The laying on of hands is a religious practice. In Judaism semikhah (Hebrew: סמיכה, "leaning [of the hands]")[1] accompanies the conferring of a blessing or authority.
In Christian churches, chirotony[2] is used as both a symbolic and formal method of invoking the Holy Spirit primarily during baptisms and confirmations, healing services, blessings, and ordination of priests, ministers, elders, deacons, and other church officers, along with a variety of other church sacraments and holy ceremonies.
- ^ "Strong's Hebrew: 5564. סָמַך (Samak) – to lean, lay, rest, support".
- ^ "Chirotony", Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. II (1st ed.), Edinburgh: Colin Macfarquhar, 1771.