Kneeling
Kneeling in the Orthodox Church is an act of distributing one's weight on their knees and feet, touching the forehead to the floor, staying in the position as long as desired or necessary, then standing up. One usually makes the Sign of the Cross before or after the movement. The physical positioning is somewhat similar to the Chinese kowtow.
The Orthodox use of the word kneel, therefore, is different than common english usage, which uses the word to refer to only distributing one's weight on their knees and feet. Orthodox kneeling is often called prostration. Again, this word usage is different than the english usage of prostration, which means to pronate oneself or lay completely flat.
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 corresponds to the Orthodox definition of kneeling.
The other form is the lesser or little prostration. It is performed by first making the Sign of the Cross. Then, one bends from the waist and reaches toward the floor with the right hand open and facing outward. Generally, if just the word metania is used, what is meant is the lesser prostration.
According to custom, prostration is assumed at different times in the services.
Kneeling, as it is used in the english language, is also practiced by some Orthodox in their services.
Kneeling and prostration, both similar to bowing, are 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 that 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. They appear, obviously, where there are pews in the building, and often when the building was purchased from Protestant or Roman Catholic parishes.
