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Did you know that prostrations began before Christ?

Prostrations have been offered throughout history by Jews, Gentiles, Persians, Greeks, Muslims, and Christians alike in honor of God, political leaders, and sacred objects. The Orthodox controversy over prostrations like icons being idolatrous was settled with the defeat of iconoclasm in the ninth century. In private or public worship, prostrations served as a suggested liturgical act of praying with our body. We pray not only with our mind, mouth, and heart "spiritual eyes" – our thoughts words and spiritual seeing or knowing – but also with our body. Prostrations are offered at church primarily during the Great Lent: they are not typically done on Sundays.

 

The Greek word for prostration is proskynesis – which means to bow towards and to kiss in adoration or veneration. Prostrations full and partial are the most complete form of a bow called a metania or metanoia – which means repentance. Therefore, prostrations serve as a living icon of our spiritual journey: following Christ, falling down and getting back up – representing the fall of the human race through Adam and with the church's resurrection and glorification with Christ. 

 

To do a prostration we make the sign of the cross, fall to our knees and bow our heads to the floor – in all in one continuous motion. When touching the floor, our hands can either be flat or fist with our head dropping between our hands. Then we stand up and do another prostration or continue with other prayers.