Sign of the cross

[benedictine]

Do Orthodox Christians make the sign of the cross? If so, how?

[ufonium2]

Like so:

:crosself:

Thumb and first two fingers togethre symbolizing the Trinity, ring and pinky fingers flat against the palm to symbolize the two natures of Christ on Earth. Touch your forhead, somewhere around your sternum, right shoulder, then left shoulder. Generally this is followed by a slight bow, and can be followed by a full bow from the waist depending on circumstances and culture.

[benedictine]

Thanks. I was wondering abut that becouse I read where someone asked if Catholics made the sign of the cross the same way as the Orthodox. Anglicans do essitinetialy the same, except we don't bow, and we go:
head, chest, shoulder, shoulder, heart.
~~~Pax Christi

[ufonium2]

Catholics (Latin Rite, anyway) do it backwards from what we do. They go from left to right.

[benedictine]

that's what we do as well.

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Hey, I've noticed some Orthodox folks who cross themselves normally (R to L), but then touch their heart afterward. Is this done everywhere, or is it associated with certain cultures?

[Matrona]

Hey, I've noticed some Orthodox folks who cross themselves normally (R to L), but then touch their heart afterward. Is this done everywhere, or is it associated with certain cultures?
I started crossing myself not long after I became a catechumen, but after I was received into the Church, I started touching my heart afterwards, too.

Does anyone else go from forehead to stomach, then right and left? That is what I do, and I end by touching my heart as mentioned above.

[ufonium2]

Hey, I've noticed some Orthodox folks who cross themselves normally (R to L), but then touch their heart afterward. Is this done everywhere, or is it associated with certain cultures?
Lots of people do that at my church. I have no idea what culture it's associated with. Nobody did it at my former church, and they are both OCA. Anyone?

[vlinder]

To Life Immortal

Hello

In the Greek church were I was chrismated in, people made the sign of the cross 3x. You would go, In the name of the Father (cross), Son (cross) and Holy Spirit (cross).

Now that I go to an Antiochian Church, I cross myself once now.

Anybody else here do the 3x cross?

Peace and Long Life
~*~ Vlinder ~*~

[ExOrienteLux]

Wow, so I'm not the only one who goes forehead, stomach, right shoulder, left shoulder? I've always done that, and no one corrected me, so I assume it's kosher.

[Akathist]

I touch the stomach as well. I started touching the stomach when I was thinking of becoming Catholic and I saw a Monk on EWTN (The Catholic TV station) talk about how what the sign of the cross means.

It was something like this: We start with the Head which is God, then the body which is God incarnate: Jesus Christ, then the action of the Holy Spirit which is our shoulders (representing strength).

At my church there are a few people who cross themselves three times and they bow and touch the ground in between each. Others who touch the ground with just one cross.

I bow deeply at times and slightly at other times depending on circumstances and the level of pain I have in my back. (I cross myself just once typically and rarely touch the ground.)