Greek Old Believers?

[Revnitel]

The three fingered sign of the Cross may have been the way the sign of the Cross was done in the Pre Schism West, where that variant and another three finger one were observed, but in the Byzantine East the two fingered sign was predominant and that is how the Byzantines introduced it into Russia. Even today the way a Priest or Bishop in the Orthodox Church blesses a member of the Faithful is an adaptation of the old way. I never brought up the point of the legitimacy of one over the other or the subject of tobacco pinches and post schism importations, but rather the survival of Old Rite practices amongst Greek communities.

[joasia]

Perhaps the Catholic Old Rite comes closer to the Mediterranean area. How do they cross themselves?

What I am in awe of is that God created mankind's hands in a way that expresses a theological truth. Whether two up or three up, both ways represent the Holy Trinity and the two natures of Jesus Christ. No more. No less. Just perfect.

[Revnitel]

Prior to the fifteenth century in Italy, the sign of the Cross was made with three fingers, three on top, two on the bottom, right to the left, the way it is done now in the Orthodox Church. Whereas, in the East the Old Rite practice was more prevalent.

[Matthew]

This shows how in the historical Catholic Church we have an inheritance of variable traditions. The error of the Old Believers is that they claimed that the Orthodox traditions of the West were heretical. That Orthodoxy has adopted the three fingered sign and largely discarded the two fingered sign for laymen shows that there is not always only ONE way of doing things in a God blessed manner. So, we need to be cautious and try not to speak too much in absolute terms on matters like this.

[Revnitel]

You know, the New Calendarists use the same argument in regard to the GOCs. There needs to reverence in piety and respect.

[Maria]

You know, the New Calendarists use the same argument in regard to the GOCs. There needs to reverence in piety and respect.

Please explain.

[Matthew]

Yes, you have left us guessing as to what you are specifically trying to argue.