Everyone, even a person far from religion, knows that the sign of the cross is not exactly the same in Orthodox and Catholic denominations. Believers who attend church services, of course, know that the Orthodox are baptized from right to left, and Catholics vice versa.
However, in the way to cross the other person correctly, many believers have difficulty. Indeed, if you make the usual movement of the sign of the Cross over someone, and not over yourself, then the order of the shoulders will be violated. Is it important? And how to invoke the blessing on the other person correctly, without violating the canons? Why do you need to be baptized? Such questions are relevant for many people who, for whatever reason, hesitate to ask their clergyman in the church.
What is the meaning of the sign of the cross?
To understand how to correctly cross the other person, you need to understand the meaning of this action. Otherwise, confusion and errors in the direction of motion are inevitable.
This is not a simple ritual gesture repeating the outline of a crucifix. The meaning of overshadowing oneself or another person with a cross in the calling of God's blessing. By doing it, the Christian protects himself from all evil, both human and demonic, calling for the help of the Most High.
When does the sign of the cross take place?
This prayer movement is appropriate in any life situation. Intuitive believers cross each other with a strong fear or when confronted with something incomprehensible, receiving any significant news or finding out shocking information. They overshadow themselves with the sign of the Cross in many other life situations.
But in addition to circumstances when the prayer movement is carried out on a hunch, there are those in which it is customary to perform the sign of the Cross for oneself or another person. These situations include primarily:
- entrance to the temple;
- presence at the service;
- reading canonical prayers in front of the icon in the church;
- seeing off the road of a loved one;
- parting words before significant events or trials.
Of course, it is necessary to overshadow the sign of another person by giving a blessing, and in many other circumstances. We must not forget about this action and proceeding to some important occupation or starting a new business.
If you need to cross yourself near the icon, then this is done three times. Twice a person overshadows himself with the sign of the Cross, going up to the image and stopping in front of him. After that he prays, sets a candle and is applied to the salary of the icon. Then he is baptized for the third time, bows and departs from the image.
How to be baptized Orthodox?
At the heart of how to correctly cross the other person, are the same rules that are followed when overshadowing the sign of yourself. This movement is a reflection of the dogmas of religion, therefore, it should be done by collecting three fingers together. Thus, the unity of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Spirit - is expressed.
The procedure for performing the sign of the cross is as follows:
- put together three fingers of the right hand;
- other fingers should be bent and pressed to the palm of your hand;
- with the words "in the name of the Father," you need to put a brush on your forehead;
- saying "in the name of the Son," you need to move the folded fingers to the stomach;
- move the brush to the right shoulder with the phrase "and the Holy", then to the left with the word "Spirit";
- bow, saying: "Amen."
Fingers attached to the back of the hand are not at all “superfluous” in a prayer gesture. They symbolize the dual nature of Jesus, the presence in him of the divine and human principles.
How to overshadow the sign of another person?
How to cross the other person? Orthodoxy gives an unambiguous answer to this question - the sign should lie as if a person had crossed himself.
Accordingly, an important point in this action is the alternation of shoulders. This is precisely the complexity for many people of how to cross the other person properly. For example, in a gesture of blessing, the hand, when moving from the abdomen, should not go to the right, but to the left, since a person who is overshadowed by the sign of the Cross usually faces the one who performs it.
Are there any differences in overshadowing by the sign of a person standing with his back and face?
The only difference in overshadowing the sign of the cross on the person who stands facing the blessing and the one who has turned his back is the direction of hand movement.
How to cross the other person properly if he is facing? To the person who blesses the attitude, the figures of the one who is overshadowed by a sign assumes the same position as the reflection in the mirror. Accordingly, the movement in a prayer gesture should be directed so that the first shoulder is the right one.
How to cross the other person, if he is standing with his back? Just like yourself. Since the blessed is not opposite to the one who performs the sign, that is, does not take a mirror position, the direction of hand movement should be familiar. Of course, the brush needs to be turned towards the one who is overshadowed by the sign of the Cross.