The Sign of the Cross and Facing East in Prayer
Main Idea
This teaching addresses two fundamental subjects in the spiritual and liturgical life of the Coptic Orthodox Church: making the Sign of the Cross and facing east during prayer. Pope Shenouda III explains that the Cross is the essence of the Christian faith because it is a sign of God’s love for humanity, through which redemption and atonement were accomplished, and through which we received the forgiveness of sins and salvation. He draws on the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the letters of Saint Paul the Apostle, explaining that the Cross is not a sign of shame or weakness, but the power of God and a sign of victory and triumph over death and sin.
Spiritual Message
The teaching emphasizes that the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples to carry the cross and follow Him. Therefore, the believer should share in Christ’s Cross, deny himself, and live for Christ. Making the Sign of the Cross is also a declaration of faith and belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified, and a constant reminder of His love and redemption. The Pope explains that the Sign of the Cross carries a doctrinal meaning, as it signifies God’s descent from heaven to earth and humanity’s transition from darkness to light. He also emphasizes that the Cross represents a spiritual power on which believers rely and that it is present in the Church’s prayers, sacraments, and blessings.
Educational Lesson
Pope Shenouda III explains that making the Sign of the Cross is not merely a formal habit, but a practice that carries biblical and doctrinal teaching and helps believers remember Christ’s saving work. Displaying the Cross on churches, carrying it, or wearing it also proclaims the Christian faith and belonging to the Crucified One. The teaching then moves on to explain the importance of facing east during prayer, clarifying that the east is associated with light and that the Bible connects it with the Garden of Eden and the appearance of the star that guided the Magi to Christ. These biblical symbols are presented to explain the spiritual meaning that the Church assigns to facing east.
Practical Application
The teaching calls believers to make the Sign of the Cross with faith and understanding, remembering Christ’s love, death, and Resurrection, rather than treating it as a mere physical gesture. It also encourages teaching children and the congregation the meaning of the Cross so that their faith may grow in their hearts and spiritual truths may become firmly established in their minds. The believer should also take pride in the Cross as a sign of belonging to Christ and live according to His teachings through repentance and following the Lord. Likewise, understanding the practice of facing east during prayer helps believers recognize the biblical and spiritual symbols associated with light, hope, and life with God.
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