How often are we to cross ourselves?

The answer is very simple: Frequently. Why according to our Holy Tradition are we to cross ourselves so frequently? We are well aware of the tremendous power of our great enemy, the devil, who attacks unceasingly. Our Lord left us an invincible weapon against him: the Cross. So the sign of the Cross is made against danger, against fear of some kind of trouble, as a protection against the devil’s wiles, and when begging God for His help, His mercy, His forgiveness, His granting of a petition. God is ever present, ready to assist in our daily struggle whenever we ask.

As Eastern Christians we are to make the sign of the Cross as we begin and end our private devotions-prayers, when we enter the Church, when we venerate the icons, the Holy Gospel, or the Holy Cross. We make the sign of the Cross when the name of the Holy Trinity is pronounced during the Divine Liturgy or any Divine Service. Finally, we make the sign of the Cross at prayers before and after meals, and at any appropriate times as an act of piety.

St. Kosmas Aitolos, concerning the sign of the Cross, writes the following: Listen, my brethren, how the sign of the Cross is made and what is means. First, just as the Holy Trinity is glorified in heaven by the angels, so should you join your three fingers of your right hand. And being unable to ascend into heaven to worship, raise your hand to your head (because the head means heaven) and say “Just as the angels glorify the Holy Trinity in heaven, so do I, as a servant glorify and worship the Holy Trinity. And as the fingers are three separate, and are together, so is the Holy Trinity three persons but one God.” Lowering your hand to your stomach, say: “I worship You and adore You my Lord, because you condescended and took on flesh in the womb of the Theotokos for my sins.” Place your hand on your right shoulder and say: "I beg You, my God, to forgive me and to put me on Your right with the just.” Placing your hand again on your left should say: “I beg You my Lord, do not put me on the left with the sinners.” This is what the Cross means. On this Sunday as we honor the Life-giving Cross let us remember that the sign of the Cross gives us great strength to repel and conquer evil and to do good, but we must remember to make the sign of the Cross correctly and without haste, otherwise it will not be the sign of the Cross, but just waving our our hand around, which only gladdens the demons. By making the sign of the Cross carelessly we show a lack of reverence for God. This is a sin, called sacrilege.