medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I may have missed this in the earlier postings to this thread, but has it
been established what different types of cross-signing were used, and
when? Tertullian seems to have in mind some sort of signing on the
forehead (for some discussion of backgrounds, see Jean Danielou, Theology
of Jewish Christianity), while other discussants are speaking of signing
across the chest, and perhaps other means (use of icons or icon-like
postures, etc.). In written materials, the Greek form of the title/name
"Christos" may have called the cross to consciousness for some/many
(especially in abbreviated forms of "Christos"), while the chi-rho
monogram is adopted and transformed in Christianity (the symbol is already
there in the Greco-Roman world), and possibly the IXQUS (fish) symbol(ism)
also called attention to the cross. This is all interesting and
multi-faceted, and perhaps deserves to be better nuanced in the
discussions here. When is signing across the chest first evidenced, for
example?
Bob
--
Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
227 Logan Hall (Philadelphia PA 19104-6304); tel. 215 898-5827
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http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
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