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The Sign of the Cross: The Gesture, the Mystery, the History
Explore the mystery of the ancient gesture that invites the Cross of Christ into our lives
Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross--and have done so for centuries--as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?
The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Now and for the first time, young Greek scholar Andreas Andreopoulos explains the tremendous meaning, mystery, and history of this dramatic gesture shared by Christians worldwide. This readable account will fascinate and inspire all who desire to know more about the inherited spiritual practices of everyday life.
Andreas Andreopoulos was born in Greece in 1966 and is recognized throughout the world as one of the most eloquent young scholars of Christianity. He earned his Ph.D. in theology at the University of Durham under Fr. Andrew Louth and has taught in Toronto, Montreal, and Philadelphia. He is currently Lecturer of Christian Theology at the University of Wales.
Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross--and have done so for centuries--as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?
The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Now and for the first time, young Greek scholar Andreas Andreopoulos explains the tremendous meaning, mystery, and history of this dramatic gesture shared by Christians worldwide. This readable account will fascinate and inspire all who desire to know more about the inherited spiritual practices of everyday life.
Andreas Andreopoulos was born in Greece in 1966 and is recognized throughout the world as one of the most eloquent young scholars of Christianity. He earned his Ph.D. in theology at the University of Durham under Fr. Andrew Louth and has taught in Toronto, Montreal, and Philadelphia. He is currently Lecturer of Christian Theology at the University of Wales.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 16, 2008
It was a mixed experience. There were some very good sections and I learned a lot from them. The problem to me was that, especially in the middle portion, the book seemed to follow many bunny trails. I think if Fr. Andreopoulos had stuck very close to the subject it would have made a more cohesive book. It’s not that this other stuff was a complete waste, I have many underlined pages to prove that. I did learn some things however, it wasn’t why I picked up the book in the first place.
One of my favorite parts were the history of making the sign of the cross, which St. Basil of Caesarea tells us was part of the “apostolic tradition.” The earliest signs of the cross were made just on the forehead remembering the sign on the forehead from Revelations. Through the ages it has become what it is today - a full upper body crossing…from right to left in the East and left to right in the West.
Another portion I gained insight from was when Fr. Andreopolous writes about making the sign of the cross and our connection to “Wordless Prayer”, “The Crucifixion”, “the Resurrection”, and finally “The Second Coming”. After a long meditative discourse on all these he does wisely end with:
“One may question whether all this range of Christological symbolisms and connections really goes through the mind of the average Christian performing the sign of the cross upon entering a church or during liturgy or in private prayer. It would be naive to suggest that, but this is how symbols, icons, and signs operate: They keep within them a multitude of meanings…”
One of my favorite parts were the history of making the sign of the cross, which St. Basil of Caesarea tells us was part of the “apostolic tradition.” The earliest signs of the cross were made just on the forehead remembering the sign on the forehead from Revelations. Through the ages it has become what it is today - a full upper body crossing…from right to left in the East and left to right in the West.
Another portion I gained insight from was when Fr. Andreopolous writes about making the sign of the cross and our connection to “Wordless Prayer”, “The Crucifixion”, “the Resurrection”, and finally “The Second Coming”. After a long meditative discourse on all these he does wisely end with:
“One may question whether all this range of Christological symbolisms and connections really goes through the mind of the average Christian performing the sign of the cross upon entering a church or during liturgy or in private prayer. It would be naive to suggest that, but this is how symbols, icons, and signs operate: They keep within them a multitude of meanings…”
December 16, 2025
"The Annunciation was seen for a long time as the actual incarnation of the Word, which was accomplished with the Word of God. Mary was exalted and seen as the model of Christians exactly because she gave herself to a life of prayer and acquiesced to the birth of the Word of God inside her. The birth of God inside us, whether referring to the Mother of God or to every Christian, is brought about by the submission of the self to the will of God and a life of prayer.
This is how the meaning of the Incarnation becomes a personal and ecclesiastical event, and how the meaning connects with prayer. The sign of the cross, a gesture of acceptance, shows acceptance of the will of God. The descending movement of the hand from the forehead to the heart is for many Christians, as we have already seen, a reference to the historical descent of the Word on the earth and inside us. As a symbol of prayer the gesture reverberates with Mary's life of prayer in the Temple, and with her offering herself to God. Similarly, signing or crossing our body, we consign it and our entire selves to God as a temple of the Holy Spirit, so that the Word of God may enter us and be born inside us" (98-9).
This is how the meaning of the Incarnation becomes a personal and ecclesiastical event, and how the meaning connects with prayer. The sign of the cross, a gesture of acceptance, shows acceptance of the will of God. The descending movement of the hand from the forehead to the heart is for many Christians, as we have already seen, a reference to the historical descent of the Word on the earth and inside us. As a symbol of prayer the gesture reverberates with Mary's life of prayer in the Temple, and with her offering herself to God. Similarly, signing or crossing our body, we consign it and our entire selves to God as a temple of the Holy Spirit, so that the Word of God may enter us and be born inside us" (98-9).
March 23, 2023
An in-depth look at the meaning of the sign of the cross for the Christian and the Church. It is a theological account, which those who are not versed in Orthodox Christian theology will find difficult to digest. This was not a problem for me, but it would be for many. I think an experiential element, accounts of what meaning the sign of the cross holds for various person's who employ it would illustrate the inward focus of it. I also would have liked to have read stories showing the power of the sign of the cross, which certain Church Fathers spoke of. A valuable book, but for a fairly narrow, select type of readers.
June 20, 2018
A study of the history in the church, and the meaning, of one's making the sign of the cross on oneself as a practice in the church's liturgy. The author is an Eastern Orthodox Christian.
April 10, 2023
It is good to have insight into a history of the the sign. Well researched and connected to historical events.
March 1, 2014
A great introduction the the sign of the cross that communicates how a simple symbol and action can provoke great meditation on the mysteries of the faith. In many ways this book was about the significance of the cross in the Christian's life (as it has been through our history) yet it has convincing sections on why one should choose to adopt this sign into their daily life. Its use can range from a simple Christian identification or a small wordless prayer - to a prompt for meditation on the deep mystery of the incarnation.
It also covered a history of the sign, its move from the forehead to the larger cross over the body, and the (much earlier than expected) dates it came into use within Christianity and how it has changed since.
There was a slight loss of focus nearing the halfway point of the book that was interesting in its own right but seemed separated from what the author was trying to communicate.
I am convinced, again, reading treatments like this that if Christians from other traditions (specifically my own evangelical tradition) would only read such things and seek to understand them, they would view different traditions (Orthodox, for 1) with MUCH less "suspicion". They would not see the traditions as foreign and odd, but rather would be indebted to a rich tradition that offers much wisdom in incorporating the mysteries of Christianity into our being and into the rhythms of our life. They might even take up this sign. :)
"The most profound and incomprehensible mysteries are connected with such simple objects or symbols, which somehow manage to evoke them immediately, at an impulse, a gesture."
It also covered a history of the sign, its move from the forehead to the larger cross over the body, and the (much earlier than expected) dates it came into use within Christianity and how it has changed since.
There was a slight loss of focus nearing the halfway point of the book that was interesting in its own right but seemed separated from what the author was trying to communicate.
I am convinced, again, reading treatments like this that if Christians from other traditions (specifically my own evangelical tradition) would only read such things and seek to understand them, they would view different traditions (Orthodox, for 1) with MUCH less "suspicion". They would not see the traditions as foreign and odd, but rather would be indebted to a rich tradition that offers much wisdom in incorporating the mysteries of Christianity into our being and into the rhythms of our life. They might even take up this sign. :)
"The most profound and incomprehensible mysteries are connected with such simple objects or symbols, which somehow manage to evoke them immediately, at an impulse, a gesture."
February 25, 2008
If you are interested in the development of the Christian faith, this is a good book to read. It seemed well-researched and the author has a generally effective prose style.
May 6, 2011
interesting little book, covering the historical and sociological development of the process of "crossing one's self." Longer review here: http://eyesandearsblog.blogspot.com/2...
February 19, 2014
Didn't know there was so much wisdom in the sign of the cross and the cross. made me want to study more the scriptures.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews