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Edited from a variety of translations (mentioned in the preface) by H. R. Percival
THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS Resources Online and in Print
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82 Pages
Page 65
[We have likewise decreed] that these images are to be reverenced (proskunein), that is, salutations are to be offered to them. The reason for using the word is, that it has a two-fold signification. For kunein in the old Greek tongue signifies both "to salute" and "to kiss." And the preposition pros gives to it the additional idea of strong desire towards the subject; as for example, we have phero and prosphero, kuro and proskuro, and so also we have kuneo and proskuneo. Which last word implies salutation and strong love; for that which one loves he also reverences (proskunei) and what he reverences that he greatly loves, as the everyday custom, which we observe towards those we love, bears witness, and in which both ideas are practically illustrated when two friends meet together. The word is not only made use of by us, but we also find it set down in the Divine Scriptures by the ancients. For it is written in the histories of the Kings, "And David rose up and fell upon his face and did reverence to (prosekunese) Jonathan three times and kissed him" (1 Kings xx. 41). And what is it that the Lord in the Gospel says concerning the Pharisees? "They love the uppermost rooms at feasts and greetings (aspasmous) in the markets." It is evident that by "greetings" here, he means reverence (proskunesin) for the Pharisees being very high-minded and thinking themselves to be righteous were eager to be reverenced by all, but not [merely] to be kissed. For to receive salutations of this latter sort savoured too much of lowly humility, and this was not to the Pharisees' liking. We have also the example of Paul the divine Apostle, as Luke in the Acts of the Apostles relates: "When we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly, and the day following Paul went in with us unto James, and all the presbyters were present. And when he had saluted (aspasamenos) them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry" (Acts xxi. 17, 18, 19). By the salutation here mentioned, the Apostle evidently intended to render that reverence of honour (timetiken proskunesin) which we shew to one another, and of which he speaks when he says concerning Jacob, that "he reverenced (prosekunesen) the top of his staff" (Heb. xi. 21). With these examples agrees what Gregory surnamed Theologus says: "Honour Bethlehem, and reverence (proskuneson) the manger."
Now who of those rightly and sincerely understanding the Divine Scriptures, has ever supposed that these examples which we have cited speak of the worship in spirit (tes en pneumati latreias)? [Certainly no one has ever thought so] except perhaps some persons utterly bereft of sense and ignorant of all knowledge of the Scriptures and of the teaching of the Fathers. Surely Jacob did not adore (elatreusen) the top of his staff; and surely Gregory Theologus does not bid us to adore (latreuein) the manger? By no means.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/ecumenical-councils/seventh.asp?pg=65
