Why is the holy kiss exchanged in the Divine Liturgy?

The priests, the congregation and even the children exchange the holy kiss in the Divine Liturgy, to emphasize their love for one another. St. John Chrysostom stresses that this kiss has been used in the Church since the Apostolic Age.¹⁵⁵³ Athenagoras of Athens mentions that the kiss of peace is the kiss of the eucharist or the apostolic kiss in the Christian liturgy. In the second-century, St. Justin Martyr referred to the liturgical kiss as a preparation for the eucharist and as a conclusion to the previous prayers for sanctification.¹⁵⁵⁴

In his book “The Shape of the Liturgy,” Fr, Dix says, “So it comes about that while vestiges, at least, of the apostolic kiss of peace are still found all over catholic Christendom (except in the Anglican rites) it now stands in its primitive position only among the Copts and the Abyssinians [Ethiopians].”¹⁵⁵⁵

1551 Perhaps St. Basil means that the priest or bishop who delivered the sermon can raise their heart with a short prayer, asking God to enlighten him and the listeners with His knowledge and to grant them an understanding of His truths.

1552 Monastery of the Syrians, St. Basil the Great: His Life, Asceticism, and Church Canons (Arabic) (St. Mary’s Monastery (Deir al-Sourian), 2003): p. 543.

1553 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Second Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 44.4 (NPNF I/12:265).

1554 St. Justin Martyr, First Apology 65 (ANF 1:185).

1555 Dom Gregory Dix, The Shape of the Liturgy (Bloomsbury, 2005): p. 110.

St. Basil the Great says, “Once they finish the Liturgy of the Catechumens, they should ask the Catechumens to leave. After that, let the congregation be ordered to greet one another, let the males greet one another and the females greet one another.”¹⁵⁵⁶ By this kiss, all the attendees confirm that they truly want to be one family and that we can only offer gifts on the altar if we are first reconciled with our brothers and sisters. Thus, the deacon urges us to greet one another, saying, “Pray for perfect peace, love, and the holy apostolic greetings.” We will not enjoy reconciliation with God in Christ Jesus and peace with the Holy Trinity unless we are at peace amongst each other.

In the Syrian Didascalia of the Apostles,¹⁵⁵⁷ it is mentioned that the deacon cries out with a loud voice when people are greeting one another, warning anyone who has anything against another (as if it were a last warning) to come forward for the bishop to reconcile them together.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “Then the Deacon cries aloud, ‘Receive one another and let us greet one another.’ 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 you offer your sacrifice to the altar, and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your sacrifice in front of the altar and go first, make friends with your brother, and then come and offer your gift’ (Matt. 5:23). The kiss therefore is reconciliation, and for this reason holy: as the blessed Paul somewhere cried, saying, ‘Greet one another with the holy kiss’ (1 Cor. 16:20); and Peter, with a kiss of charity (1 Pet. 5:14).”¹⁵⁵⁸ St. Augustine says, “It is a sign of peace, for what purifies the external lips purifies the hearts within.”¹⁵⁵⁹