I kissed a priest and I liked it

For £2.27 ($3) a month you get:Exclusive access to premium contentAccess to great value on all Jarvah Biltong Products (UK only)All funds go to the Orthodox Church in St Leonard's, Hastings to continue it's transformational workSunny Banana (Sunny Banana + Jarvah Biltong)"I kissed a priest and I liked it" – a provocative statement that opens the door to a profound spiritual exploration. This episode takes you on my personal journey from Anglican tradition into Orthodox Christianity, where I encountered the ancient practice of kissing a priest's hand during worship and greeting.What started as an unfamiliar gesture became a gateway to understanding deeper truths about reverence, symbolism, and our relationship with the divine. In Orthodox tradition, the priest stands as Christ's representative – not to be worshipped himself, but to direct our attention toward something greater. When believers kiss his hand, they participate in a "movement of love" that transcends the physical act.The gestures we embrace reveal what we truly value. As Scripture tells us, "God is love" – not simply that "love is love." This distinction matters profoundly for how we orient our spiritual lives. When I had the privilege of visiting the Russian Orthodox Cathedral I London and receiving a blessing from Bishop Irenei of London, the experience deepened my appreciation for these symbolic acts that have sustained believers for centuries.This journey has transformed how I see each person as bearing God's image. If we truly embraced this reality, wouldn't it change how we approach every human interaction? A priest once asked me how I would know if I had truly repented. His answer stays with me: when what you once loved becomes less important, and what you once neglected becomes central. For Christians, Christ became human to sanctify human relationships, making our connections with others a pathway to divine love.Have you ever considered how physical gestures in worship might redirect your spiritual focus? I invite you to reflect on what you venerate in your own life, and whether it's leading you toward a deeper love of God and neighbor.Drop us a lineSupport the show