Making The Sign of The Cross (Videos and Early Church Father / Writer Quotes)

Jonaitis said:

Why can't we just pray without making the sign of the cross? What is the need?

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I began making the sign of the cross before and after I prayed a few years ago as a sort of experiment during Lent, and I still make it today when praying in private.

It focuses my heart and mind. It reminds me of the importance of prayer and how incredible and powerful prayer is. Normally, my mind tends to wander a bit when I pray, sometimes to the point that I'll forget I was ever praying. The sign of the cross (as well as kneeling) reminds me of Who it is I'm talking to and that I need to listen to Him.

I also find it comforting. I'm fond of church tradition and history because they remind me that, as a Christian, I'm part of something bigger than just me. The sign of the cross is a tangible way I can remind myself of this when I pray.

Hope that helps!

R. Genevieve said:

I began making the sign of the cross before and after I prayed a few years ago as a sort of experiment during Lent, and I still make it today when praying in private.

It focuses my heart and mind. It reminds me of the importance of prayer and how incredible and powerful prayer is. Normally, my mind tends to wander a bit when I pray, sometimes to the point that I'll forget I was ever praying. The sign of the cross (as well as kneeling) reminds me of Who it is I'm talking to and that I need to listen to Him.

I also find it comforting. I'm fond of church tradition and history because they remind me that, as a Christian, I'm part of something bigger than just me. The sign of the cross is a tangible way I can remind myself of this when I pray.

Hope that helps!

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Your profile picture looks like a painting by some Academic Classical painter, maybe Eugene Blaas?

I don’t see making the sign of the cross as ritualistic or superstitious but as a quick prayer with a physical element.

Jonaitis said:

Your profile picture looks like a painting by some Academic Classical painter, maybe Eugene Blaas?

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It's The Shepherdess by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Still an Academic Classical painter, though. Good eye!

Jonaitis said:

That it is superstitious.

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You don't believe that demons fear the precious cross?

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

• Athanasius of Alexandria (269-373 A.D.)

"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 hand 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."


Sign of the Cross - OrthodoxWiki

From: The Sign of the Cross

We should make the sign of the Cross:

1. Both upon entering the House of God and upon leaving it.
2. Every time the words, "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," are mentioned.
3. When we hear or say the Trisagion, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us" (Agios o Theos...").
4. When we hear the name of the All-Holy Mother of God (Theotokos), the Ever-Virgin Mary and the names of the Saints.
5. Before and after receiving the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Holy Communion.
6. At the end of the recitation of the Creed (Symbol of faith) and the Lord's Prayer.
7. After the reading of the Holy Gospel Lesson.
8. When we venerate (kiss) a holy icon, a cross or the Evaggelion (Holy Gospel Book).
9. Before and following our daily prayers (evening, morning, etc.
10. Before and after each meal.
11. When passing by an Orthodox church.
12. Before we leave or drive away from our home or work. Generally before we travel anywhere. When we are tempted from demons during the day or at sleep.

Preferably, we should make the sign of the cross three times. The three times symbolize God the Holy Trinity.

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Sounds a little like the sacraments in a sense, that the faith that you put into the gesture is what gives it the power like a prayer.

the thought from scripture that comes to me when meditating on it is "we preach Christ crucified" and that the sign can become successively more powerful prayer over time kind of like when a song crescendos.

Jonaitis said:

What is the need to? It seems superstitious (especially in light of your last post).

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Any ritual can become superstitious. Take prayer, you may not make a sign of the cross but do you close your eyes? Do you bow your head, or go into a specific posture? So you open a prayer always the same way, do you close it saying amen? If you were to stop doing whatever customs of prayer that have become a habit would it make the prayer feel incomplete? We are human and ritual forms help us enter into the right space. Certainly making the sign of the cross can turn into a pagan value but so can any aspect of prayer that you repeat. Tradition and ritual are not evil. They may violate you're conscience but you should accept that it's not the same way for everyone.

Michael Collum said:

Sounds a little like the sacraments in a sense, that the faith that you put into the gesture is what gives it the power like a prayer.

the thought from scripture that comes to me when meditating on it is "we preach Christ crucified" and that the sign can become successively more powerful prayer over time kind of like when a song crescendos.

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Quite so. In fact, the sign of the cross is a sacramental. Sacramentals are "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy".

DamianWarS said:

Take prayer, you may not make a sign of the cross but do you close your eyes? Do you bow your head, or go into a specific posture?

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I was planning to mention that myself. In the old days, my Baptist pastor used to do the "Let's all pray, heads bowed, eyes closed" and I kept my head straight and my eyes open and made certain he saw me. The reason he wanted everybody to do that is so the stage could be rearranged without anybody getting distracted. And I resented that. I have no idea what my point was in saying all this though because I can smell the pizza coming from the kitchen and I'm getting hungry.

☦Marius☦ said:

You don't believe that demons fear the precious cross?

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A Roman cross that was used to execute criminals is suppose to scare demons? The name of Jesus is enough to scare demons as we read in the book of Acts.

Jonaitis said:

A Roman cross that was used to execute criminals is suppose to scare demons? The name of Jesus is enough to scare demons as we read in the book of Acts.

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No the symbol of the faith covered in his blood, lost then found again scares demons. The secret sign of the early persecuted, the comfort of the early desert monastics, the scepter of priests and the protector of the laity. You may not have seen its power- but I have. There are volumes upon volumes of accounts of Saints defending themselves against demonic deception with the sign of the cross.

☦Marius☦ said:

No the symbol of the faith covered in his blood, lost then found again scares demons. The secret sign of the early persecuted, the comfort of the early desert monastics, the scepter of priests and the protector of the laity. You may not have seen its power- but I have. There are volumes upon volumes of accounts of Saints defending themselves against demonic deception with the sign of the cross.

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I found prayer alone enough to comfort, encourage, and strengthen me in my trials and troubles, why do I need to make the sign of the cross? It is superstition you are believing in, and I think it is missing the point.

Marius, how were you able to look at EO/RCC and the early church in the New Testament and believe they are just alike? "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3)

DamianWarS said:

Any ritual can become superstitious. Take prayer, you may not make a sign of the cross but do you close your eyes? Do you bow your head, or go into a specific posture? So you open a prayer always the same way, do you close it saying amen? If you were to stop doing whatever customs of prayer that have become a habit would it make the prayer feel incomplete? We are human and ritual forms help us enter into the right space. Certainly making the sign of the cross can turn into a pagan value but so can any aspect of prayer that you repeat. Tradition and ritual are not evil. They may violate you're conscience but you should accept that it's not the same way for everyone.

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Damian, I pray with eyes open and closed, I bow and look up, I walk or stand, but I don't look at these things as helping my prayer to him who hears. I don't trust in my posture, I don't trust in my movements, I don't even trust in my words. I can commune with groaning too deep for words and God in heaven can still hear them as I sit there troubled. This thread seems to import the idea that the sign of the cross amplifies our prayer to God's sight, this is superstition.

Jonaitis said:

I found prayer alone enough to comfort, encourage, and strengthen me in my trials and troubles, why do I need to make the sign of the cross? It is superstition you are believing in, and I think it is missing the point.

Marius, how were you able to look at EO/RCC and the early church in the New Testament and believe they are just alike? "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3)

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How? Because there is an unbroken line of bishops all the way back to the apostles many of whose writings I can read. Ever read St Ignatius, Iraneus or Polycarp? What about the Diadache?

In the NT there is Eucharist, Chrismation, Baptism, Confession, Liturgy, and Intercessory prayers. Sure the sign of the cross was a tradition that developed under the persecution, but it has been blessed by God.

Why is the sign of the cross important? Because we must submit our body to God as we submit our mind. Orthodox follow the sign of the cross oftentimes with a full prostration or bow before God. The mind is not the only part of the spiritual life. Our body is a temple to the Holy Spirit.

It's not a big deal if anyone wants to, but isn't a "should"– those are limited to the commands of the Lord. I note that Jesus is focused on personal loyalty and agape love, not overly focused on outward symbolism but transformed lives. Jesus never baptized anyone and the remembrance we call the Lord's Supper/Table/Eucharist/Communion was part of larger meals in the Christian communities, not a sacrament administered by a few people as a stand alone activity. The embedding in a normal act of life - eating together - is important since we remember Christ and proclaim him in even the most mundane situations.

Ing Bee said:

It's not a big deal if anyone wants to, but isn't a "should"– those are limited to the commands of the Lord. I note that Jesus is focused on personal loyalty and agape love, not overly focused on outward symbolism but transformed lives. Jesus never baptized anyone and the remembrance we call the Lord's Supper/Table/Eucharist/Communion was part of larger meals in the Christian communities, not a sacrament administered by a few people as a stand alone activity. The embedding in a normal act of life - eating together - is important since we remember Christ and proclaim him in even the most mundane situations.

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Wouldn't bring up the Eucharist in that manner unless you want to open a whole other can of worms.

Jonaitis said:

Damian, I pray with eyes open and closed, I bow and look up, I walk or stand, but I don't look at these things as helping my prayer to him who hears. I don't trust in my posture, I don't trust in my movements, I don't even trust in my words. I can commune with groaning too deep for words and God in heaven can still hear them as I sit there troubled. This thread seems to import the idea that the sign of the cross amplifies our prayer to God's sight, this is superstition.

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The sign of the cross is not superstitious in any way. Its an act of remembrance of Jesus crucified. A blessing. Its showing our love of the cross. Where Jesus gave up His life for us. Its very deep rooted in Christianity.

Jonaitis said:

What is the need to? It seems superstitious (especially in light of your last post).

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Jonaitis, Satan himself would say the same, "what is the need to". Satan hates the Cross of Christ and even hates those who make the sign of the cross. You know you are on the Good Side aka God Side when Satan hates you for doing so. Amen Amen

Do not be afraid to make the sign of the Cross, it shows who you belong to and that is to Christ.

Peace,

Pan De Vida

worshipjunkie said:

I don't make the sign of the Cross anymore, and I have to admit that it feels....rude? to just kneel down and pray without entrusting myself to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit first (which is what I was always taught the sign of the Cross does). Kind of like if you were to call someone and just start talking without saying "Hello" or "how are you" or anything.
I don't think it is in itself superstitious. I do think, especially once you get into indulgences or promises supposedly made to saints about the sign of the Cross, you do start going in to the superstitious category, and there seems to be a great deal of that, which is why I don't make it anymore.

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worshipjunky,

So you rather be "Rude" to God, in not making the sign of the cross for fear of indulgences and promises. Wow!

Yes, you do "have to admit that it feels...rude" because it is. Your words, not mine. (food for thought)

Pan De Vida

Jonaitis said:

Okay, you are free to do that.

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Making the Sign of the Cross is FREE to do at any time, not for when you give it an "Okay".

When you wake up in the morning
Before meals
Just Because you love the Cross of Christ
Before going to bed
and in any time between the above.
It is not you telling yourself to make the sign of the Cross, it is Jesus Christ Himself. Amen Amen

Pan De Vida

☦Marius☦ said:

Wouldn't bring up the Eucharist in that manner unless you want to open a whole other can of worms.

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While I enjoy worms staying in their cans, this statement shouldn't be controversial: it is a historically attested Biblical fact (the full meal, sitting down, all together, no clergy involved). That's the context of 1 Corinthians 11.

Isn't it just humans to turn a remembrance –intentionally couched within a normal human activity – into a pageant full of ritual, costume and ceremony?

Isn't it just like humans to take a remembrance intended to unify Jesus' people and turn it into a way of excluding and dividing up people? Isn't that just what Paul was dealing with in 1 Corinthians 11 and James addresses in his epistle?