Prayer and reading guides · English

Icons and the Sign of the Cross: What They Mean

Two things often catch a newcomer's eye in a Coptic church: people making the sign of the cross, and icons everywhere. They can feel foreign at first. Behind both is a simple idea: our faith involves our whole selves, body, eyes and hands, not only our minds.

The sign of the cross

Christians have made the sign of the cross since the earliest centuries. We make it as we begin to pray, as we enter a church, and at many moments in the services. It is a short prayer with the hand: in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, and a reminder that Christ's cross is our hope.

Tip: If you are not sure how to make it, ask someone at church to show you. It takes ten seconds to learn.

What an icon is

An icon is a sacred image, usually of Christ, the Virgin Mary, a saint or a scene from Scripture. Icons are not decoration. In the Church's understanding, they are windows into the Gospel story, teaching those who look at them and helping us pray.

Honour, not worship

We kiss or bow before an icon the way people kiss a photo of someone they love. The honour passes on to the person shown. Worship belongs to God alone. The Church teaches that because Christ became human, it is right to depict Him.

Praying with an icon

You do not need to know the theology to begin. Try this: choose an icon of Christ or a saint, and sit quietly with it for two minutes. Look at the eyes, the hands, and the setting. Say a short prayer. If it helps, read the related Gospel passage first.

Try this: Place a small icon where you pray at home. It helps focus the mind.

Where icons are found

Churches usually have icons throughout. The iconostasis, or the screen at the front, holds icons of Christ, the Virgin, and the saints. You may also see icons of the feasts. Many families keep icons at home.

Quick questions

Do I have to kiss an icon?

No. Many people do, but you can simply stand and pray.

Is it wrong to take photos?

Ask first. Some churches ask you not to take photos during services.

Where can I get an icon?

Many churches have a bookstore. Ask your priest for advice.