It is a very intesting question. A while back, I read through the 1941
Ordo Celebrationis Vesperarum Matutini et Divinae Liturgiae Iuxta Recensionem Ruthenorum, translation to English:
patronagechurch.com/Ordo-English-1955/ordo-english-1955.htm
These rubrics were cleaned of Latinizations back to the time of Patriarch Isidore.
In there are mentioned a few rubrics in the
prenotations. And I see these rubrics are only partly followed in our parish. *
Four terms are used: (1) small bow (hand
not down to knees or ground), (2) sign of cross, (3) profound adoration, (4) and great bow (sign then body to the ground).
(1) Small bow is the sign of the cross with slight head and shoulder inclination, with no hand to knee or ground is used in general (page 3). Used for blessing by the priest, in the Trisagion, etc.
(2) Sign of cross without inclination of head and shoulders before and after Gospel (page 4).
(3) A profound adoration is done twice during the
epiklesis. A third time (specified in 2006 DL to be done after “condemnation”) is not to be done (per the note page 18). (This is likely the hand to the ground form, which is not described anywhere that I can find.)
(4) The great bow or metanija (sign then entire body to the ground) is not used except during the Great Fast (Lent) and in the Office of the Presanctified Gifts (page 4).
- In our parish, we have been using the profound adoration (3) (hand down in general), and the sign alone (2) at the gospel. That means we have not been doing the small bow (1). I was corrected (serving at the altar) to not execute the small bow (1) but rather the profound bow (3) for uniformity. The reason: “that’s Orthodox, and we are not Orthodox.”
I see now, that it is contrary to the 1941 rubrics to execute the profound bow (3) except at the epiklesis. Also, the 2006 Ruthenian Divine Liturgy rubrics specify to profound bow (3) at the end of the Anaphora after the word “condemnation” just before incensation, contrary to the 1941 rubrics,
so that must have been something done in some parishes that was seen as a Latinization. I have never seen anybody execute the great bow (4) to the ground at our parish during the Presanctified Gifts, rather they use profound bow (3).
Note the rubrics from 1941 say to use the small bow (1) for most everything, listing (pages 3-4):
a) When one first enter the sanctuary, when one finally departs from it (also kissing the altar)
b) In the beginning of any Office one says: “Blahosloven Boh nas…” or “Molitvami svjatych otes. …”
c) At the Trisagion, thrice, and also at “Krestu Tvojemu poklana jemsja …”
d) At “Prijdite poklonimsja …” thrice
e) Three Allilujas at end of stichologies, thrice
f) Whenever the three Persons of the Life-Giving Trinity are mentioned together
g) Whenever one receives a blessing from the priest
h) As often as one comes before the royal doors for reading or chanting and when departing after
i) As often as one passes before the holy altar or before the iconostasis
j) As often as it is prescribed in the rubrics.
