"Why does the priest kiss the altar?" An Explanation --It is because what is there

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In every church, then, the altar ‘is the centre of the thanksgiving that the eucharist accomplishes’ and around which the Church’s other rites are, in a certain manner, arrayed.
At the altar the memorial of the Lord is celebrated and his body and blood given to the people.Therefore the Church’s writers have seen in the altar a sign of Christ himself.This is the basis for the saying:‘The altar is Christ.’
All the dignity of the altar rests on its being the Lord’s table.Thus the martyr’s body does not bring honour to the altar; rather the altar does honour to the martyr’s tomb.
Dedication of a Church and an Altar
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The article did answer the question correctly, when they quoted the sentences in bold face above. I added the preceding paragraphs to clarify what those words say, lest anyone think it is the relics that are the primary focus for veneration.
 
Kissing is a form of reverence in this context.

Try an Eastern church, whether Orthodox or Catholic–we kiss just about everything 🤣😲

Rather than blessing with Holy Water at the door, we take a handle, bless ourselves (Sign of the Cross), kiss the icon on the tetrapod, bless ourselves again, and then add the candle and light it with a prayer.

I then vest as an altar server, and as the liturgy opens, Father presents his hand cross to each of us to kiss, and does so again after the conclusion, after which the people all approach to kiss it.

And whenever we have a relic, or at the burial service on Good Friday, or . . .
 
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