It is certainly true that even a simple hug, commonly called the "kiss of peace," may be a temptation.
St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain wrote:Guard yourself then with great attention from such tender touches that arouse strong feelings, feelings that are mostly in the body and most vulnerable to sin. ...
Even though the power of the other senses seems to be active, it nevertheless seems to be far from the enactment of sin. But the sense of touch is the closest to this enactment and certainly the very beginning and the initial action of the deed.
http://tokandylaki.blogspot.com/2013/10 ... in-on.html
I may be wrong, but it seems that the True Orthodox do not engage in this practice of the "Kiss of Peace." Instead, before entering the Temple of God for the Sunday Divine Liturgy, we are to confess our sorrow to all of those whom we have offended. Most Orthodox Christians apologize in preparation for Holy Communion either before or after the Saturday Great Vespers or All-night Vigil.
Yet, in the OCA this "kiss of peace" may be triggering many of their sexual scandals. Some of the OCA priests or perhaps many of their priests come down the aisle hugging the laity in the front rows just before chanting the Nicene Creed. While this is happening, the laity are hugging and kissing each other. This should not be, but it was my observation in several OCA parishes in the Los Angeles area and in Oregon. And the OCA is not alone as the Greeks and the Antiochians also have a similar custom of giving each other a hug and/or a kiss during the "Kiss of Peace." After the Sunday of Orthodoxy, when the Greeks, the Serbs, the Antiochians, the Russians, and the OCA gather together for cookies and coffee, most people are embracing each other, and the entire event becomes a hug fest.
In families, hugs help establish family bonds, and are important, but should we be doing such at church when laity or even the priest could be tempted to violate their marriage vows.
Or is St. Nicodemus' advice only for monastics?