www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What happens at Chrismation?

Dear ChristTeen,

Certainly, blessing the hand in this way doesn't make the Sign of the Cross any more "powerful" than those made by Christians who have not had this rite performed.

Besides, the Byzantine Rite of Baptism does indeed bless the hand of candidates, although not in the same way.

Priests in the Latin Rite have their hands blessed at their ordination.

The right hand has a very important symbolic meaning, as we know.

It is taken to signify the hand of righteousness and authority by which we are called to act in God's Name for good.

The pagan Romans believed the good angel stands on the right hand and the evil angel on the left ("lef" in Latin is "sinister" - enough said?).

To get up on the 'wrong side of bed,' is to get up on the left side.

And the Old Believers and Slavic Christians in general believe in making prostrations on a mat or pillow so as not to defile the right hand by which we make the Sign of the Cross.

We wear our wedding bands on the right hand so that we may look at it when we Cross ourselves and remind ourselves that our marriage was sealed in Christ.

The ancient Roman signet ring was worn on the right hand, used to sign in wax decrees on behalf of the people for their good etc.

Christians took to wearing such rings with crosses for a similar symbolic purpose - the early wedding bands always had a cross inscribed on them and were worn the same way.

Alex

From Alex

We wear our wedding bands on the right hand so that we may look at it when we Cross ourselves and remind ourselves that our marriage was sealed in Christ.

OH - what an education this place is

Here in the UK weddings rings are on our left hand because , or so I understand [ and I'm dredging this up from one of those deeply buried recesses of the elderly mind ] the vein from that hand has the shortest distance to travel to the heart.

Having said that though, Professed religious do wear their ring on the right hand - likewise some Priests I have met.

Anhelyna

With apologies for the off topic - but blame himself who produces these interesting facts

Dear Angela,

The only one who objects when I go off topic is Fr. Elias , especially on the Prayer Thread.

I'm not objecting, I'm just stating a fact .

The tradition of the left finger is a Roman pagan one associated with the holiday that became St Valentine's Day.

I certainly "get the finger" when my Valentine's Day celebrations aren't up to snuff . . .

Alex

Alex,

My pastor oftentimes refers to the difficulty in resisting the temptation to "bless someone with his priestly finger" when he is cut off while driving.