Sărutarea păcii: origini și actualitate

Abstract

In the Liturgy of the Faithful we hear the words of the deacon, addressed to all believers: “Let us love one another, so that we may confess in one thought!” Archimandrite Kiprian Kern mentions that “in ancient times the kiss of peace was offered not only among clergy, but also among lay people. This act symbolizes a deep inner reconciliation between Christians [...] a common thought and deep spiritual munity”. The present study aims at a foray into the tradition of the Christian Liturgy, from its origins to the present day, in order to understand at what liturgical moment the kiss of peace was given, by whom, how this liturgical act was performed and what significance and importance it had for the spiritual life of Christians, on the one hand; on the other hand, based on the scriptural, patristic and canonical testimonies mentioned, we want to bring this liturgical act up to date and propose the return to its fulfillment by the laity present at the Holy Mass, after a prior catechesis.