When
venerating the gospel book at Orthros, one is to kiss the icon of the
resurrection on the gospel book. This is because one of the eleven resurrection
gospels has just been read. After the gospel, the priest gives the exhortation,
"In that we have beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship
the Holy Lord Jesus..." during which he says, "O come all ye
faithful, let us adore Christ's holy resurrection."
At that point the faithful come forward to venerate the icon of the resurrection on the gospel book. It is NOT traditional to kiss the priest's hand as he holds the gospel book. Only the icon of the resurrection is to be venerated. This is why the gospel book is not venerated on a feast when the festal gospel is read instead of a resurrection gospel. The priest does not say the exhortation "In that we have beheld the resurrection" for the same reason.
