Early Christian Beliefs About the Sign of the Cross
Early Christians treated the sign of the cross as a real Christian practice and a strong symbol of Christ’s saving work. Writers like Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Minucius Felix, and Lactantius connect it with protection, victory, and public faith. Some texts describe the gesture on the forehead in worship, while others explain its meaning through the cross of Christ and Old Testament signs.
127 early-church witnesses · 232 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the sign of the cross?
Early Christians did use the sign of the cross in worship and daily life, and they also treated the cross as a major Christian symbol of salvation, victory, and protection. Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all give clear early witness to this.
The evidence is strongest for the cross as a public Christian sign and for tracing the forehead in worship, while some other passages are only symbolic or typological, especially when they explain Old Testament marks, signs, or foreshadowings. Bible passages about taking up the cross, signs on the forehead, and Old Testament signs help the early Christian writers’ reading, but they do not by themselves describe the later sign-making practice.
Overall, the early record is broad and early, even though a few references are indirect or mainly about the meaning of the cross rather than the gesture itself. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers linked the sign of the cross with faith, worship, and protection.
- Clement, Tertullian, and later liturgies describe the cross being traced on the forehead.
- Several writers also read Old Testament signs as foreshadowing the cross of Christ.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians make the sign of the cross?
The clearest sources show the sign of the cross being made on the forehead and used in worship. The liturgical cards describe priests and worshipers making the sign, while other writers speak of it as a recognizable Christian mark.
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Tertullian, De Corona Direct teaching
At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
and let him put on his shining garment, and stand at the altar, and make the sign of the cross upon his forehead with his hand, and say: The grace of Almighty God, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
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Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Direct teaching
He signs himself with the sign of the cross an his forehead, and does the same to those standing round him.
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Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness
He signs himself with the sign of the cross, and they respond:—
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
The Priest makes the sign of the cross over the sacred mysteries.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
The Priest makes the sign of the cross, and says:—
What did early Christians think the sign of the cross meant?
Several authors explain the cross as a Christian sign connected to Christ’s passion, victory, and self-denial. The Bible cards most relevant here are the passages about taking up the cross and boasting in the cross of Christ.
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Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching
...itate the appearance of a simple cross, but also that of a man fastened to it. We certainly see the sign of a cross naturally in a ship, when it is carried along with swelling sails, and when it glides forward with outspread oars. It is there also when the military yoke is lifted up, and when a man adores God with a pure mind and with hands stretched out. Thus the sign of the cross either is sustained by a natural reason, or your own religion is formed with respect to it.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching
...h hold a strong power of pleasure. And he keeps a noble contempt for everything that belongs to the making and feeding of the flesh. He also resists the soul as it is tied to the body, putting a bridle on the stubborn irrational spirit, for "the flesh lusts against the Spirit," Galatians 5:17. And to bear the sign of the cross is to carry death about with you, by saying farewell to all things while still alive, since there is not the same love in having sown the flesh as in having formed the soul for knowledge.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Galatians 5:17 And to bear the sign of [the cross] is to bear about death, by taking farewell of all things while still alive;
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Methodius, Three Fragments on the Cross and Passion Direct teaching
... power, was free, with hands unfettered. For the cross, if you wish to define it, is the confirming sign of victory, the way by which God descended to man, the trophy against material spirits, the driving back of death, the foundation of the ascent to the true day, and the ladder for those who are hurrying to enjoy the light that is there. It is the engine by which those who are fit for the building of the Church are raised from below, like a four-square stone, to be joined to the divine Word. This is why our kings, seeing that the figure of the cross is used to drive away every evil, have made vexillas, as they are called in the Latin language. In the same way, the sea, yielding to this figure, makes itself navigable for men. For every creature, so to speak, has been marked with this sign for the sake of liberty. The birds that fly on high form the figure of the cross by spreading their wings, and man himself also represents the same thing when he stretches out his hands. So when the Lord had formed him in this shape, in which He had fashioned him from the beginning, He joined his body to the Deity, so that from now on it might be an instrument consecrated to God, freed from al
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching
...came known to all, along with His suffering. For when He stretched out His hands on the cross, He clearly spread out His wings toward the east and the west, under which all nations from both sides of the world might gather and rest. But how important this sign is, and what power it has, is clear, since the whole host of demons is driven out and put to flight by this sign. And just as before His suffering He put demons to confusion by His word and command, so now, by the name and sign of that same suffering, unclean spirits that have slipped into the bodies of men are driven out. While they are racked and tormented, and while they confess that they are demons, they give way to God, who afflicts them. Therefore, what can the Greeks expect from their superstitions and from their wisdom, when they see that their gods, whom they also do not deny to be demons, are overcome by men through the cross?
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Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness
I have spoken about the twofold sign from which death came, and I have also said that from there life often comes. But the cross has become foolishness to an adulterous people. The awful King of eternity shadows forth these things by the cross, so that they may now believe in Him. O fools, living in death! Cain killed his younger brother by the invention of wickedness. From there, the sons of Enoch are said to be the race of Cain. Then the evil people increased in the world, which never transfers souls to God. To believe in the cross became a dread, and they say that they live righteously. The first law was in the tree, and from there also came the second. And from there, first of all, the second law overcame the terrible law with peace. Lifted up, they have rushed into vain prevarications. They are unwilling to acknowledge the Lord pierced with nails. But when His judgment comes, then they will discern Him. But the race of Abel already believes in a merciful Christ.
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Lactantius, A Poem on the Passion of the Lord Supporting witness
...ion. Here I am rest for you, the right way, the true redemption, the banner of God, and a memorable sign of destiny. It was for you and for your life that I entered the Virgin's womb, was made man, and suffered a dreadful death. Nor did I find rest anywhere in the lands of the earth, but everywhere threats, everywhere labors. First of all, at my birth, a poor shelter in the land of Judea received me and my mother. Here, among the outstretched and slow-moving cattle, dry grass first gave me a bed in a narrow stall. I spent my earliest years in the regions of Pharia, living as an exile in the reign of Herod. After I returned to Judea, I spent the rest of my years always in fasting, in the extremity of poverty itself, and in the lowest condition of life. I was always turning the minds of men, by sound warnings, toward the pursuit of gracious uprightness, joining many clear miracles to wholesome teaching. For this reason, ungodly Jerusalem, troubled by the raging cares of envy and cruel hatred, and blinded by madness, dared to seek for me, though innocent, a cruel death by deadly punishment on the dreadful cross. And if you yourself wish to examine these things more fully, and if it
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Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness
For when our Lord was suffering on the cross, the tombs were opened, the region below was uncovered, souls leapt out, the dead returned to life, and many of them were seen in Jerusalem, while the mystery of the cross was being completed. At that time our Lord trampled on death, ended the hostility, bound the strong man, and raised the trophy of the cross. His body was lifted up on it, so that the body might appear on high, and death might be pressed down under the foot of flesh. Then the powers of heaven wondered, the angels were astonished, the elements trembled, and every creature was shaken as they watched this new mystery and the fearful event taking place in the universe. Yet all the people, unaware of the mystery, rejoiced in mocking Christ, even though the earth was shaking, and the mountains, valleys, and sea were shaken, and every creature of God was struck with confusion. The lights of heaven were afraid. The sun fled away, the moon disappeared, the stars held back their shining, and the day came to an end. The angel, in astonishment, departed from the temple after the veil was torn, and darkness covered the earth on which its Lord had closed His eyes. Meanwhile hell was
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness
Moreover, they affirm that the Apostle Paul himself made mention of this cross in the following words: “The doctrine of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.” And again: “God forbid that I should glory in anything save in the cross of Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world.”
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
For the forehead is the top of the threshold in man, and the wood sprinkled with blood is the emblem of the cross.
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
The cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling-block to those that do not believe, but to the believing it is salvation and life eternal.
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to 1 Corinthians 1:18 Supporting witness
My spirit bows in adoration to the cross, which is a stumbling-block to those who do not believe, but is to you for salvation and eternal life.
More related quotations from this section 4 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
He knows accurately the declaration, Unless you hate father and mother, and besides your own life, and unless you bear the sign [of the cross].
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Methodius, Three Fragments on the Cross and Passion Supporting witness
Hence it is that our kings, perceiving that the figure of the cross is used for the dissipating of every evil, have made vexillas, as they are called in the Latin language.
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Tertullian, Ad Nationes Supporting witness
A cross is, in its material, a sign of wood;
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness
For the cross of Christ was the beginning of his condemnation, the beginning of his death, the beginning of his destruction.
Did early Christians see the cross as a protective sign?
Some early Christian writers describe the cross as a sign with power against evil, death, or demons. Others use Scripture and typology to connect this idea to old covenant signs, marks, and blood on the doorposts.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
...ted them throughout the day, so they wouldn't fall when he became tired. If he let any part of this sign, which resembled the cross, drop, the people were defeated, as recorded in the writings of Moses; but if he maintained this position, Amalek was increasingly defeated, and victory belonged to the cross. It was not because Moses prayed that the people were stronger, but because, with one named Jesus (Joshua) leading the fight, he made the sign of the cross. For who among you doesn't know that prayer, combined with lamentation and tears, with the body prostrate or with bended knees, most effectively reconciles with God? But neither he nor anyone else prayed in this manner while sitting on a stone. Nor did the stone symbolize Christ, as I have shown."
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
... its setting, was about to come under His wings and receive on their foreheads that great and lofty sign. And even now the Jews show a figure of this event when they mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. For when God was about to strike the Egyptians, He had commanded the Hebrews, so that they might be protected from that blow, to kill a white lamb without spot and place on their doorposts a mark made from its blood. And so, when the firstborn of the Egyptians died in one night, the Hebrews alone were saved by the sign of the blood. This was not because the blood of a sheep had such power in itself that it could save men, but because it was an image of things to come. For Christ was the white lamb without spot; that is, He was innocent, just, and holy. He was killed by those same Jews, and He is the salvation of all who have written on their foreheads the sign of blood, that is, the sign of the cross on which He shed His blood. For the forehead is the top of the doorway in man, and the wood sprinkled with blood is a symbol of the cross. Finally, the killing of the lamb by the very people who do it is called the Passover feast, from the word paschein, because it is a fig
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Direct teaching
In a similar way, another prophet points to the cross of Christ, saying, “And when will these things be accomplished?” And the Lord says, “When a tree is bent down, then rises again; and when blood flows from wood.” Once more, you have a hint about the cross and the One who would be crucified. He also speaks about this in Moses's time when Israel was attacked by strangers. To remind them that they were delivered to death because of their sins, the Spirit speaks to the heart of Moses to make a figure of the cross and of Him who would suffer on it. For unless they put their trust in Him, they would be defeated forever. So, Moses placed one weapon on top of another on the hill and, standing on it, stretched out his hands, thus enabling Israel to gain victory. But when he lowered his hands, they were defeated again. Why? So they would understand that they could not be saved unless they trusted in Him. In another prophet, it is declared, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to an unbelieving and contrary people.” Moses again creates a type of Jesus, signifying that it was necessary for Him to suffer and that He would be the source of life to others, even when they believed they h
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
Now the Greek letter Tau and our own letter T is the very form of the cross, which He predicted would be the sign on our foreheads in the true Catholic Jerusalem, in which, according to the twenty-first Psalm, the brethren of Christ or children of God would ascribe glory to God the Father, in the person of Christ Himself addressing His Father;
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
and He signed them with that very seal of which Ezekiel spoke: The Lord said to me, Go through the gate, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set the mark Tau upon the foreheads of the men.
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
And Him, as the author of this blessing, Jacob also signified by placing his hands crossed upon the lads, as if their father was Christ, and showing, from thus placing his hands, the figure and future form of the passion.
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness
And because the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter , he says also, “Three Hundred.” He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
For if he gave up any part of this sign, which was an imitation of the cross, the people were beaten, as is recorded in the writings of Moses;
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Methodius, Three Fragments on the Cross and Passion Supporting witness
For every creature, so to speak, has, for the sake of liberty, been marked with this sign;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...n from Scripture itself that God gave circumcision not as the fulfillment of righteousness but as a sign so that the descendants of Abraham might remain identifiable. It states: "God said to Abraham, 'Every male among you shall be circumcised, and you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins as a sign of the covenant between Me and you.'" The prophet Ezekiel speaks similarly about the Sabbaths: "I also gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, so they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them." In Exodus, God says to Moses: "You shall observe My Sabbaths because it shall be a sign between Me and you for your generations." These things were given as signs, and the signs were not without symbolism—neither meaningless nor purposeless—since they were given by a wise Creator. The circumcision of the flesh symbolized the circumcision of the Spirit. For "we," says the apostle, "have been circumcised with a circumcision made without hands." The prophet declares, "Circumcise the hardness of your heart." The Sabbaths taught that we should continue in God’s service every day. "For we have been counted," says the Apostle Paul, "all day long as sheep for the slaught
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
and that Moses, by the inspiration and influence of God, took brass, and made it into the figure of a cross, and set it in the holy tabernacle, and said to the people, “If ye look to this figure, and believe, ye shall be saved thereby.” And when this was done, it is recorded that the serpents died, and it is handed down that the people thus escaped death.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
We say, moreover, that that was a sign of the cross.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Cyprian, Treatises Background
Ezekiel 9:5 Moreover, what this mark is, and in what part of the body it is placed, God sets forth in another place, saying, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Common Questions
Did early Christians make the sign of the cross?
Yes. Early Christian writings, including the Apostolic Constitutions and later liturgies, describe making the sign of the cross on the forehead.
What did early Christians think the cross meant?
They treated it as a sign of Christ’s victory, salvation, and protection, not just as an object of shame.
Did early Christians connect the sign of the cross to the Bible?
Yes. They linked it to passages about taking up the cross, signs on the forehead, and Old Testament signs and marks.
Source Index for the sign of the cross
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 232 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 127
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 105
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 80 1:17
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Signing with the Cross
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