The Shepherd, September 2004
BROOKWOOD NEWS
NEW CATECHUMEN
ON SUNDAY 9th /22nd August, Matias Fagerlund was received into the catechumenate at the end of the Divine Liturgy. He was named for the Holy Apostle Matthias, whose feastday it was, and through whose intercessions may he in good time be united to the flock of Christ’s elect.
VISITORS
Among the visitors to Saint Edward’s recently, we had Archpriest Veniamin Joukoff from France, of the Synod of Metropolitan Vitaly, who came with his matushka, Olga, for the funeral of Rupert Elias Trollope on Wednesday 5th / 18th August.
On Sunday 22nd August, we were also joinedat the Divine Liturgy by Father Deacon Philemon Heroditou from Cyprus, who, before returning to his homeland, used to serve at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camberwell.
PRACTICAL TIP
THIS MONTH we celebrate the Church’s main feast of the Cross, the Universal Exaltation (14th / 27th), and it is surely not out of place to remind people that they should make the sign of the Cross attentively and carefully. One places the tips of the index finger, second finger and thumb of the right hand together. These three digits represent the Trinity, and then one folds the ring finger and little finger into the palm. These two fingers represent the two natures of Christ, Divine and human. With the hand held in this way, we thus confess the two fundamental doctrines of our Faith: the Trinity and the Incarnation of the Word of God. One then touches the forehead, the stomach, the right shoulder and then the left in turn, thus making the sign of the Cross over oneself, and reminding oneself of the commandment that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind and with all our strength (see Mark 12:30). Lastly one makes a bow. This may be a slight bow, or a profound one, where one reaches down and touches the ground with the fingers of the right hand. This last action, which is an essential part of making the sign, is a confession of our sinfulness and a plea for God’s mercy. 
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