3. Then the Deacon cries aloud,
“Receive ye one another; and let us kiss one another These two directions
by the Deacon are separated in the Liturgy of St. James: after
the dismissal of the Catechumens, the Deacon says, “Take note one
of another;” and after the Incense, Cherubic hymn, Oblation,
Creed, and a short prayer “that we may be united one to another
in the bond of peace and charity,” the Deacon says, “Let us
salute (ἀγαπῶμεν)
one another with a holy kiss.” In the Apostolic
Constitutions, VIII. 11, there is but one such direction, and this
comes before the washing of hands and the dismissal of the Catechumens,
“Salute (ἀσπάσασθε) ye one
another with a holy kiss.”.” Think not that this kiss is of
the same character with those given in public by common friends.
It is not such: but this kiss blends souls one with another, and
courts entire forgiveness for them. The kiss therefore is the
sign that our souls are mingled together, and banish all remembrance of
wrongs. For this cause Christ said, If thou art offering thy
gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught
against time, leave there thy gift upon the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy
gift Matt. v. 23. From Cyril’s
reference to this passage “it may be inferred that the kiss of
peace had been given before the gifts were brought to the altar,
according to ancient custom attested by Justin M. Apolog. i. c.
65: ‘Having ended the prayers’ (for the newly
baptized) ‘we salute one another with a kiss. Then there is
brought to the President of the brethren bread, and a cup of wine mixed
with water’” (Ben. Ed.). There is the same order in
the Apost. Const. VIII. 12, and in the 19th Canon of the Synod
of Laodicea; but in the Liturgy of S. James the gifts are offered
before the kiss of peace.. The kiss
therefore is reconciliation, and for this reason holy: as the
blessed Paul somewhere cried, saying, Greet ye one another with a
holy kiss 1 Cor. xvi. 20.; and Peter, with
a kiss of charity 1 Pet. iii. 15..