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The Sign of the Cross in the Early Church

The sign of the cross was already woven into ordinary Christian devotion by the early third century. Tertullian, Cyril of Jerusalem, Basil, Jerome, and other Fathers treat it as received Christian practice—not a medieval novelty.

Published · By the HonestApologist editorial team · How we work

The Sign of the Cross in the Early Church — The sign of the cross was already woven into ordinary Christian devotion by the early third century. Tertullian, Cyril…

An ancient Christian habit

Around A.D. 200, Tertullian describes believers tracing the sign on the forehead throughout ordinary daily life (De Corona 3). Cyril of Jerusalem later tells Christians not to be ashamed to confess the Crucified and to make the sign openly (Catechetical Lecture 13.36). Basil the Great lists signing with the cross among the Church’s received, unwritten practices (On the Holy Spirit 27.66). Jerome likewise counsels, ‘In every act we do, in every step we take, let our hand trace the Lord’s cross’ (Letter 22.37).

The Fathers did not treat the gesture as magic. It was a bodily confession of Christ crucified—a short creed traced upon the Christian person. The evidence does not require us to pretend that every local custom was identical. It does establish that dismissing the sign of the cross as a late medieval corruption is historically untenable.

Primary sources

Tertullian, De Corona 3: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0304.htm
Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit 27.66: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3203.htm
Jerome, Letter 22.37: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001022.htm

Topic: Church History