THE ORTHODOX TRADITION AND SYMBOLISM OF MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST1 HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE ORTHODOX TRADITION AND SYMBOLISM OF
MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.

The sign of the Cross has been used by the Christians since the time of the Holy Apostles. It is a pious act, which the Orthodox Christians make in the following manner:

The thumb, the index and the middle finger of the right hand are joined together, while the remaining two fingers are bent and touching the palm of the hand. At first the forehead is touched, then the breast, then the right shoulder and finally the left shoulder. Besides the impression which the sign of the cross makes on the senses, it reminds us of the spiritual meanings.

The three fingers joined together symbolize the ONENESS OF GOD IN THE THREE PERSONS OF THE HOLY TRINITY: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The two fingers, bent to the palm of the hand, signify the UNION OF THE TWO NATURES IN CHRIST, THE Divine and the Human. The touch of the FOREHEAD signifies THAT GOD IS IN OUR HEAD (IN OUR MIND) AND SANCTIFIES IT, the touch of the BREAST (or STOMACH) signifies THAT GOD IS IN OUR HEART ( and our feelings or emotions) AND SANCTIFIES both our heart and feelings, the touch of the SHOULDERS signifies THAT GOD IS IN OUR LIMBS DIRECTING THEM AS He wills. In other words, by the sign of the Cross we DEDICATE TO THE SERVICE OF GOD ALL THE POWER OF OUR MIND, HEART, AND SOUL. We are led to this service of God by means of THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, because it reminds us of Christ’s death on the Cross, to which "God gave His Only-Begotten Son" OUT OF HIS AGAPE (LOVE) TO THE WORLD [John 3:16].

The sign of the Cross on our bodies is also a prayer for God’s blessing upon ourselves and others. It has often proved a protection against evil, whether in one’s inner thoughts or outward actions, WHEN MADE IN TRUE FAITH IN ITS POWER. Therefore, we rightly make it when we start and close our prayers; when we enter the Church, when we kiss (venerate) holy icons of Saints; when the name of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the name of the Ever-Virgin Mary the Theotokos, and of the Saints are pronounced during the divinie Services; when sacred instances occur during the Divine Liturgy; when we start and finish our meals; and on many other occasions.

Its frequent repetition when we are mindful of its significance, can become tous A SOURCE AND FOUNTAIN OF EVERY BLESSING. As the instrument Christ chose to bring about His Ever-Memorable and Life-Creating death, the Cross holds a unique place in the heart of every Orthodox Christian believer. We comprehend that this holy symbol, once a barbaric way of torture and capital punishment, now reminds us of Christ’s Great Victory over death. Orthodox Christians make the sign of the Cross because it affirms what we believe about our Savior Christ as the Incarnate Son of God and all that He did for us. It is an outward manifestation that illustrates our understanding of God in Trinity and our belief in the Two Natures of Christ [perfect God and perfect man]. It is, in essence, an open confession of faith.

When making the sign of the Cross one must do it reverently and with conviction, faith,humility, piety, reflection, and love for the One Who was crucified to save us. There is absolutely no reason to do it in a hurry and without any respect or meaning. When making the sign of the Cross we invite and invoke the grace of the Precious and Holy Cross onto ourselves and seek the Divine powers of the Cross of Christ to protect, guide, strengthen and enlighten us. The Cross is the ‘wounding of the devil’, the "protector of the ecumene (world). and the ‘beauty of the Church.’

The first mention of Christians making the sign of the Cross dates back to the second century. In the early Church, sources explain that the sign of the Cross was only made upon the forehead with only one finger, until the fourth century. About this time, Christians then began to use two fingers to make the sign of the Cross, each finger representing one of the Natures of Christ. This was as a result of the heresy of Monophysitism, which rejected the Synod of Chalcedon 451 A.D. and claimed that Christ had only one Divine Nature. Around the 9th century, the practice of three fingers became prevalent in most of the Orthodox East and West. This practice was common before the Schism of 1054 between East and West. By the 12th century, most Churches in the East (with the exception of the Russian Orthodox Church, which accepted the practice in the 1600’s) .

How to make the sign of the Cross:

Join the thumb, index, and middle
fingers of your right hand.
Place the other two fingers of your
right hand down against the palm.
Take the hand and touch your joined
fingertips to your forehead.
Then bring your fingers down to
your stomach (abdomen).
Mover your fingertips to touch the
front of your right shoulder.
And
finally, touch your fingertips to the
front of your left shoulder.

As one can see that the Orthodox Christians identifies himself/herself by making the sign of the Cross and revealing the dogma of the Two Natures of Christ (Perfect God and Perfect Man), and on God the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) of the Church to others who may not adhere to it or of those who have fallen into heresy or heresies. It is also a reminder to every Orthodox Christian that it is the Cross of Christ that saves and that He Who says to us, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW Me" [Mark 8:34]. Carrying one’s cross (a symbol of suffering), and obedience to Christ. By saying "let him deny himself, and take up his cross," Jesus means His followers should seperate themselves from their sins and from the inclination of their hearts toward evil" [Gene 8:21], crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires [Galatians 5:24]. Discipleship is costly: it requires giving up all claim to everything the world holds dear. Our Savior says very clearly: "And whoever DOES NOT, BEAR HIS CROSS AND COME AFTER ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE" [Luke 14:27]. To be a disciple is to count the cost, and pay it.

Orthodox Christian parents must teach their children the meaning of making the Sign of the Cross, and to encourage them to do it as often as possible for every occasion and/or event. Also, parish priests should also teach the catechumens and converts to the Faith to make the sign of the Cross, to venerate the holy icons and to light candles as they enter the local church or any Orthodox church. The Holy Tradition is not optional and everyone in the Orthodox Church must know that the faithful are not to pick and choose what they like or don’t. In other words the Orthodox Christian does NOT have the authority to be SELECTIVE or to give his/her own interpretation or to practice some traditions and ignore the rest. One is a true Orthodox Christian or not. I am saying this because a recent convert informed me that she accepted everything about the Orthodox Church but that she had a serious problem with the doctrine of the Theotokos and her Ever-Virginity. We are NOT Protestant!

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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"Glory