It is generally accepted that in Orthodoxy there are two types (although in fact there are three of them, but more on that in the end) of the sign of the cross: two-fingered and three-fingered.
The latter is the most common, but is there really a significant difference in how many fingers an Orthodox Christian is baptized with, or is this moment absolutely not fundamental?
During the split of the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century, the question of how many fingers to be baptized took on a fundamental significance: the adherents of the “old rite” stubbornly insisted on the completely traditional two-finger, but it was the three-finger that was officially introduced during the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.
But is the question of how the fingers are folded really so important?
Dispute about faith. Painting by an unknown artist of the 18th century.
It may sound surprising, but in terms of symbolism, there is not much difference.
Let's take a closer look:
Two fingers on the example of the icon Christ Pantokrator.
However, Nikon's reformation was accompanied by numerous "innovations" and the prohibition of old rituals, including two fingers (those who baptized with two fingers were even declared heretics and literally burned at the stake).
But by the end of the 18th century, the Russian Orthodox Church, from a position of condescension, officially allowed baptism to be used not only with three, but also with two fingers (as before).
In addition, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971 recognized all pre-Nikon church rituals worthy of the same veneration and equal salvation. Of course, there was a two-finger sign as well.
In conclusion, it should be noted that in addition to two-fingered and three-fingered, there is another special type of finger folding - noun-word, in which the fingers represent the monogram of the name of Jesus Christ (IC XC).
Illustration from the collection Tablet, 1656.
However, the name-word sign is used only by bishops and priests for blessing.