Subject: IOU: Hand symbolism
From: Horace Jeffery Hodges (jefferyhodges@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Sep 27 2004 - 17:49:33 EDT
Perhaps this might lead you somewhere in your search. Jeffery Hodges ------------------------------------------------------ http://rosariesforourlady.com/st.athanasius/DivineLiturgy.htm BYZANTINE SIGN OF THE CROSS Blessing oneself with two fingers brought to the thumb represents the Trinity. The last two fingers held to the palm represent the two natures of Jesus--God and man. For the first 1,200 years of the Church, in making the Sign of the Cross, the hand was typically brought from the right to the left shoulder. In the East this is still the practice, to signify Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father. According to tradition and in the words of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), The Sign of the Cross is made with three fingers because it is impressed upon us in the name of the Holy Trinity. From the forehead we pass to the breast, then from the right to the left. (Quoted in Gasparri: Catholic Catechism, p. 248). ------------------------------------------------------ ===== University Degrees: Ph.D., History, U.C. Berkeley (Doctoral Thesis: "Food as Synecdoche in John's Gospel and Gnostic Texts") M.A., History of Science, U.C. Berkeley B.A., English Language and Literature, Baylor University Email Address: jefferyhodges@yahoo.com Office Address: Assistant Professor Horace Jeffery Hodges Department of English Language and Literature Korea University 136-701 Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu Seoul South Korea Home Address: Dr. Sun-Ae Hwang and Dr. Horace Jeffery Hodges Seo-Dong 125-2 Shin-Dong-A, Apt. 102-709 447-710 Kyunggido, Osan-City South Korea
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