing priests' hands is also something that survives with great zeal amongst Orthodox Christians, especially when they greet members of the clergy. It is sad to say, though, that many Catholics hardly ever kiss their bishop's ring nowadays, let alone the consecrated hands of a priest.

But, it seems that even in Holy Russia, one should never kiss the hands of the President – even if he does seem to act as a virtual Tsar!

 

President Vladimir Putin at Valaam Monastery on Monday 6 August

Maybe it’s because of fears that he is accused of being too closely reliant on the Orthodox Church that Vladimir Putin seemed so horrified when the priest in the above video dared kiss his hand? It could be that Putin does not want to appear to be too Tsar-like, even if his relationship with the Patriarch of Moscow resembles that enjoyed by the Romanovs and their churchmen.

Of course, Putin may also have been put off by the thought of being kissed on the hand by another man – surely, outside clerical circles, it is only proper for grown men (or gentlemen) to kiss the hands of ladies (even if this is a rare sight nowadays)? The Russian leader recoiled in a way that suggested a kind of reactive displeasure or disgust – the kind of thing that happens when someone is either embarrassed or humiliated by the actions of others.

Of course, the Russian President may also have been aware that within the Orthodox Church it is only deemed appropriate to reverence the hand of an ordained minister or monk. Maybe this is why he seemed uncomfortable by the cleric’s kiss? Putin, even if he is a politically powerful man, is surely aware of his status as a simple layman.

The monk in question has now explained his actions – basically saying that the misunderstanding arose because he’s a foreigner, unfamiliar with Russian customs.

Speaking via Mikhail Shishkov, spokesman for the Valaam Monastery in the Russian Republic of Karelia, which Vladimir Putin visited on Monday, Father Mefody, the hand-kissing priest, said: “I kissed the Russian president’s hand as a token of acknowledgement of the great Russian nation by the small [Macedonian] nation” (see here). Shishkov explained that Mefody is originally from Macedonia, where it is common for the lowly to kiss the hands of their superiors – ecclesiastical or otherwise.

Possibly aware of the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church is currently facing criticism for appearing to be too closely entwined with the Putin regime, Shishkov went on to explain: “People call me and say: ‘Why do you crawl, why do you behave like sycophants?’ I have not heard such boorishness before.” He added: “This person is a Macedonian; he filled that action with profound meaning. But [critics] only see the church as an enemy and aggressor. They are not interested in how many people he brought to Christ, how selflessly he works or how hospitably he receives Valaam guests.”

I am not entirely sure why I posted about this particular incident, which will probably soon be forgotten about. I guess the above video seemed interesting enough for me to want to highlight it on here – especially after having just recently written about liturgical kissing and the traditions associated with reverencing the hands of priests. The clip also clearly emphasises the symbolic potency of kissing, as well as the peculiar relationship that appears to exist between the Orthodox Church and the Putin government.

The wonderful human act of kissing is one that can be interpreted and viewed in many different ways: from the sacred to the profane. One thing is for sure, though, if you are ever introduced the manly, ex-KGB, President of Russia, it might be best just to shake his hand!