I have always been asked as to why the priest at the end of the Holy Liturgy and after giving the dismissal kisses the four corners of the altar while clapping his hands. Could not find better words to explain it then those of Bishop Mettaous from his book “The Spirituality of the Rites of the Holy Liturgy in the Coptic Orthodox Church”:
The priest kisses the Altar and goes around it once while saying Psalm 46, which says, “O clap your hands all you peoples, Shout to God with the voice of triumph…”, as clapping the hands and shouting the voice of triumph are signs of joy and happiness, and what joy and happiness are greater than partaking of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, so that He may abide in us, and so we receive the promise of eternal life. It is written that when the disciples received the last blessing from the Lord at His Ascension,
“They worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing the Lord” (Luke 24:52-53).
Likewise, after receiving the last benediction of the Liturgy which is partaking of the Life-giving Sacraments, and after the Sacraments go out of our sight which symbolizes the
Ascension of the Lord into heaven, we see the priest going around the altar and, kissing its corners reciting the Psalm of Joy, joining the disciples who were continually in the temple
praising and blessing the Lord.
I do recommend reading this book as it will give you a much better perspective, understanding and depth of the Holy Liturgy. Here below is a link to a PDF version:
Fr.Elijah Fanous 
Leave a comment