Question On Early Christian Practice...

[TBVZ]

Hey everybody, glad to be part of this community and learning more by reading everybody's posts. First I hope everybody had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! My question is pertaining to an early Christian practice of a man grabbing another man's inner right thigh with their right hand. I have heard two reasons for doing this; first to greet another Christian and second to consecrate a promise. For both reasons the inner thigh is used because it is such a sensitive and delicate part of the body that one would be completely vulnerable when opening themselves up to a promise or a greeting.
If you have any knowledge to this practice I would love to hear more and and resources would help. Reason for me wanting to know is that I really enjoy learning about early Christian traditions and practices that have diminished over time. Thanks!!

EDIT: Sorry, thought of this after original post. What are other early Christian tradition/practices that you particularly like that are not common anymore?

-Tyler

 

[Nomad]

The practice of which you speak most likely has it's origin in Genesis. It wouldn't surprise me, but I wasn't aware that the practice was carried into early Christianity.

Gen 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. . .

Gen 24:9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Gen 47:29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:
Gen 47:30 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.
Gen 47:31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.