How to make the sign of the Cross

 As one moves through the Sign, one recites, at the forehead, “Lord “; at the stomach, “Jesus Christ”, on the right shoulder, “Son of God”; and on the left shoulder, “have mercy on us” followed by a bow(to the ground during great lent).

Joining two fingers together-the index and the middle finger-and extending them, with the middle finger slightly bent, represents the two natures of Christ: His Divinity and His Humanity. He is God according to His divinity and Man according to His hummanity, perfect in both natures. The index finger represents His divinity, while the middle finger repersents His hummanity, since He came down from on high and saved those below. The bending of the middle finger is interperted to mean that He bowed the heavens and came down upon the earth for our salvation.

And thus it proper to make the Sign of the Cross and to bless; thus was it laid down and ordained by the holy fathers; such is the power of the Sign of the Cross, with which we faithful sign ourselves when we pray, confessing sacramentally the Saviour’s economy: His being begotten of God the Father before all creation; His decent to earth from on high; His Crucifixion; and His second coming, which is the sealing of His entire philanthropic dipensation concerning us.

The sign of the cross must be made according to the rules, in the form of a cross; and the right hand, that is, the dextral hand, must be used in crossing oneself, with the thumb and the two lower fingers joined together, and the extended index finger joined to the middle finger, slightly bent; thus should prelates [and] priests give their blessing and thus should men cross themselves. . . . It befits all Orthodox Christians to hold their hand thus, and to make the sign of the cross upon their face with two fingers, and to bow, as we said before. If anyone should fail to give his blessing with two fingers, as Christ did, or should fail to make the sign of the cross with two fingers, may he be accursed.. . ., Chapter 31 of The Council Of The Hundred Chapters.

As of Friday, December 21, 2007 all graphics that are in violation of the following standard will be deleted. 1) The woman's dresses are always to be depicted as a full dress which fits over a long-sleeved blouse and full-length slips. An apron is then to depicted over the dress and the "poyas" (belt) are be depicted as being tied around the waist. 2) Unmarried women are to be depicted wearing their hair in a braid down the back. 3) Married women are to be depicted wearing two braids covered with scarves. 4) The women are never permitted to be depicted with cut hair. 5) The women are never to be depicted showing their arms above the wrists nor their legs above the calf, nor any other part of their bodies; thus, the full skirts. 6) The men are to be depicted wearing a rubashka, which is a tunic-like shirt which often has embroidery down the front and a high round collar reminiscent of the clerical collar found in the United States and Europe. 7) The men are to be depicted wearing a belt around the rubashka at waist level. 8) The men are to be depicted with hair cut short in back and on the sides with a fringe of longer hair around the temples and front. 9) The men are to be depicted with a uncut beard.
 FAIR USE: In accordance with Title 17 USC Section 107, any copyrighted work on this site is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for non-profit research and educational or criticism purposes only, and IS NOT an infringement of copyright.

Bishop responds to forced retirement

by Angela Blanchard Thursday, May 15, 2008 "ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The former head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska says he was retired without his permission or knowledge. Leaders of the Orthodox Church in America announced... more

Previous blog entries:
May 15	-	Calif. bishop brings message of healing to Kodiak
May 15	-	+NIKOLAI RETIRED BY SYNOD
May 12	-	Alaska diocese struggle draws to a close as Bishop Nikolai steps down