As the Congregation chants the Orthodox Creed, the Priest washes his hands in a similar manner as in The Offertory, before presenting the offerings. He washes his hands three times at the North side of the altar, while reciting inaudibly verses from the Psalms.

You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed;
You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

— Psalm 50:7

You shall make me hear joy and gladness;
My bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice.

— Psalm 50:8

I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may hear the voice of praise
And tell of all Your wondrous works.

— Psalm 25:6-7

The Priest then looks towards the West, shakes the water off his hands before all the people, then dries his hands with a clean towel.

This signifies that the Priest cannot present an offering to God unless his heart and internal being are pure. He does the washing of hands as a reminder that the offering of love ought to be offered with a clean heart and hand. If the heart is polluted by sin, the offering is rejected before God.

The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayers of the upright are acceptable with Him.

— Proverbs 15:8

It also conveys that he is innocent of the guilt of anyone who dares to partake of the holy Mysteries undeservedly.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

— 1 Corinthians 11:29

The washing of hands is a symbol of obligation to be clean from all sins and transgressions. The hands symbolise actions, so, by washing them, it signifies plainly purity and blamelessness of conduct.

— St Cyril of Jerusalem