sed by the Christians since the time of the Apostles. It is a pious act, which Orthodox Christians make I the following manner:
The thumb, the index and the middle finger of the right hand are joined together, while the remaining two fingers are bent and touching the palm of the hand. INCLUDEPICTURE "https://apf. mail. ru/cgi-bin/readmsg/IMG20160628165050. jpg?id146712193900000000793B03B1&x-emailschmanova. olga40mail. ru&exif1&bs1721&bl469835&ctimage2Fjpeg&cnIMG20160628165050. jpg&ctebinary" MERGEFORMATINET
At first the forehead is touched,
then the breast,
then the right shoulder
and finally the left shoulder
Besides the impression which the sign of the Cross makes on the senses, it reminds us of its spiritual meanings.
The three fingers joined together symbolize the Oneness of God in the three Persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The two fingers, bent to the palm of the hand, signify the union of the two natures in Christ, the Divine and the Human.
The touch of the forehead signified that God is in our head (in our mind), the touch of the breast signifies that God is in our heart (in our feelings). The touch of the shoulders signifies that God is in our limbs, directing them as He wills.
In other words, by the sign of the Cross we dedicate to the service of God all the power of our mind, heart and soul. We are led to this service of God by means of the sing of the Cross, because it reminds us of Christs death on the Cross, to which «God gave His only-begotten Son» out of His love to the world 9John 3:16).
The sign of the Cross on our bodies is also a prayer for Gods blessing upon ourselves and others. It has often proved a protection against evil, wheth
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