Page under translation

Page under translation

Making the Sign of the Cross

What does it mean and how do we cross ourselves?

- Joining the three first fingers:

 To cross ourselves correctly, we join our thumb and first two fingers, using the right hand. The three fingers  together indicate the faith in the Holy Trinity, i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God in three hypostases.

 

- Laying the two other fingers

We lay the last two fingers flat against our palm to represent our faith in the dual natures of Christ, i.e. that Jesus is perfect God and Perfect Man. 

- The Palm

It represents the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, where the Lord Jesus Christ was incarnate.

 

- Raising the right hand to the forehead:

We raise our right hand to touch the forehead, because it is the highest part of the human body, pointing to the highest, to heaven, and saying “in the name of the Father." The Son is born from the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. Of course, we mean outside of time: there is no difference in time between the three hypostases.

 

- Lowering the right hand to the belly:

Then we go down with the right hand until it touches the belly and say “and the Son”. This refers to God’s descent from the heavens and his incarnation in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God

was incarnate for our salvation, so that we become gods by grace.

 

- The right hand touches the shoulder:  

As the right hand touches the shoulder, we say “and the Holy Spirit”.

After his Resurrection, Ascension to heaven, and sitting at the right hand of the Father, Jesus sent to us the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the True Spirit, so that we may be sanctified if we lead the good struggle.

  

- Moving to the left shoulder:

Then we move to the left shoulder and say "One God. Amen". By moving from the right to the left, we envelop the entire universe, and confirm the mystery of the Trinitarian economy of salvation for all humankind. 

We cross ourselves many times during our prayers and services, when entering the church, when venerating icons, before we read the Gospel, before meals, when moving by car, at the beginning of studying, working, before and after sleep... 

We should not cross ourselves hastily, but with reverence and attentiveness. It should be done slowly, while bowing the forehead slightly, in sign of humility and reverence. As we do it, we confess the divine economy of God which was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified to redeem each one of us.

Therefore, the Cross has become a support to the faithful, a defeater of demons, by which we conquer Satan and all evil…

Rejoice O Tree most blessed!