7.

 Why does the priest (or deacon) cense the people as well as the icons in the church?

            In censing the faithful, the priest or deacon is saluting the image (or icon) of God in each person. Censing also expresses the desire that the grace of God might envelop the faithful, even as the smoke of incense envelops the Church.

            The practice of censing is sometimes misunderstood by those outside the Church. This writer heard the remark, for example, that if Christ were to return to the world today, the only Church in Christendom He would not recognize is the Orthodox Church as it had gone so far astray through its practice of censing. Perhaps such a notion is not uncommon among individuals of mainstream religious groups that have stripped all mystery and ritual from their worship services. However, the assertion is not tenable inasmuch as censing was instituted in worship by God Himself, as is shown in the book of Exodus (cf. Exodus 25:6, 30:7-9, 34:15, 40:5,27, et al.).

            Censing is an expression of worship, of deep thanksgiving to God's countless blessings to mankind, the greatest of which is His sending His Only-Begotten Son to sacrifice Himself to save the world. Orthodox use incense as an offering to God, like the offering of Abel's altar that burned and gave off a clean smoke that arose to Heaven (Gen 4:1-7). They also offer incense to express their infinite gratitude to Christ, the Savior of people's souls, just as the myrrh-bearing women brought perfumes when they went to the tomb to venerate Him.

            It is for these reasons that the priest censes before the holy altar table, the icons, and all of the church at certain moments during the services. Censing also expresses the worshipers' respect and reverence for these holy things. The priest censes especially during the Divine Sacrifice, when the bread and wine become the All-Pure Body and Blood of Christ.

            Incense is also a symbolic representation of a heart praying to God, Moreover, it expresses a desire that the prayer of Christians gathered in church would be heartfelt and truly fervent, and that it might ascend to Heaven like the smoke of incense. The prayer that accompanies incense does indeed rise to Heaven. As Holy Scriptures state: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before Thee” (Ps 140:2), and “The smoke of incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hands” (Rev 8:3,4). When being censed by a priest or deacon, Christians respond with a bow.