Hilasmos

Hilasmos is a Greek noun meaning “a kiss,” derived from the verb hilaō (to kiss). In classical Greek, the word denotes the act of kissing as a gesture of affection, friendship, or greeting, and it appears in literary and everyday contexts.

In Christian contexts, hilasmos is encountered in Greek sources describing the liturgical practice of the kiss of peace—a ritual exchange of kisses among clergy and congregation as a sign of reconciliation and unity during worship. The precise form of the ritual varied by tradition (Orthodox, Catholic) and period, but the term underscores the ceremonial character of the gesture.

In modern scholarship, hilasmos is discussed primarily within studies of Greek vocabulary and liturgy rather than theology per se. Related terms include hilaskomai (to appease or reconcile) and hilasterion (propitiation), which share the same root related to reconciliation in religious language, though they refer to different concepts in theological usage.