Kneeling
Kneeling, in the english vernacular, is a human position in which the weight is distributed on the knees and feet on a surface close to horizontal. However, this is not historically what the Orthodox Church has referred to when they use the word kneel. The closest word for what is meant by the term kneel is the Chinese kowtow. This is an act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground. It is often called prostration, however prostration means to pronate oneself.
In the Orthodox Church there are two common forms of prostration. One is the greater or great prostration, also called the greater metania. Metania comes from the word metánoia meaning "reverence, obeisance" and is sometimes called proskýnesis. This is done by kneeling, touching the forehead to the floor, then standing up, staying in the position as long as desired or called for. One usually makes the Sign of the Cross before or after.
The other form is the little or lesser prostration Generally, just uses the word metania they mean the lesser prostration. It is performed by making the Sign of the Cross, then bending the body towards the ground from the waist and reaching towards the floor with the fingers of the open right hand with the palm outward.
According to custom, prostration is assumed at different times in the services.
Kneeling and prostration, similarly to bowing, is associated with submission and obeisance. Kneeling is often used as a position for prayer, as a position of submission to God.
In some church buildings, pews are equipped with kneelers in front of the seating bench so members of the congregation can kneel on them instead of the floor. Although kneelers are less common in Orthodox church buildings, they do appear in some. There appear, obviously, where there are pews in the building, and often when the building was purchased from Protestant or Roman Catholic parishes.
