👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾What Does #Grace #Prostration Mean? Who Taught Prostration to the Saints?
(Part 7)
Beloved in Christ, lovers of the truth handed down by the holy Church, today we take up a matter of great importance: the mystery of grace prostration. Let us incline our hearts, that we may understand what it means, and by whose command it was delivered to the saints.
The Meaning of Grace Prostration
Grace prostration is the reverent bow offered not only to God but to all those sanctified in Him, to the vessels of His glory, and to the signs of His salvation. It is not the adoration due to the Holy Trinity, but the honor of grace given to:
The Holy Virgin Mary, the Theotokos,
The Holy Cross of our Lord,
The Holy Angels,
The Martyrs,
The Righteous and Saints,
The Holy Church,
The Holy Places,
The Ark,
The Holy Relics of the righteous.
The daily prayer of the Church, therefore, does not end only with the words: “I bow down to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Rather, it continues: “I bow down to the Virgin Mary, who bore God in the flesh; I bow down to the Cross on which Christ was crucified for the salvation of the world.”
Here we see that the prostration of grace is distinct from the prostration of worship ( to God alone ) or prostration of worship belongs to the Holy Trinity alone, but Grace prostration are rightly given to all that God has sanctified.
Who Taught Us Prostration?
It is God Himself who taught us to give this honor. The Scriptures testify to this from the very beginning.
Jacob and Isaac’s Blessing
When Isaac blessed Jacob, he spoke the words:
“Let nations serve you, and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you.” (Gen. 27:29).
Though Esau was the elder son, it was Jacob who received the blessing by divine providence. For God Himself ratified Isaac’s words, so much so that He was thereafter called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—and not of Esau. If honoring the saints were contrary to God, would He have permitted Isaac’s blessing? Would He not have rebuked it? Instead, He confirmed it.
Years later, Jacob himself bowed down before Esau (Gen. 33:3), showing that prostration is not idolatry, but an act of humility and respect sanctified by God.
Joseph’s Dream
Consider also the righteous Joseph. God gave him a dream:
“Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf stood upright, and your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” (Gen. 37:7).
His brothers despised him for it, saying: “Shall you indeed reign over us?” Yet the vision came from God. And again the Lord showed Joseph another dream: “Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” (Gen. 37:9).
What happened? His brothers conspired against him, cast him into a pit, and sold him into slavery. Yet when famine struck, those same brothers came to Egypt and fulfilled God’s word: “Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.” (Gen. 42:6).
So too, those who refuse to honor the saints are like Joseph’s brothers full of envy, resisting God’s revelation. Yet in the time of spiritual famine, they will be compelled to bow, whether in this life or in judgment.
The Prophets and Apostles Testify
Isaiah proclaimed: “All who despise you shall bow down at the soles of your feet.” (Isa. 60:14).
In Luke’s Gospel, As Lazarus, who was denied alms on earth, was asked in Sheol through Abraham's intercession. Luke 16:20-31
In Acts, the jailer who bound Paul and Silas fell trembling at their feet, crying out after the prison shook by God’s power: “He fell down before Paul and Silas.” (Acts 16:29). Was it Paul who demanded worship? No! It was God who caused His servants to be honored.
Continues 👇🏾