Q: What should you do if an icon, prayer book, or Bible is dropped on the ground?

A: Because religious items are blessed and considered holy, they should be afforded a certain type of honor and dignity, and are treated with the utmost regard. Therefore, if any religious items were to be dropped or fall, Orthodox piety requires us to immediately pick the item up, make the sign of the Cross, and venerate (kiss) it out of respect; all the while asking God's forgiveness – even if the incident was purely accidental and/or beyond our control.

Fr. John