FAQ

The washing of feet, which is spoken of in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, has both an important direct meaning and an equally important symbolic one.

According to Jewish tradition, when guests who came to a house (or a religious community gathered in a house) sat down for a meal, the youngest had to wash the hands of the eldest: the master of the house, the most honored guest, or the head of the community. If there were servants in the house, in certain cases a servant had to wash the feet of the most honored guest.

It is commonly believed that the youngest member of the apostolic community was John the Evangelist; therefore, it was he who was supposed to wash the hands of the head of the community—the Lord Jesus Christ. It was probably from the Apostle John that the Lord took the basin and the towel when He began to wash the disciples' feet. Perhaps this is why the Apostle reports this fact to us.

One way or another, by washing the disciples' feet, the Lord places Himself in the position of a servant, thereby profoundly shocking the disciples. Simon Peter even protested against it…

This action became a realization, as well as a visible and highly memorable repetition, of Christ's words: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mat 20:28).

But most importantly—the Lord, according to His own words, in washing the disciples' feet set an example both for the apostles themselves and for all those who would head Christian communities. "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant" (Mat 20:28), says Christ.

It is important that the concept of authority in the Church differs strikingly from secular notions. The paradigm of secular authority has forever been the Roman emperor, who is considered the best, the most important, who is unconditionally obeyed, and whose decisions are not debated. Such a bearer of power is rendered homage, his portraits are hung on walls, and he is driven in chariots with "flashing lights", blocking traffic for him in half the city…

In the Church, authority is associated with credibility and respect, but it is not connected with ostentatious pomp, which the early Roman Christians called pompa diaboli. The main thing is that in the Church, authority consists not in the right to make decisions, but in the power of love and service, and in spiritual responsibility and the readiness to bear the sorrows of the people.

Since antiquity, this passage has been associated with priestly, and especially episcopal, ministry. The heads of Christian communities are appointed precisely to serve the brethren according to the example that Christ gives here. In the early centuries, this was essentially the case, and the early Church Fathers repeatedly urged respect for bishops because of their service, rather than disregarding them. Later, the situation changed… It should be noted that until 1917, there was a custom in the Russian Church whereby bishops on Maundy Thursday (specifically, on Wednesday evening) washed the feet of the presbyters of their diocese. In some Western Churches (including the Catholic Church), this custom has been preserved. In our country, after the persecutions, this custom fell out of use, but the washing of feet remains the principal symbol of Church ministry.

In addition to this, the washing of feet is generally considered one of the symbols of the purification of the heart, which is accomplished both in Baptism and in confession, and this symbol is also connected with priestly ministry.