Proper Way to Perform a Full Prostration to the Floor during Lenten Services

Question: This may sound silly, but what is the proper way to perform a full prostration to the floor during Lenten services? What is the proper way to perform a metania? It is just that I see so many variations in Church that I am really confused!

To make a prostration, we should keep our feet together, bend slightly and "fall lightly" to the floor, onto the hands, which should be at some length away from the knees. The hands touch the floor first, then the knees. We are then in a better physical position to rise after our head touches our hands which are on the floor. It is traditional to place an embroidered cloth on the floor so that the hand with which we Cross ourselves is not soiled. I have seen some people place their hands on the floor in an "X" position.

On days when prostrations are not made (during Lent and other times, Saturday and Sunday, as one example), we make a metanoia ("repentance").

After making the Sign of the Cross, the knees are kept straight while the upper body bends from the waist, and the right hand is extended toward the ground as far as possible. At other times, a simple bow of the head is called for, such as when the Chalice is brought out or when the Priest blesses the people during the Divine Liturgy. We also Cross ourselves and bow in this way when passing in front of the Royal Doors in Church.

When venerating an Icon, we make the Sign of the Cross with a metanoia two times, then kiss the Icon, and then make one more Sign of the Cross with a metanoia. By ancient Church custom, we should kiss only the Feet or Hand of Christ, or even the Hair on the Icon "Not Made by Hands," and never the face. The same is true of the act of reverencing the Epitaphion.

In doing this, we imitate the humility of the woman with the issue of blood who touched but the hem of Christ's garment and was healed by the Power that came out of Him. Icons of the Mother of God and the Saints are reverenced on their Hands. In Lent, these metanoias are replaced by prostrations.

We also make a metanoia when approaching a Hierarch or a Priest for his blessing. Then we fold our hands, right on left, palms upward, to receive his right hand, which we kiss in token of his being a representative of Christ. Also, we do this because the Hierarch or Priest holds in his hands the Body of Christ during the Divine Liturgy.

As we fold our hands, we should ask for the Sacerdotal Blessing by saying, "Bless me, Reverend Father or Your Eminence etc. This is not an act of self-deprecation, or a hold-over from a society built on class lines or any such nonsense! This is a very spiritual act in which we receive Christ's blessing through His Bishops and Priests. Others add the three-fold Kiss of Peace on the face of the Hierarch and Priests and say, "Christ is among us!"

Just before Communion, we make one last prostration or metanoia, then, with arms folded in an "X" position, we approach the Sacred Mysteries. After partaking, and having our lips wiped with the cloth, we take special care to kiss the Chalice by means of which we reverence the Wounded Side of Christ from which comes the Sacred and Saving Refreshment, prefigured in the Old Testament by Moses striking the side of the rock with his rod from which flowed water. Afterwards, we are not to make any prostrations, but we should meditate throughout the rest of the day on God's love for humankind and how privileged we are to be loved and nourished by Christ and share in the Life of the Holy Trinity 

Dr. Alexander Roman  alex@unicorne.org