The Mystery of the Sign of the Cross in the First Centuries of Christianity: a Liturgical Historical Study

Man has used the sign of the cross for a few thousand years now, ascribing various symbolism to it. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Christ’s passion on the cross made Judeo-Christians propagate the idea of the role of Christ’s offering in God’s overall plan of salvation. The aim of the present article is to introduce the reader, based on liturgical and patristic sources, to the beginning and the process of ancient Christians’ adoption of the sign of the cross, their development of symbolic thoughts about the cross and their early practice of drawing the sign of the cross on the body outside the liturgy and during its celebration. The methodology employed for the purpose of this article involves the historical-genetic and comparative method.