One of the most serious milestones in the history of Christianity was the schism, as a result of which two main directions appeared - Catholicism and Orthodoxy. One of the differences between the trends was the difference in the conduct of church services.
The sign of the Cross is an indispensable attribute of Christian prayer. Covering himself with the cross, the prayer invokes the Divine Grace of the Holy Spirit.
In 1054 AD, the split of Christianity (Great Schism) into the Western and Eastern Churches took place, as a result of which two directions were formed that were quite intolerant of each other: Orthodoxy and Catholicism (and, as part of it, Protestantism).
Among other things, there is a fundamental difference in the attributes of church service and, in particular, in the manner of overshadowing oneself with the cross.
How Catholics are baptized
In the process of praying, the believer "draws" on himself the likeness of a cross. Before the split, it did not matter, from right to left or from left to right, a horizontal line of the cross is drawn.
But in order to unify Catholic Christianity at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the modern form of imposing the banner of the cross was established.
Catholics are baptized in the following order: top to bottom and left to right. There are several explanations for the direction from left to right. One of them: the prayer opens the door to goodness to the heart. Another version is more voluminous: the left side is associated with the devil, the right side with light forces, and by passing his hand from left to right, the believer shows the way to good.
How Orthodox Christians are baptized
Orthodox Christians put the cross from right to left. Just as in Catholicism, it is assumed that the devil is on the left side of a person, and by swiping his hand from right to left, a person attracts God and other higher powers to fight the unclean.
In both Orthodoxy and Catholicism, a horizontal gesture means the direction of movement between good and evil.
Why Protestants Don't Make the Sign of the Cross
Protestantism as a trend originated from Catholicism, but the basis of religion is a protest against certain postulates. In this regard, Protestants do not cross themselves, arguing that nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christ and his disciples were baptized or prayed to icons.
How to fold fingers
For Catholics, it is not important how to fold the fingers when applying the cross. Allowed as a traditional three-finger, so an open palm, with a slightly pressed inward thumb.
Orthodox Christians are baptized with three fingers in recognition of the trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
But as a result of the internal schism of the Orthodox Church, a rather weighty stratum was separated - the Old Believers. Old Believers cross themselves with two fingers, believing that Judas took salt with a pinch and thus defiled the three fingers.
