Can laymen give a blessing?

[Gregory DePardo]

Christ Is Risen!

I have seen laymen bless food using the sign of the cross over the food (hand position same as when one blesses oneself). Is this a common practice? Are ones' children blessed in the same fashion?

Gregory

[Irene]

Dear Gregory,

It is a common practice at least in my country. Making the sign of the cross over children whilst they sleep (many times when they are babies as they sleep frequently).

Making the sign of the cross over the food we prepare for our family and friends.

Making the sign of the cross over our beds before sleep.

Making the sign of the cross towards each wall in the room.

We always use the exact same finger positioning as when we cross ourselves. I have never been told any different.

In Christ
irene

[Effie Ganatsios]

Gregory, I don't know the official viewpoint concerning this type of blessing. I do know however that in Greece, mothers bless their children when they leave the house in the morning by making the sign of the cross over their heads (I do this every morning for both my husband and my son - my husband also crosses himself when he leaves in the morning), women traditionally make the sign of the cross over the dough when making bread, especially the sweet Easter bread. Many mothers also make the sign of the cross over their children when they go to sleep at night. Is this just custom? I don't know.

I'll try and find out for you though.

Effie

[matt]

Reading the recent posts about the use of the sign of the cross reminded me of some lines from Tertullian. I punched them into the search base and came by this nice little passage that you may find useful. It is from: http://www.virtualology.com/virtualmuseumofhistory/hallofspirituality/signofthecross.org/


Of all the above methods of venerating this life-giving symbol and adopting it as an emblem, the marking of a little cross seems to be the most ancient. We have positive evidence in the early Fathers that such a practice was familiar to Christians in the second century. "In all our travels and movements", says Tertullian (De cor. Mil., iii), "in all our coming in and going out, in putting of our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross". On the other hand this must soon have passed into a gesture of benediction, as many quotations from the Fathers in the fourth century would show. Thus St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his "Catecheses" (xiii, 36) remarks: "let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are traveling, and when we are at rest".

The course of development seems to have been the following. The cross was originally traced by Christians with the thumb or finger on their own foreheads. This practice is attested by numberless allusions in Patristic literature, and it was clearly associated in idea with certain references in Scripture, notably Ezech., ix, 4 (of the mark of the letter Tau); Ex., xvii, 9-14; and especially Apoc., vii 3; ix, 4; xiv, 1. Hardly less early in date is the custom of marking a cross on objects-already Tertullian speaks of the Christian woman "signing" her bed ("Ad uxor.", ii, 5) before retiring to rest-and we soon hear also of the sign of the cross being traced on the lips (Jerome, "Epitaph. Paulæ") and on the heart (Prudentius, "Cathem.", vi, 129). Not unnaturally if the object were more remote, the cross which was directed towards it had to be made in the air. Thus Epiphanius tells us (Adv. Hær., xxx, 12) of a certain holy man Josephus, who imparted to a vessel of water the power of overthrowing magical incantations by "making over the vessel with his finger the seal of the cross" pronouncing the while a form of prayer. Again half a century later Sozomen, the church historian (VII, xxvi), describes how Bishop Donatus when attacked by a dragon "made the sign of the cross with his finger in the air and spat upon the monster". All this obviously leads up to the suggestion of a larger cross made over the whole body, and perhaps the earliest example which can be quoted comes to us from a Georgian source, possibly of the fourth or fifth century. In the life of St. Nino, a woman saint, honored as the Apostle of Georgia, we are told in these terms of a miracle worked by her: "St. Nino began to pray and entreat God for a long time. Then she took her (wooden) cross and with it touched the Queen's head, her feet and her shoulders, making the sign of the cross and straightway she was cured" (Studia Biblica, V, 32).

[Effie Ganatsios]

Matt, thank you for that information.

I searched for information on the net this morning, and the most appropriate, in my opinion, is the following quote :

St. Basil the Great, The Holy Spirit (375 A.D.): "Indeed, were we to try to reject unwritten customs as having no great authority, we would unwittingly injure the Gospel in its vitals; or rather, we would reduce Kerygma to a mere term. For instance, to take the first and most general example, who taught us in writing to sign with the sign of the cross those who have trusted in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?"

Here are some more quotes from the Church Fathers :

Tertullian, The Crown (211 A.D.): "At every forward step and movement, when coming in and going out, when putting on our clothes, when putting on our shoes, when bathing, when at table, when lighting the lamps, when reclining, when sitting, in all the ordinary occupations of our daily lives, we furrow our forehead with the sign." (this was included in Matt's message)

St. Athanasius, Treatise on the Incarnation of the Word (C. 318 A.D.): "And while in times past demons, occupying springs or rivers or trees or stones, cheated men by deceptive appearances and imposed upon the credulous by their juggleries, now, after the divine coming of the Word, an end is put to their deceptions. For by the sign of the cross, a man but using it, their wiles are put to flight."



Some personal thoughts on this subject :

Perhaps some people use the sign of the cross as some sort of insurance against future ills - I know that some people become Christians because of a fear of the future - but it seems from the above that as laymen we can use the sign of the cross as an affirmation of our belief in Jesus Christ and in the power of the cross in our everyday lives. When we make the sign of the cross over our loved ones or over e.g. the St. Basil bread on New Year's Day just before cutting it, we are dedicating the object of the blessing to Christ.

ST. JOHN. CHRYSOSTOM : He refers to the fact that the sign of the cross can be made over anything at all, even animals.

"More precious than the universe, the Cross glitters on the diadems of emperors. Everywhere it is present to my view. I find it among princes and subjects, men and women, virgins and married people, slaves and freemen. All continually trace it on the noblest part of the body, the forehead, where it shines like a column of glory. It is made over sick animals, over persons possessed by demons, in war, in peace, by day, by night, in pleasant reunions and in penitential assemblies. It is a question of who shall seek first the protection of this admirable Sign.. What is there surprising in this? The Sign of the Cross is the type of our deliverance, the monument of liberation of mankind, the souvenir of the forbearance of Our Lord. When you make it, remember what has been given for your ransom, and you will be the slave of no one. Make it, then, not only with the fingers, but with your faith. If you engrave it on your forehead, no impure spirit will dare to stand before you. He sees the blade with which he has been wounded, the sword with which he has received the deathblow."

In my experience, when you make the sign of the cross over someone or something it benefits both the object of the blessing and the person making it.

Effie

[Melissa]

Today a priest visiting our area gave the sermon, and he had a refrain of "thrust your life into Christ" - about what we're talking about in this thread. Making everything a reverential offering to Christ - our tasks, those we care about and for, our enemies, our heartbreak, even our joy.
Thanks be to God, and to everyone; this is a nourishing thread for me; I've needed it.
In Christ,
Melissa

[Gregory DePardo]

Thank you all for your imput! It has been very informative. Thank you Matt and Effie on all of your research...much appreciated!

In Christ,

Gregory

[Daniel Jeandet]

The other night my 3.5 year old son walked into his bedroom all on his own, stood in front of his icons, and made the sign of the cross while saying "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, thank you Jesus for giving us yummy milk for our cereal". He even bows to the ground and sometimes does prostrations before kissing the Cross. How can I possibly thank God enough for these things?

[James H.]

Daniel J.,

Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful experience with us. I can't tell you how much that was appreciated! Praise God!

James

[Jim Nee]

Daniel,

What a touching story! Its been a while since I've posted here... being a catechumen with all the study, and now officially chrismated(!), I've been busy. But I wanted to respond with a story of my own in like manner:

I came upstairs from work tonight just a few minutes before dinner, and sat at the computer to look in on some emails. Soon after, I heard Ana say, "Mom, we have to pray. We have to look at the icons and pray." I thought she was referring to what we were about to do before sitting down to eat. But she wasn't. She was referring to what she was about to do right then!

Laura said, "okay honey, do you want the little prayer book?" "Yes." Ana opened the prayer book, and began to say, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen" signing the cross over herself. She said uninterpretable things and then said, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us...." signing the cross and bowing... three times. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing!

After some other uninterpretable remarks, 'reading' from the prayer book, and concluding with "in the name of...", signed the cross and said 'Amen'. Then she put the prayer book down and went about her business of being two years old. I was amazed. She is more devout than I, and obviously gets it from her mom who prays in front of the icons in the kid's plain view several times a day.

Later on, I told her she said a very good prayer. A twinkle entered her eye and her lips creased slightly as she solemnly said, "yes". I didn't know how else to encourage her! I hope I did okay.

[Daniel Jeandet]

Little kids are the best http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif

Once my boy mentioned talking to Jesus. I asked him, "Do you talk to Jesus"? He looked at me like I was asking a stupid question and said "yes I do". I asked, "what does he say to you"? Jude replied, "When we leave the Church he says "Thankyou for coming here"".

I have lots of stories. I wish I was a better person so I could really get it. Small children are closer to reality than us. I just got the book "A visual catechism of the Orthodox Church" by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos. the first half is full of very good icon-like pictures of the creation, fall, incarnation, life in the Church etc. with simple explanations underneath that you can read to your child. The second part is smaller print with more detailed passages about each thing, for when they are older (or for us grown ups to read). Jude really likes me to read it to him, I recommend it.

[Fr John Wehling]

Gregory and others,

Christ is risen!

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for Orthodox laypersons to sign their children, food, etc. with the sign of the Cross, the fingers positioned in the same way you would hold them for blessing yourself. My spiritual father, a monk, told me to do this before I was ordained, and it is a beautiful thing.

Indeed He is risen!

Fr John Wehling

[Anthony]

On the other hand, I was also taught that as a layman I should not take it on myself to bless food when eating with others (an exception, if I understand correctly, would be a parent at a family meal).

I am rather late on this thread as I have just joined (will introduce myself later). But it is relevant to me at the moment as a German friend of mine, who is interested in Orthodoxy, often wants me to say a prayer before meals, which I am unwilling to do as this would normally end with blessing of the food. I would find any comments on this helpful - as I have the discussion so far.

Anthony

[Irene]

Hi Anthony,

If there is no Clergy present at all perhaps the most senior Orthodox person there should bless the food. I don't know, anytime that I have ever visited Orthodox families everyone prays facing the icons and then just sit down and eat, I haven't actually noticed anyone blessing the food. Out with Orthodox people a few cross themselves and then bless their own food and others don't.

At home I try to remember to bless the food as I cook and serve it but have never actually done it at the table.

Sorry not much help.

In Christ
Irene

[Anthony]

Hello Irene - many thanks, this is just the sort of detail I need, never having lived with an Orthodox family. I don't normally bless the food at table either (though I have a Greek friend who does, unless I misunderstood him). I was thinking more of the prayer "Christ God bless the food and drink of your servants...", which looks like a blessing. It is this I am uneasy about saying in the presence of others, though I assume it's OK for laymen to say it on their own.
Anthony

[John P. Nasou]

I have never taken it upon myself to bless anything or anybody, = including our food. I pray to God to bestow his blessings upon whom or = what I feel deserves. or is in need of them. Even the prayers of our = clergy regarding the bestowal of blessings follow this rule. I cannot = believe that there is any canon of the Church which forbids us to do = this, either for anyone praying alone or when praying for a group, such =

[Anestis Jordanoglou]

Thank you so much for this beautiful thread. I've so enjoyed it and from such a short question! Regarding blessings in general - a monk-priest (now a wonderful Metropolitan in Thessalonika) told me that blessings were a recognition of the delight that God takes in us. It's sort of a joyful recognition of all the good we've received at all times in all things.

It's a special moment, really - a movement of prayer.

Hope you all enjoy the Blessing of the Waters this Epiphany!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Here is a link for laymen blessing meals:

http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/meal.htm

In Christ- Fr Raphael