Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 2.djvu/163

Rh and according to the multitude of Thy mercies, wash me thoroughly from my sins.' Then they shall stand up again, with their hands crossed upon their breasts, and with their eyes turned a little upwards, and shall say: 'O Holy, Holy Almighty, O Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.' Then, with their backs bent, and with hands stretched out to heaven, they fervently repeat a second time the Prayer. When this is done, they shall fall upon the ground and worship, and say seven times: ', have mercy upon us,' with a broken heart as did the Publican in the temple. Then they shall beseech the mercy of to absolve them from their sins, and to free them from the afflictions wherewith they are afflicted. After this they shall sign themselves three times with the sign of the Cross, once over their faces, once over their hearts, and once over their whole body, each time repeating as follows: 'In the Name of the, of the , and of the , keep me.' Thus have the learned taught, that the unlearned should pray at the four times which are appointed for the laity to pray. But if they are near to a church, they must go there to pray." From the Canons of a provincial Synod contained in the Sinhadòs.

The emblem of the Cross is engraved over the low entrances of all the Nestorian churches, and this is devoutly kissed by all who enter. In some churches there is a Cross upon the altar; but as none but the priests and deacons are allowed to enter the sacrarium, this is never kissed by the people, nor is any worship paid to it by them. The officiating priest, however, and the priests generally, possess a small silver Cross, which is laid upon the book of the Gospels, with a clean cloth under it, and this is kissed by all who enter the church to worship. At other times also, the priests carry this Cross about with them, and after offering up prayers, either at home, or in the houses of the people, they take it from their bosom and offer it to those present to kiss, which is done with the left hand raised the meanwhile, to remove their head-dress a little way from off their heads, meaning thereby, that they worship uncovered.

The following extracts, however, show, that doctrinally, no idolatry is held or taught by the Nestorians.

"Par. IX. On the origin of the worship of the Cross. Tradi-