Signs of the cross

[TomUK]

This may sound stupid, but i only found out this week that not all Christians make the sign of the cross the same way :doh: . I make mine but putting together the thumb and pointer finger (to represent the two natures of Christ) and the other three fingers together (to represent the trinity). What are the other ways of making this historic sign. So many simple actions contain numerous levels of symbolism and i would be intrigued to learn of other ways of making this sign and what they mean. Thanks

[Songspinner]

I have to sayI just use my middle finger to make the cross...but I like your way better

[TomUK]

I have to sayI just use my middle finger to make the cross...but I like your way better

Just realised i said my way wrong! I put thumb, pointer and middle finger to represent trinity, and the other two for the two natures of Christ. Ooops!

[benedictine]

Well, some people just use their whole hand. I do what you do, TomUK.

[Zacharias]

I put thumb, pointer and middle finger to represent trinity, and the other two for the two natures of Christ.


Me too.

[Kripost]

Just realised i said my way wrong! I put thumb, pointer and middle finger to represent trinity, and the other two for the two natures of Christ. Ooops!

Sounds like how the Orthodox do it too. By habit, I do the same way, and also move from right shoulder to left shoulder.

[PaladinValer]

Actually, the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Rite Vatican Catholics, and some other Western Churchers use two fingers together; the thumb and index, as the two-natures-together-as-one, symbolizing Jesus. The other three represent the Trinity. We (and I say "we" because I use this fashion too) begin with the forehead, but then descend to the naval, followed by the right shoulder and then the left.

Most folks of the Western Church (and thus practically all Anglicans and Old Catholics [except me :P]) have three fingers, the thumb, index, and middle, together as the trinity with the ring and little to represent the Christ's God-Man nature. It goes from forehead to sternum, left shoulder to right.

[Cjwinnit]

Wow, didn't know that at all...... :(

[ahab]

Only a few at my church make the sign of the cross. I very very rarely do. But in worship I do sometimes lift my hands and sometime dance and sometimes fall on my face. :clap:

[Cjwinnit]

But in worship I do sometimes lift my hands and sometime dance and sometimes fall on my face.

I think that's deserving of it's own smiley!

[ufonium2]

Actually, the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Rite Vatican Catholics, and some other Western Churchers use two fingers together; the thumb and index, as the two-natures-together-as-one, symbolizing Jesus. The other three represent the Trinity.
The Eastern Orthodox do it the way it was described earlier, with the thumb, index and middle together to symbolize the Trinity and the other two fingers agains the palm, to symbolize Christ's two natures on earth.

The Russian Old Believers do it the way you described, but there are very few of them left in Russia, and virtually none anywhere else.

[PaladinValer]

So now EO/OO/ERCs cross themselves the same as VCs/As/etc?

[ahab]

Hi Cjwinnit,

I think that's deserving of it's own smiley! Dare I ask why? :)

[ufonium2]

So now EO/OO/ERCs cross themselves the same as VCs/As/etc? If the Catholics and Anglicans put three fingers together and cross themselves forehead-stomach-right shoulder-left shoulder, then yeah. That's what we do. But, I think they go left-right, and hold their hands in a variety of ways.

[Cjwinnit]

Hi Cjwinnit,

Dare I ask why? :)

Just think it would look quite cool :)

[Kripost]

If the Catholics and Anglicans put three fingers together and cross themselves forehead-stomach-right shoulder-left shoulder, then yeah. That's what we do. But, I think they go right-left, and hold their hands in a variety of ways.

I think you meant left-right instead... ;)

As far as I know, Western-Rite Catholics and Anglicans have an open palm when making the sign of the cross. I was never told of any religious significance, so I assume it is because it is a natural relaxed position.

[Kripost]

By the way, the Coptics make the sign of the cross from left shoulder to right shoulder, although if I remember correctly, they also have the first 3 fingers together, last 2 touching the palm.

[Father Rick]

To add to all this confusion one can add regional 'quirks'. Many Philipino Catholics, for example, cross themselves the same as most westerners,except at the end they tap the center of their chest 3 times and then kiss their thumb.

[Brian Augustyn]

Let's see, I use an open hand and touch the tips of my fingers first to my forehead, then to my sternum, then to my left shoulder, then to my right shoulder...then I close my hand to a fist and place that (fingers down) over my heart for a second. I was taught that that last touch makes it more Anglican, but why, I don't know...

Brian
:crossrc:

[ufonium2]

I think you meant left-right instead... ;)


You think correctly. It's been edited. Guess I put too much sugar on my Crack Flakes this morning.

[Inside Edge]

Guess I put too much sugar on my Crack Flakes this morning. ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

[RobNJ]

You think correctly. It's been edited. Guess I put too much sugar on my Crack Flakes this morning.


What,.....AGAIN??!!?? :doh:
:wave:

[Wigglesworth]

Most folks of the Western Church . . . have three fingers, the thumb, index, and middle, together as the trinity with the ring and little to represent the Christ's God-Man nature. It goes from forehead to sternum, left shoulder to right.That's me, but my Roman Catholic in-laws use an open hand.
But in worship I do sometimes lift my hands and sometime dance and sometimes fall on my face. :clap:That's me too, as well as bubbling off in a foreign prayer language after receiving the Eucharist.

[AveMaria]

I realized, after reading this thread, that I tend to make the sign of the cross both ways. Wonder what that says about me?

[thejesusfish90]

Wow.... I didn't realise how widespread the sign of the corss is throughout the anglican communion.... I used to only though anglo-catholic congregations did it... lol... I could imagine my churches minister's reaction if one of the congregation did the sign of the cross... :gulp:... (he's highly anti-tradition) What are the bible passages that the sign of the cross originate from?

YBIC

Chris

[Father Rick]

What are the bible passages that the sign of the cross originate from?

YBIC

ChrisIt's not in the Bible... but neither is the use of a processional cross; baptism by pouring water (only immersion is in scripture); wearing albs, stoles or clerical collars; canonizing saints; holding church services on Sunday morning; using organ music; having a vestry; stained glass windows; kneelers; etc. etc.

These are all things that come to us from Church tradition... many from the very earliest days of Christianity. We can trace making the sign of the cross back to about the 3rd century.

[Cjwinnit]

It's not in the Bible... but neither is the use of a processional cross; baptism by pouring water (only immersion is in scripture); wearing albs, stoles or clerical collars; canonizing saints; holding church services on Sunday morning; using organ music; having a vestry; stained glass windows; kneelers; etc. etc.

These are all things that come to us from Church tradition... many from the very earliest days of Christianity. We can trace making the sign of the cross back to about the 3rd century.

Random fact #617: the word "trinity" is not in the bible.

[Wigglesworth]

Random fact #617: the word "trinity" is not in the bible.
Neither is the word "pizza," which I find more troubling.

[Cjwinnit]

Neither is the word "pizza," which I find more troubling.

Heresy!!

[TomUK]

Neither is the word "pizza," which I find more troubling.

Actually, a more acurate translation of the greek does show that in fact the bread shared in the last supper was a 12" Peperonni with a side order of chicken wings, and wine is more acurately rendered as a medium diet coke.

[Father Rick]

Actually, a more acurate translation of the greek does show that in fact the bread shared in the last supper was a 12" Peperonni with a side order of chicken wings, and wine is more acurately rendered as a medium diet coke. Sorry... have to disagree with your translation of the word 'wine' as 'diet coke'... I think the word was actually derived from the German word 'heineken'...;)

[Songspinner]

:crossrc: :crossrc:

Trying to see which way our little smilies do it!

:crosseo: :crosseo:

[Father Rick]

:crossrc: :crossrc:

Trying to see which way our little smilies do it!

:crosseo: :crosseo:If you notice, the 2 smilies you chose do it opposite.. the top one is Catholic/Anglican and the bottom one is an Orthodox babushka.

[Wiffey]

You think correctly. It's been edited. Guess I put too much sugar on my Crack Flakes this morning.

You are so funny!^_^

[CSMR]

Actually, a more acurate translation of the greek does show that in fact the bread shared in the last supper was a 12" Peperonni with a side order of chicken wings, and wine is more acurately rendered as a medium diet coke.
I would rather remain in my sins than drink diet coke. I suppose the early church thought the same way.

[Songspinner]

So thanks to this thread I've been watching more closely and everyone at my church seems to cross themselves with an open palm....anyone one know if there is a special significance to that or is it just the way our priest taught us???