About the sign of the Cross

The sign of the Cross is not merely one of many religious rites; above all, it is a great weapon. The Paterikon as the collections of the Church Fathers' sayings and the Lives of the Saints contain many examples testifying to the real spiritual power possessed by the symbol of the Cross.

Even the holy apostles performed miracles by the power of the sign of the Cross. On one occasion the Apostle John the Theologian found a sick man lying by the road, suffering severely from a fever, and healed him with the sign of the Cross (Saint Demetrius of Rostov. The Life of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. September 26).

Saint Anthony the Great narrates of the power of the sign of the Cross against demons: "Therefore, when demons come to you by the night, wishing to foretell the future or saying, 'We are angels,' do not listen to them for they lie. If they praise your asceticism and call that you are blessed, do not listen to them and do not associate with them in the least, you better seal yourself and your home with the cross and pray. Then you will see them become invisible, for they are fearful and especially dread the sign of the Lord's Cross. For having taken away their power by the Cross, the Savior put them to shame" (The life of our reverend father Anthony, described by Saint Athanasius in his letter to monks living in foreign lands, 35).

In the Lausiac History (a book that was written at the turn of the 4th-5th centuries, recounting the lives of Egyptian ascetics), it is told how Abba Dorotheus, making the sign of the Cross, drank water that was taken from a well at the bottom of which was an asp: "Once, Abba Dorotheus sent me, Palladius, at the ninth hour to his well to get some water into the tub from which all the brothers took water. It was already mealtime. Coming to the well I saw an asp at its bottom and in fright without getting water, ran back shouting: 'We are lost, Abba! I saw an asp at the bottom of the well!' He smiled gently, as he was very attentive to me and shaking his head, he said: 'If the devil took it into his head to throw asps or other poisonous creatures into all the wells and springs, would you then stop drinking altogether?' Then when he came from his cell, he got the water from the well and made the sign of the Cross over the tub, and immediately drank from it and said: “Where the Cross is, the malice of devil can do nothing.”

Saint Benedict of Nursia (480–543 AD) was chosen in 510 as the father-superior of the cave monastery of Vicovaro for his strict life. Saint Benedict governed the monastery with diligence. Soon some people who did not like the reverend decided to poison him. They mixed poison with wine and gave it to the abbot to drink during the meal. The saint made the sign of the Cross over the cup, and the vessel, by the power of the Holy Cross, immediately shattered as if struck by a stone. Then the man of God understood that the cup had been deadly, because it could not handle the Life-giving Cross (St. Demetrius of Rostov. The Life of Our Father Benedict. March 14).

Arch-pries Vasily Shustin (1886–1968) recalls elderly monk Nectarius of Optina: "Father says to me: 'First, empty the samovar, then pour water in it. Often people forget to pour water and start lighting the samovar and as a result they damaged the samovar and cannot drink tea. The water is in the corner in a copper jug; take it and pour.' I went to the jug but it was very large, holding about two buckets, and it was massive. I tried to move it but I was not strong enough. Then I wanted to bring the samovar to it and pour the water. Father noticed my intention and again said to me: 'Take the jug and pour water into the samovar.' — 'Father, it is too heavy for me, I cannot move it from its place.' Then Father approached the jug, crossed it, and said: 'Take it.' And I lifted it and looked at father in astonishment: the jug was completely light as if it weighed nothing.

I poured the water into the samovar and put the jug back with an expression of surprise on my face. And Father asked me: 'Well, was the jug heavy?' — 'No, Father. I am amazed: it was very light.' — 'So, take this lesson: every obedience that seems heavy to us becomes very easy in performing because it is done as obedience.' But I was simply astonished: how he destroyed gravity with one sign of the Cross!" (See: Shustin Vasily, arch-pries. A history of John of Kronstadt and the Optina Elders. Moscow, 1991).

For the sign of the Cross we hold the fingers of our right hand as follows: the first three fingers (thumb, index, and middle) are joined together at their tips evenly, and the last two (ring and little finger) are bent to the palm.

The three fingers joined together express our faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as a consubstantial and indivisible Trinity. The two fingers bent to the palm signify that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, upon His incarnation, being God, became Man—that is, they signify His two natures, Divine and Human.

There is no need to rush when making the sign of the Cross: place the right hand on the forehead (1), the stomach (2), the right shoulder (3), and then the left shoulder (4). After lowering the right hand you can make down-to-waist bow or down-to-earth bow.

(Recognizing our sinfulness and unworthiness before God, we accompany our prayer with bows as a sign of our humility. When we bend to the waist it is called down-to-waist bow and down-to-earth bow when, bowing and kneeling, we touch our head to the ground.)

Making the sign of the Cross, we touch our forehead with the three fingers joined together—to sanctify our mind; our stomach—to sanctify our inner feelings (heart); then the right and left shoulders—to sanctify our bodily strength.

As for those who cross with all five fingers, or who bow before finishing the cross, or who wave their hand in the air or across their chest, Saint John Zlatoust said: "The demons rejoice at that frantic waving." On the contrary, when the sign of the Cross performed correctly and unhurriedly with faith and reverence it truly frightens demons, quiets sinful passions, and attracts Divine grace.

The early Christians showed great respect and veneration of the Holy Cross.

Those who confessed the name of the Crucified Lord Jesus Christ always had the custom to enclose with the Cross forming the first fingers of the hand at the beginning of every task. Tertullian, one of the earliest Christian writers, testifies about this: "In every journey and movement, in every coming in and going out, in putting on our clothes and shoes, in bathing, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting, in whatever we do, we enclose our forehead with the sign of the Cross" (Tertullian, On the Soldier's Crown, Chapter 3).

Finally, brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:10-12).

Protect us, O Lord, by the power of Your Precious and Life-giving Cross, and save us from every evil.