Sign of the Cross
One makes the Sign of the Cross accompanied by a slight bow in worship when:
- The name of God, Christ or the Trinity is mentioned
- The Theotokos or a Saint's name is mentioned
- The Trisagion said ("Holy God, Holy Mighty..."), Glory to the Father..., the
- Our Father..." and any other similar prayers
- The Priest says, "Let us pray to the Lord."
- The curtain to the altar is opened or closed
and also
- At the end of each petition in a litany
- At any time that you wish to pray for or remember any person during the course of service.
No Sign of Cross when a Priest of Bishop blesses with his hand (attendee bows slightly in acknowledgement of his blessing, likewise if they approach the Priest or Bishop for a blessing) and during the reading of the Six Psalms during Matins.
In addition one bows when:
- Venerate an icon
- The Priest or Bishop censes in our direction
- The Priest or Bishop makes an entrance into the altar during Vespers or Liturgy
as well as
- At the beginning of any service and each time that the Reader says, "O come, let us worship...".
One makes prostrations when
- Venerating the central icon when outside Paschaltide and it is not a Sunday.
- Anyone enters the altar outside Paschaltide and on days other than Sunday. After prostrating or bowing a Bishop, Priest or Deacon kisses the Holy Table. No one else should incidentally ever touch the Holy Table under any circumstances.
- At certain points in the Divine Liturgy during the week outside Paschaltide.
One crosses oneself at the end of any service on each name when the Priest commemorates a list of various Saints. It could be seen repetitive, but in fact it is a pleasing act of the believers with the Priest facing one another.