My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
ORTHODOX SIGN OF THE CROSS
The Sign of the Cross is a symbolic ritual gesture which marks the four points of the Cross on Calvary over one's body. It also represents loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. The sign of the Cross is most often made at the name of the Holy Trinity, to show reverence for a Saint, holy object, or person, at the beginning or end of a prayer, to show humility or agreement, or on numerous other occasions which may vary slightly according to regional/ethnic practice or personal piety. Some Orthodox Christians may make the sign of the Cross a hundred or more times during a Divine Liturgy or lengthy divine service.
Peter of Damascus (12th century) gave the following instruction:
Then we should also marvel how demons and various diseases are dispelled by the sign of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, which all can make without cost or effort. Who can number the panegyric composed in its honor? The Holy Fathers have handed down to us the inner significance of this sign, so that we can refute heretics and unbelievers. The two fingers and single hand with which it is made represent the Lord Jesus Christ crucified, and He is thereby acknowledged to exist in two natures and one hypostasis or person.
The use of the right hand betokens His infinite power and the fact that He sits at the right hand of the Father. That the sign begins with a downward movement from above signifies His descent to us from heaven. Again, the movement of the hand from the right side to the left drives away our enemies and declares that by His invincible power the Lord overcame the devil, who is on the left side, dark and lacking strength.
By the signing of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, devils and various scourges are driven away. For it is without price and without cost and praises him who can say it. The Holy Fathers have, by their words, transmitted to us, and even to the unbelieving heretics, how the two raised fingers and the single had reveal Christ Our God in His dual nature but single substance. The right hand proclaims His immeasurable strength, His sitting on the right hand of the Father, and His coming down unto us from Heaven. Again, by the movement of the hands to our right the enemies of God will be driven out, as the Lord triumphs over the Devil with His inconquerable power, rendering him dismal and weak.
History
The first mention of Christian making the sign of the Cross is in the 2nd Century by Tertullian who said: "In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting of our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupieth us, we mark foreheads with the sign of the cross" (De cor. Mil., iii).
In the early Church it is believed that the Cross was made on the forehead. Therefore Tertullian also says: "We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the Cross." It is also believed that Christians would also use one finger to make the sign of the Cross on their foreheads or on other items. Therefore in the life of Saint Barbara stood by the pool facing the east she said, 'In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and she miraculously drew the sign of the Cross in the marble wall of the bathhouse with her finger.'"
That the Cross was made with only one finger is also confirmed by Saint Epiphanios in his Panarion (Adv. Haer, Xxx, 12), where he speaks of a certain Josephus, who imparted to a vessel of water the power of overthrowing magical incantations by "making over the vessel with his finger the seal of the Cross" pronouncing the while a form of prayer. Again half a century later Sozomen, the Church Historian (VIII, xxvi), describes how Bishop Donatus when attacked by a demon "made the sign of the Cross with his finger in the air and spat upon the monster."
However, by the 4th Century it appears as more than one finger began to be used for making the sign of the Cross. Thus Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, in his Catecheses (xiii, 36) remarks: "Let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are traveling, and when we are at rest."
It is believed that two fingers began to be used to make the sign of the Cross, as a guard against Monophisitism (heresy of one nature of Christ). Thus by using two fingers, one would profess the two natures in Christ (divine and human). It is therefore not surprising that the first evidence of using two fingers to make the sing of the Cross is found in the writings of Theodoret of Cyprus, who is well known for his antagonism towards the Monophysites. Thus Theodoret of Cyprus writes: "Thus does one bless with the hand and cross oneself: Holding three fingers together evenly the thumb and the last two fingers-confesses a mystery in the image of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are not three gods, but one God in Trinity; there is a distinction of names, but One Godhead. The Father is unbegotten; the Son is begotten of the Father, yet not created; the Holy Spirit is neither begotten nor created, but proceeds. They are three in one Godhead; but one in power, one in honor, one in the adoration of all creation, angels and men. Such is the explanation of these three fingers. Joining two fingers together-the index and the middle finger-and extending them, with the middle finger slightly bent, represents the two natures of Christ: His divinity and His humanity. He is God according to His Divinity and Man according to His humanity, perfect in both natures. The index finger represents His divinity, while the middle finger represents His humanity, since He came down from on high and saved those below. The bending of the middle finger is interpreted to mean that He bowed the heavens and came down upon the earth for our salvation."
At least by the 9th Century, the practice had become prevalent throughout the Orthodox East and West for the sign of the cross to be made using three fingers instead of two. The thumb, index finger and middle finger were joined together to symbolize the Holy Trinity, while the ring finger and little finger were tucked into the palm to represent the Two Natures of Christ.
The first written record of this form is found in the writings of the Orthodox Pope Leo IV of Rome who reposed in 855 A.D., and whom Saint Photius the Great considered a Saint and attributed many miracles. Thus, Pope Leo writes: "Sign the chalice and the Host, with a right Cross and not with circles or with a varying of the fingers, but with two fingers stretched out and the thumb hidden within them, by which the Trinity is symbolized. Take heed to make this sign rightly, for otherwise you can bless nothing" (see Georgi, "Liturg. Rom. Pont.", III, 37).
Use of the Sign
In Eastern Orthodox prayers, the sign of the Cross is usually made wherever all three persons of the Trinity are addressed, or even alluded to. Before commencing any prayer, in fact, the Sign is typically made. Upon entering a church, and the sanctuary within the church, one will make the Sign partly as an outward sign of reverence and veneration. Orthodox Christians will make the Sign as one way of venerating a holy icon; Priests have many more specific occasions upon which to make the Sign. Many members of the Faith will make the Sign in a way that may seem idiomatic to some; for example, if a member is exposed to blasphemy, he or she may make the Sign, partly to suggest subtly and politely to the speaker that an offense has been committed. Some members of the Faith will use the Sign in what almost appears to be as part of an unsaid prayer for God's blessing, as when beginning a journey.
For a member of the Faith, perhaps the essential element of the Sign is that it physically indicates the direct relevance of the Cross, of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to one's person or surroundings. It is an engagement of the body that affirms what the faithful professes. It is also a sign to others of what one professes. (Source: Sign of the cross at Wikipedia)
Please note: Making the sign of the Cross should always be made with care, faith, respect, understanding, humility, love and true conviction. The sign of the Cross expresses our willingness to follow Our Lord as He commanded, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (St. Mark8:34). The cost of discipleship is self-denial, carrying one's cross (a symbol of suffering), and obedience to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is most important that we do not make the Sign of the Cross without knowing what it means to us as Christian believers. Regrettably, however, I witness Orthodox Christians making some kind of a sign, but failing in their attempt. The sign that is made is one of distortion, mockery, and I would even go as far as to say, blasphemous.
Take your time when you are making the Sign of the Cross and reverently. By making the Sign of the Cross openly or publicly, one identifies that he/she is a Christian. By making the Sign of the Cross according to Orthodox Christian tradition, one identifies himself/herself as an Orthodox Christian, loyal to the authentic Church of Christ.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George