THE SIGN OF THE CROSS TAndreas Andreopoulos Book Review

The Sign of the Cross
The Gesture, The Mystery, The History

Andreas Andreopoulos, Author

Foreword by Frederica Mathewes Green

Paraclete Press, PublisherISBN 978-1-55725-496-2165 pages

Retail Price: $19.95

Having spent my formative and early adult years in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and then moving to a protestant denomination after marriage, one part of my faith practices that has never changed has been using the faith profession of making the sign of the cross. In this small book Andreas Andreopoulos has explained a lot of my unanswered questions. The Sign of the Cross is not a book only for Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, or any other Christians who use this gesture. It is for all Christians.

Andreopoulos, in every day language readily understandable to all, gives the background history for how this symbol of faith came into existance, the meanings of the various ways it is practiced, the related history of its development, and what it still means to Christians today. He covers how and why it is used by clergy and lay people. In essence, this book gives those who do not want to delve into deep theological writing or would have difficulty understanding such, a theological dissertation in a way that will be a learning experience giving deeper meaning to their Christian faith.

I found a lot that I didn't know, some information that affirmed what I believe, and a whole lot that I didn't know that I can put into practice. For example, why do Eastern Orthodox Christians shape their hand differently than others to make the cross? Why do Catholics go to the left shoulder first and the Orthodox to the right shoulder first? What does the cross symbol mean when I use it?

Although the facts about the initial use of the cross sign are sketchy, Andreopoulos presents what is known, and presents why different thoughts about its origins may or may not be true. He does not make any judgement about one denomination against another, nor does he say one practice is right and another wrong. If I might have one criticism, it is that Andreopoulos comes from the perspective that all Christians use the sign of the cross. Perhaps that will be his next book--how for some Christians this practice fell out of use and why.

I highly recommend this book.

From the Publisher

Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross—and have done so for centuries—as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?

The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Now and for the first time, young Greek scholar Andreas Andreopoulos explains the tremendous meaning, mystery, and history of this dramatic gesture shared by Christians worldwide. This readable account will fascinate and inspire all who desire to know more about the inherited spiritual practices of everyday life.

Andreas Andreopoulos was born in Greece in 1966 and is recognized throughout the world as one of the most eloquent young scholars of Christianity. He earned his Ph.D. in theology at the University of Durham under Fr. Andrew Louth and has taught in Toronto, Montreal, and Philadelphia. He is currently Lecturer of Christian Theology at the University of Wales.

Reviewed by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.