Where did the cross come from in the Christian religion and what does it mean. Types of crosses and what they mean

"Take up your cross and follow me"
(Mark 8:34)

Everyone knows that the Cross plays a big role in the life of every Orthodox person. This also applies to the Cross, as a symbol of the sufferings on the cross of an Orthodox Christian, which he must endure with humility and hope in the will of God, and the Cross, as a fact of confession of Christianity, and a great power capable of protecting a person from enemy attacks. It is worth noting that many miracles were performed by the Sign of the Cross. Suffice it to say that one of the great Sacraments is performed by the Cross - the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Mary of Egypt, having overshadowed the water with the sign of the cross, crossed the Jordan, Spyridon of Trimifuntsky turned the snake into gold, and the sick and possessed were healed with the sign of the cross. But, perhaps, the most important miracle: the sign of the cross, imposed with deep faith, protects us from the power of Satan.

The Cross itself, as a terrible instrument of shameful execution, chosen by Satan as the banner of lethality, caused insurmountable fear and horror, but, thanks to Christ the Conqueror, it became a coveted trophy that evokes joyful feelings. Therefore, Saint Hippolytus of Rome, the Apostolic man, exclaimed: “The Church also has her own trophy over death - this is the Cross of Christ, which she bears on herself,” and Saint Paul, the Apostle of tongues, wrote in his Epistle: “I want to boast (.. .) only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The cross accompanies an Orthodox person throughout his life. “Telnik”, the so-called pectoral cross in Russia, is placed on the baby in the Sacrament of Baptism in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Whoever wants to follow Me, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8, 34 ).

It is not enough to simply put on a cross and consider yourself a Christian. The cross should express what is in the human heart. In some cases, this is a deep Christian faith, in others it is a formal, outward belonging to the Christian Church. This desire is often not the fault of our fellow citizens, but only a consequence of their lack of enlightenment, years of Soviet anti-religious propaganda, apostasy from God. But the Cross is the greatest Christian shrine, a visible evidence of our redemption.

A lot of different misunderstandings and even superstitions and myths are associated with the pectoral cross today. Let's try together to understand this difficult issue.

The pectoral cross is called so because it is worn under clothing, never flaunted (only priests wear the cross outside). This does not mean that the pectoral cross must be hidden and hidden under any circumstances, but it is still not customary to deliberately put it on public display. It is established by the church charter to kiss your pectoral cross at the end of evening prayers. In a moment of danger or when the soul is anxious, it will not be out of place to kiss your cross and read the words “Save and save” on its back.

The sign of the cross must be made with all attention, with fear, with trepidation and with extreme reverence. Putting three large fingers on the forehead, you need to say: “in the name of the Father”, then, lowering the hand in the same form on the chest “and the Son”, transferring the hand to the right shoulder, then to the left: “and the Holy Spirit”. Having made this holy sign of the cross on yourself, conclude with the word "Amen". You can also say a prayer during the laying of the Cross: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen".

There is no canonical form of the pectoral cross approved by the cathedrals. According to Rev. Theodore the Studite - "A cross of every form is a true cross." St. Demetrius of Rostov wrote as early as the 18th century: “Not according to the number of trees, not according to the number of ends, the Cross of Christ is revered by us, but according to Christ himself, with the Most Holy Blood, Whom he was stained with. Manifesting miraculous power, any Cross does not act by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and the invocation of His Most Holy Name. The Orthodox tradition knows an endless variety of types of crosses: four-, six-, eight-pointed; with a semicircle below, petal, drop-shaped, crinoid and others.

Each line of the Cross has a deep symbolic meaning. On the back of the cross, the inscription “Save and save” is most often made, sometimes there are prayer inscriptions “May God rise again” and others.

Eight-pointed form of the Orthodox cross

The classic eight-pointed cross is the most common in Russia. The shape of this Cross most of all corresponds to the Cross on which Christ was crucified. Therefore, such a Cross is no longer only a sign, but also an image of the Cross of Christ.

Above the long middle crossbar of such a cross is a straight short crossbar - a plate with the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews", nailed by order of Pilate over the head of the Crucified Savior. The lower slanting crossbar, the upper end of which is turned to the north, and the lower end to the south, symbolizes the foot, designed to serve to increase the torment of the Crucified, since the deceptive feeling of some support under the feet prompts the executed involuntarily to try to lighten his burden, leaning on it, which only prolongs torment.

Dogmatically, the eight ends of the Cross mean the eight main periods in the history of mankind, where the eighth is the life of the future age, the Kingdom of Heaven, therefore one of the ends of such a Cross points upwards into the sky. It also means that the way to the Heavenly Kingdom was opened by Christ through His Redeeming Feat, according to His word: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

The slanting crossbar, to which the Savior's feet were nailed, thus means that in the earthly life of people with the advent of Christ, who walked the earth with a sermon, the balance of the stay of all people without exception under the power of sin was disturbed. When the crucified Lord Jesus Christ is depicted on the eight-pointed Cross, the Cross as a whole becomes the full image of the Crucifixion of the Savior and therefore contains the fullness of the power contained in the suffering of the Lord on the Cross, the mysterious presence of Christ crucified.

There are two main types of images of the crucified Savior. The ancient view of the Crucifixion depicts Christ with his arms extended wide and straight along the transverse central bar: the body does not sag, but rests freely on the Cross. The second, later view, depicts the Body of Christ sagging, arms raised up and to the sides. The second view presents to the eye the image of the suffering of Christ for the sake of our salvation; here you can see the human body of the Savior suffering in torment. This image is more characteristic of the Catholic Crucifixion. But such an image does not convey the entire dogmatic meaning of these sufferings on the Cross. This meaning is contained in the words of Christ himself, who said to the disciples and the people: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12, 32).

Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially in the days of Ancient Russia, had six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar, but the meaning is somewhat different: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper one, liberation by repentance.

Four-pointed cross

The discussion about the "correct" cross did not arise today. The dispute about which cross is correct, eight-pointed or four-pointed, was led by Orthodox and Old Believers, and the latter called the simple four-pointed cross "the seal of the Antichrist." St. John of Kronstadt spoke in defense of the four-pointed cross, dedicating his Ph.D.

St. John of Kronstadt explains: “The “Byzantine” four-pointed cross is actually a “Russian” cross, since, according to Church Tradition, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir brought from Korsun, where he was baptized, just such a cross and was the first to install it on the banks of the Dnieper in Kyiv. A similar four-pointed cross has been preserved in the Kiev Sophia Cathedral, carved on the marble board of the tomb of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, son of St. Vladimir. But, protecting the four-pointed cross, St. John concludes that one and the other must be venerated equally, since the form of the cross itself has no fundamental difference for believers.

Encolpion - cross reliquary

Relics, or encolpions (Greek), came to Russia from Byzantium and were intended to store particles of relics and other shrines. Sometimes the encolpion was used to preserve the Holy Gifts, which the first Christians in the era of persecution received for Communion in their homes and carried with them. The most common were reliquaries made in the form of a cross and decorated with icons, as they combined the power of several sacred objects that a person could wear on his chest.

The reliquary cross consists of two halves with recesses on the inside, which form a cavity where the shrines are placed. As a rule, in such crosses there is a piece of fabric, wax, incense, or just a bunch of hair. Being filled, such crosses acquire great protective and healing power.

Schema Cross, or "Golgotha"

The inscriptions and cryptograms on Russian crosses have always been much more diverse than on Greek ones. Since the 11th century, under the lower oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross, a symbolic image of the head of Adam appears, and the bones of the hands lying in front of the head are depicted: right on the left, as during burial or Communion. According to legend, Adam was buried on Golgotha ​​(in Hebrew - “place of the skull”), where Christ was crucified. These words of his clarify the tradition that had developed in Russia by the 16th century to produce the following designations near the image of "Golgotha":

• "M.L.R.B." - the place of the frontal was crucified
• "G.G." - Mount Golgotha
• "G.A." - Head of Adam
• The letters "K" and "T" mean a spear of a warrior and a cane with a sponge, depicted along the cross.

Above the middle crossbar are the inscriptions:

• "IC" "XC" - the name of Jesus Christ;
• and under it: "NIKA" - the Winner;
• on the title or near it is the inscription: "SN" "BZHIY" - the Son of God,
• but more often "I.N.Ts.I" - Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews;
• the inscription above the title: "ЦРЪ" "СЛАВЫ" - means the King of Glory.

Such crosses are supposed to be embroidered on the vestments of monks who have taken the schema - a vow to observe especially strict ascetic rules of conduct. The Calvary cross is also depicted on the funeral shroud, which marks the preservation of the vows given at Baptism, like the white shroud of the newly baptized, meaning cleansing from sin. When consecrating temples and houses, the image of the Calvary Cross is also used on the walls of the building on the four cardinal points.

How to distinguish an Orthodox cross from a Catholic one?

The Catholic Church uses only one image of the Cross - a simple, quadrangular one with an elongated lower part. But if the shape of the cross most often does not matter for believers and servants of the Lord, then the position of the Body of Jesus is a fundamental disagreement between these two religions. In the Catholic Crucifixion, the image of Christ has naturalistic features. It manifests all human suffering, the torment that Jesus had to experience. His arms sag under the weight of his body, blood streams down his face and from wounds on his arms and legs. The image of Christ on the Catholic cross is plausible, but this is the image of a dead person, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The Orthodox tradition depicts the Savior symbolically, His appearance expresses not the agony of the cross, but the triumph of the Resurrection. The palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to embrace all mankind, giving them his love and opening the way to eternal life. He is God, and his whole image speaks of this.

Another fundamental position is the position of the feet on the Crucifixion. The fact is that among Orthodox shrines there are four nails with which Jesus Christ was supposedly nailed to the cross. So, the arms and legs were nailed separately. The Catholic Church does not agree with this statement and keeps its three nails with which Jesus was fixed on the cross. In the Catholic Crucifixion, Christ's feet are folded together and nailed with a single nail. Therefore, when you bring a cross to the temple for consecration, it will be carefully examined for the number of nails.

The inscription on the tablet attached above the head of Jesus, where there should have been a description of his offense, is also different. But since Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ, the words “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews” appeared on the tablet in three languages: Greek, Latin and Aramaic. Accordingly, on Catholic crosses you will see the inscription in Latin I.N.R.I., and on Russian Orthodox - I.N.Ts.I. (also found I.N.Ts.I.)

Consecration of the pectoral cross

Another very important issue is the consecration of the pectoral cross. If the cross is purchased in a temple shop, then it is, as a rule, consecrated. If the cross was bought elsewhere or has an unknown origin, then it must be taken to the church, ask one of the church servants or a worker behind a candle box to transfer the cross to the altar. After examining the cross and in accordance with its Orthodox canons, the priest will serve the rites prescribed in this case. Usually the priest consecrates the crosses during the morning water-blessing prayer service. If we are talking about a baptismal cross for an infant, then consecration is also possible during the Sacrament of Baptism itself.

When consecrating the cross, the priest reads two special prayers, in which he asks the Lord God to pour heavenly power into the cross and that this cross saves not only the soul, but also the body from all enemies, sorcerers and from all evil forces. That is why on many pectoral crosses there is an inscription "Save and save!".

In conclusion, I would like to note that the Cross must be honored with its correct, Orthodox attitude towards it. This is not just a symbol, an attribute of faith, but also an effective protection of a Christian from satanic forces. The cross must be honored both by deeds, and by one's humility, and by the feasible, as far as possible for a limited person, imitation of the feat of the Savior. In the order of monastic tonsure it is said that a monk should always have before his eyes the sufferings of Christ - nothing makes a person collect himself, nothing shows the need for humility so clearly as this salutary remembrance. It would be good for us to strive for this. It is then that the grace of God will actually act in us through the image of the sign of the cross. If we do it with faith, then we will truly feel God's power and know God's wisdom.

The material was prepared by Natalia Ignatova

The Holy Cross is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every true believer, at the sight of him, is involuntarily filled with thoughts of the Savior's death throes, which he accepted to deliver us from eternal death, which became the lot of people after the fall of Adam and Eve. The eight-pointed Orthodox cross carries a special spiritual and emotional burden. Even if there is no image of the crucifix on it, it always appears to our inner gaze.

The instrument of death, which has become a symbol of life

The Christian cross is an image of the instrument of execution that Jesus Christ was subjected to under a forced sentence pronounced by the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. For the first time, this type of killing of criminals appeared among the ancient Phoenicians, and already through their colonists - the Carthaginians came to the Roman Empire, where it became widespread.

In the pre-Christian period, mainly robbers were sentenced to crucifixion, and then the followers of Jesus Christ accepted this martyr's death. This phenomenon was especially frequent during the reign of Emperor Nero. The very death of the Savior made this instrument of shame and suffering a symbol of the victory of good over evil and the light of eternal life over the darkness of hell.

Eight-pointed cross - a symbol of Orthodoxy

The Christian tradition knows many different styles of the cross, from the most common crosshairs of straight lines to very complex geometric structures, complemented by a variety of symbolism. The religious meaning in them is the same, but the external differences are very significant.

In the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, as well as in Russia, the eight-pointed, or, as is often said, the Orthodox cross, has been the symbol of the church for a long time. In addition, you can hear the expression "the cross of St. Lazarus", this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross, which will be discussed below. Sometimes an image of the crucified Savior is placed on it.

External features of the Orthodox cross

Its peculiarity lies in the fact that in addition to two horizontal crossbars, of which the lower one is large and the upper one is small, there is also an inclined one, called the foot. It is small in size and placed at the bottom of the vertical segment, symbolizing the crossbar on which the feet of Christ rested.

The direction of its inclination is always the same: if you look from the side of the crucified Christ, then the right end will be higher than the left. There is a certain symbolism in this. According to the words of the Savior at the Last Judgment, the righteous will stand on his right hand, and sinners on his left. It is the path of the righteous to the Kingdom of Heaven that is indicated by the right end of the foot raised up, and the left end is turned into the depths of hell.

According to the Gospel, a board was nailed over the head of the Savior, on which was written by the hand of Pontius Pilate: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This inscription was made in three languages ​​- Aramaic, Latin and Greek. It is her symbolizes the upper small crossbar. It can be placed both in the interval between the large crossbar and the upper end of the cross, and at its very top. Such an inscription allows us to reproduce with the greatest certainty the appearance of the instrument of Christ's suffering. That is why the Orthodox cross is eight-pointed.

About the law of the golden section

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross in its classical form is built according to the law of the golden section. To make it clear what we are talking about, let's dwell on this concept in a little more detail. It is commonly understood as a harmonic proportion, one way or another underlying everything that was created by the Creator.

One example is the human body. By simple experience it can be seen that if we divide the size of our height by the distance from the soles to the navel, and then divide the same value by the distance between the navel and the top of the head, then the results will be the same and will be 1.618. The same proportion lies in the size of the phalanges of our fingers. This ratio of values, called the golden ratio, can be found literally at every step: from the structure of a sea shell to the shape of an ordinary garden turnip.

The construction of proportions based on the law of the golden section is widely used in architecture, as well as other areas of art. Taking it into account, many artists manage to achieve maximum harmony in their works. The same regularity was observed by composers who worked in the genre of classical music. When writing compositions in the style of rock and jazz, she was abandoned.

The law of construction of the Orthodox cross

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross was also built on the basis of the golden section. The meaning of its ends was explained above, now let's turn to the rules underlying the construction of this main Christian symbol. They were not established artificially, but poured out of the harmony of life itself and received their mathematical justification.

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross, drawn in full accordance with tradition, always fits into a rectangle, the aspect ratio of which corresponds to the golden section. Simply put, dividing its height by its width, we get 1.618.

The cross of St. Lazarus (as mentioned above, this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross) in its construction has another feature related to the proportions of our body. It is well known that the width of a person's arms is equal to his height, and a figure with arms spread apart fits perfectly into a square. For this reason, the length of the middle crossbar, corresponding to the span of Christ's arms, is equal to the distance from it to the inclined foot, that is, his height. These simple, at first glance, rules should be taken into account by every person who is faced with the question of how to draw an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

cross calvary

There is also a special, purely monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross, the photo of which is presented in the article. It is called the "Cross of Golgotha". This is the inscription of the usual Orthodox cross, which was described above, placed above the symbolic image of Mount Golgotha. It is usually presented in the form of steps, under which bones and a skull are placed. To the left and to the right of the cross can be depicted a cane with a sponge and a spear.

Each of these items has a deep religious meaning. For example, the skull and bones. According to the Holy Tradition, the sacrificial blood of the Savior, shed by him on the cross, fell on the top of Golgotha, seeped into its bowels, where the remains of our progenitor Adam rested, and washed away the curse of original sin from them. Thus, the image of the skull and bones emphasizes the connection of the sacrifice of Christ with the crime of Adam and Eve, as well as the New Testament with the Old.

The meaning of the image of the spear on the cross Golgotha

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross on monastic vestments is always accompanied by images of a cane with a sponge and a spear. Those familiar with the text of the Gospel of John well remember the moment full of drama when one of the Roman soldiers named Longinus pierced the ribs of the Savior with this weapon and blood and water flowed from the wound. This episode has a different interpretation, but the most common of them is contained in the writings of the Christian theologian and philosopher of the 4th century, St. Augustine.

In them, he writes that just as the Lord created his bride Eve from the rib of sleeping Adam, so from the wound in the side of Jesus Christ, inflicted by the spear of a warrior, his bride church was created. The blood and water shed at the same time, according to St. Augustine, symbolize the holy sacraments - the Eucharist, where wine is turned into the blood of the Lord, and Baptism, in which a person entering the bosom of the church is immersed in a font of water. The spear with which the wound was inflicted is one of the main relics of Christianity, and it is believed that it is currently kept in Vienna, in the Hofburg Castle.

The meaning of the image of a cane and a sponge

Equally important are the images of canes and sponges. From the stories of the holy evangelists it is known that the crucified Christ was twice offered a drink. In the first case, it was wine mixed with myrrh, that is, an intoxicating drink that allows you to dull pain and thereby prolong the execution.

The second time, having heard the exclamation “I thirst!” from the cross, they brought him a sponge filled with vinegar and bile. This was, of course, a mockery of the exhausted man and contributed to the approach of the end. In both cases, the executioners used a sponge impaled on a cane, since without it they could not reach the mouth of the crucified Jesus. Despite such a gloomy role assigned to them, these objects, like the spear, are among the main Christian shrines, and their image can be seen next to the Calvary cross.

Symbolic inscriptions on the monastic cross

Those who see the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross for the first time often have questions related to the inscriptions inscribed on it. In particular, these are IC and XC at the ends of the middle bar. These letters mean nothing more than an abbreviated name - Jesus Christ. In addition, the image of the cross is accompanied by two inscriptions located under the middle crossbar - the Slavic inscription of the words "Son of God" and the Greek NIKA, which means "winner".

On the small crossbar, symbolizing, as mentioned above, a tablet with an inscription made by Pontius Pilate, the Slavic abbreviation ІНЦІ is usually written, denoting the words "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews", and above it - "King of Glory". Near the image of the spear, it became a tradition to write the letter K, and near the cane T. In addition, from about the 16th century, they began to write the letters ML on the left and RB on the right at the base of the cross. They are also an abbreviation, and mean the words "Place of the Execution Crucified Byst."

In addition to the above inscriptions, two letters G should be mentioned, standing to the left and right of the image of Golgotha, and being the initial in its name, as well as G and A - the Head of Adam, written on the sides of the skull, and the phrase "King of Glory", crowning the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross. The meaning inherent in them is fully consistent with the gospel texts, however, the inscriptions themselves can vary and be replaced by others.

Immortality granted by faith

It is also important to understand why the name of the eight-pointed Orthodox cross is associated with the name of St. Lazarus? The answer to this question can be found in the pages of the Gospel of John, which describes the miracle of his resurrection from the dead, performed by Jesus Christ, on the fourth day after death. The symbolism in this case is quite obvious: just as Lazarus was brought back to life by the faith of his sisters Martha and Mary in the omnipotence of Jesus, so everyone who trusts in the Savior will be delivered from the hands of eternal death.

In the vain earthly life, people are not given to see the Son of God with their own eyes, but they are given his religious symbols. One of them is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross, the proportions, general appearance and meaning of which have become the topic of this article. He accompanies a believing person throughout his life. From the holy font, where the sacrament of baptism opens the gates of the Church of Christ to him, right up to the gravestone, he is overshadowed by an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Pectoral symbol of the Christian faith

The custom of wearing small crosses on the chest, made of a variety of materials, appeared only at the beginning of the 4th century. Despite the fact that the main instrument of the passions of Christ was an object of veneration for all his followers literally from the first years of the establishment of the Christian church on earth, at first it was customary to wear medallions with the image of the Savior around the neck rather than crosses.

There is also evidence that during the period of persecution that took place from the middle of the 1st to the beginning of the 4th century, there were voluntary martyrs who wanted to suffer for Christ and put the image of the cross on their foreheads. By this sign they were recognized, and then betrayed to torment and death. After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, wearing pectoral crosses became a custom, and in the same period they began to be installed on the roof of temples.

Two types of pectoral crosses in Ancient Russia

In Russia, the symbols of the Christian faith appeared in 988, simultaneously with her baptism. It is curious to note that our ancestors inherited two types of pectoral crosses from the Byzantines. One of them was customarily worn on the chest, under clothing. Such crosses were called vests.

Along with them, the so-called encolpions appeared - also crosses, but somewhat larger and worn over clothes. They originate from the tradition of wearing shrines with relics, which were decorated with the image of a cross. Over time, the encolpions were transformed into the pectoral crosses of priests and metropolitans.

The main symbol of humanism and philanthropy

Over the millennium that has passed since the Dnieper banks were illuminated by the light of Christ's faith, the Orthodox tradition has undergone many changes. Only its religious dogmas and the main elements of symbolism remained unshakable, the main of which is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Gold and silver, copper or made of any other material, it keeps the believer, protecting him from the forces of evil - visible and invisible. Being a reminder of the sacrifice made by Christ to save people, the cross has become a symbol of the highest humanism and love for one's neighbor.

Cross

This term has other meanings, see Cross (meanings). Some types of crosses. Illustration from the book Lexikon der gesamten Technik (1904) von Otto Lueger

Cross(Proto-Slavic *krüstъ< д.-в.-н. krist) - геометрическая фигура, состоящая из двух или более пересекающихся линий или прямоугольников. Угол между ними чаще всего составляет 90°. Во многих верованиях несёт сакральный смысл.

History of the Cross

Cross in paganism

Symbol of the sun god Ashur in Assyria The symbol of the sun god Ashur and the moon god Sin in Mesopotamia

The first civilized people to make extensive use of crosses were the ancient Egyptians. In the Egyptian tradition, there was a cross with a ring, ankh, a symbol of life and the gods. In Babylon, the cross was considered a symbol of Anu, the god of heaven. In Assyria, which was originally a colony of Babylon (in the second millennium BC), a cross enclosed in a ring (symbolizing the Sun, more often a lunar sickle was depicted under it) was one of the attributes of the god Ashur, the god of the Sun.

The fact that the symbol of the cross was used in various forms of pagan worship of the forces of nature before the advent of Christianity is confirmed by archaeological finds throughout almost the entire territory of Europe, in India, Syria, Persia, Egypt, North and South America. So, for example, in ancient India, the cross was depicted above the head of a figure killing children, and in the hands of the god Krishna, and in South America, the Muisca believed that the cross drove out evil spirits and placed babies under it. And until now, the cross serves as a religious symbol in countries that are not affected by the influence of Christian churches. For example, among the Tengrians, who already before the new era professed faith in the God of Heaven Tengri, there was the sign "adzhi" - a symbol of humility in the form of a cross painted on the forehead or in the form of a tattoo.

The familiarity of Christians with pagan symbols as early as the first centuries of Christianity caused various comments about common symbols. Thus, Socrates Scholasticus describes the events during the reign of Theodosius:

During the destruction and cleansing of the Serapis temple, the so-called hieroglyphic writings carved on stones were found in it, between which there were signs that had the form of crosses. Seeing such signs, Christians and pagans, both adopted their own religion. Christians claimed that they belonged to the Christian faith, because they considered the cross a sign of Christ's saving suffering, and the pagans argued that such cross-shaped signs are common to both Christ and Serapis, although they have a different meaning for Christians and another for pagans. While this controversy was going on, some who had converted to Christianity from paganism and understood hieroglyphic writing, interpreted those cross-shaped signs and declared that they signified the future life. According to this explanation, Christians with even greater confidence began to attribute them to their religion and exalted themselves before the pagans. When it was revealed from other hieroglyphic writings that the temple of Serapis would come to an end at the time the sign of the cross, signifying new life, would come to an end, then very many pagans converted to Christianity, confessed their sins and were baptized. That's what I heard about those cruciform inscriptions. I do not think, however, that the Egyptian priests, drawing the image of the cross, could know anything about Christ, for if the mystery of his coming into the world, according to the word of the Apostle (Col. 1, 26), was hidden from the ages and from the generations and unknown the very chief of malice to the devil, then the less could she be known to his servants - the Egyptian priests. By opening and explaining these writings, Providence did the same thing that it had previously shown with the Apostle Paul, for this Apostle, wise by the Spirit of God, led many Athenians to the faith in the same way when he read the inscription inscribed on the temple and adapted it to his sermon. Unless someone will say that the word of God was prophesied in the Egyptian priests in exactly the same way as once in the mouths of Balaam and Caiaphas, who prophesied good things against their will.

Cross in Christianity

Main article: Cross in Christianity

Graphic types of crosses

ill. Name Note

	ankh	Ancient Egyptian cross. The symbol of life.
	Celtic cross	Equal beam cross with a circle. It is a characteristic symbol of Celtic Christianity, although it has more ancient pagan roots. It is now often used as a symbol of neo-Nazi movements.
	solar cross	Graphically represents a cross located inside a circle. It is found on objects of prehistoric Europe, especially in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
	Greek cross	A Greek cross is a cross in which the lines are of equal length, perpendicular to each other and intersect in the middle.
	latin cross	Latin cross (lat. crux immissa, Crux capitata) is called such a cross, in which the transverse line is divided vertically in half, and the transverse line is above the middle of the vertical line. Usually it is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, that is, thereby, with Christianity in general. Before Jesus, such a symbol was designated, among other things, the staff of Apollo - the god of the sun, the son of Zeus. Since the fourth century AD, the Latin cross has become what it is associated with today - a symbol of Christianity. Today it is also associated with death, guilt ( bear the cross), in addition - with resurrection, rebirth, salvation and eternal life (after death). In genealogy, the Latin cross denotes death and the date of death. In Russia, among the Orthodox, the Latin cross was often considered imperfect and contemptuously called " kryzh"(from Polish. krzyz- cross, and associated with swear- cut off, cut off).
	Cross of St. Peter / Inverted Cross	The cross of the Apostle Peter is called an inverted Latin cross. The Apostle Peter was martyred in the year 67 through crucifixion upside down.
	The Cross of the Evangelists	The symbolic designation of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
	Archangel cross	Archangel Cross (Cross of Golgotha, lat. golgata cross) denoted a special cross.
‡	double cross	Double six-pointed cross with equal crossbeams.
	Lorraine cross	Cross of Lorraine (fr. Croix de Lorraine) - a cross with two crossbars. Sometimes called patriarchal cross or archiepiscopal cross. Means the rank of cardinal or archbishop in the Catholic Church. This cross is also cross of the Greek Orthodox Church.
	papal cross	A variation of the Latin cross, but with three crossbars. Sometimes such a cross is called western triple cross.
		Orthodox Christian cross, which is most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches; contains, in addition to a large horizontal bar, two more. The top symbolizes the plate on the cross of Christ with the inscription "Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews" (INCI, or INRI in Latin). NIKA - Winner. The lower slanting crossbar - a prop for the feet of Jesus Christ, symbolizes the "righteous measure", weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left side, symbolizing that the repentant robber, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the robber, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters ІС ХС are a christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ. Also, on some Christian crosses, a skull or skull with bones (Adam's head) is depicted below, symbolizing the fallen Adam (including his descendants), since, according to legend, the remains of Adam and Eve were buried under the place of crucifixion - Golgotha. Thus, the blood of the crucified Christ symbolically washed the bones of Adam and washed away the original sin from them and from all his descendants.
	Byzantine cross
	Cross of Lalibela	Cross Lalibela - is a symbol of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian people and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
	Armenian cross	Armenian cross - a cross with decorative elements on the rays (sometimes of unequal length). Crosses similar in shape (with trefoil-square endings, etc.) have been used since the beginning of the 18th century in the coat of arms of the Armenian-Catholic Mekhitarist community, which has monasteries in Venice and Vienna. See Khachkar.
	St. Andrew's Cross	The cross on which the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was crucified, according to legend, was X-shaped.
	Templar Cross	The Templar cross is a sign of the spiritual knightly order of the Templars, founded in the Holy Land in 1119 by a small group of knights led by Hugh de Payne after the First Crusade. One of the first religious military orders in time, along with the Hospitallers.
	Novgorod cross	Similar to the Templar cross, including an enlarged circle or diamond-shaped figure in the center. A similar form of crosses is common in the lands of ancient Novgorod. In other lands and among other traditions, this form of the cross is rarely used.
	Maltese cross	Maltese cross (lat. Cross of Maltese) is a sign of the powerful knightly order of the St. John's Hospitallers, founded in the 12th century in Palestine. Sometimes called the Cross of Saint John or the George Cross. The symbol of the knights of the Order of Malta was a white eight-pointed cross, the eight ends of which denoted the eight beatitudes awaiting the righteous in the afterlife.
	Shortened clawed cross	Straight equilateral cross, a variant of the so-called cross lat. cross pattee. In this cross, the rays taper towards the center, but, unlike the Maltese cross, do not have cutouts at the ends. Used, in particular, in the image of the Order of St. George, the Victoria Cross.
	Bolnisi cross	A type of cross most widely known and used in Georgia since the 5th century. It is used everywhere along with the cross of St. Nina.
	Teutonic cross	The Cross of the Teutonic Order is a sign of the spiritual and knightly Teutonic Order, founded at the end of the 12th century. Centuries later, on the basis of the cross of the Teutonic Order, various variants of the well-known military order of the Iron Cross were created. Also, the Iron Cross is still depicted on military equipment, as an identification mark, flags and pennants of the German Armed Forces.
	Schwarzkreuz (black cross)	Insignia of the German Armed Forces. Known today as the cross of the army of the Bundeswehr.
	Balkan rarer Balkenkreuz, vol. beam cross	The second name is due to the use of German military equipment as an identification mark from 1935 to 1945.[ source unspecified 1153 days]
	Swastika, gamma cross or catacomb	A cross with bent ends ("rotating"), directed clockwise or counterclockwise. An ancient and widespread symbol in the culture of different nations - the swastika was present on weapons, everyday items, clothes, banners and emblems, and was used in the design of temples and houses. The swastika as a symbol has many meanings, most peoples had positive ones before it was compromised by the Nazis and removed from wide use. Among the ancient peoples, the swastika was a symbol of the movement of life, the Sun, light, prosperity. In particular, the clockwise swastika is an ancient Indian symbol used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
	Hands of God	Found on one of the vessels of the Przeworsk culture. During the Second World War, due to the presence of the swastika, the vessel was used by the Nazis for propaganda purposes. Today it is used as a religious symbol by Polish neo-pagans.
	Jerusalem cross	Inscribed on the flag of Georgia.
	Cross of the Order of Christ	The symbol of the spiritual knightly order of Christ.
	Red Cross	The symbol of the Red Cross organization and the ambulance service. The green cross is the symbol of pharmacies. Blue - veterinary service.
	Clubs	The symbol of the suit of clubs (another name for "crosses") in a card deck. It is named after the cross depicted in the form of a shamrock. The word is borrowed from French, where trefle - clover, in turn from the Latin trifolium - the addition of tri "three" and folium "leaf".
	Saint Nina's Cross	A Christian relic, a cross woven from vines, which, according to legend, the Mother of God handed over to Saint Nina before sending her to Georgia.
	Tau Cross or St. Anthony's Cross	T-shaped cross. Anthony's Cross - a T-shaped cross in honor of the founder of Christian monasticism Anthony. According to some sources, he lived for 105 years and spent the last 40 on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea. The Cross of Saint Anthony is also known as lat. crux commissa, egyptian or tau cross. Francis of Assisi made this cross his emblem at the beginning of the 13th century.
	Basque cross	Four petals curved in a shape reminiscent of the sign of the solstice. In the Basque Country, two variants of the cross are common, with the direction of rotation clockwise and counterclockwise.
	Cantabrian cross	It is a bifurcated St. Andrew's cross with finials at the ends of the crossbars.
	Serbian cross	It is a Greek (equilateral) cross, at the corners of which four stylized Ͻ and FROM-shaped flint. It is a symbol of Serbia, the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
	Macedonian Cross, Velus Cross
	coptic cross	Represents two crossed lines at a right angle with multiplied ends. The three bends of the end denote the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The cross is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt.
	crossed arrows

Cultural influence

Expressions of the Russian language

• Take under the cross - an old expression with a not entirely clear meaning (under the promise of the cross to pay, return?) "To take under the cross" means to borrow, without money. Previously, it was practiced to issue goods from the shop on credit, while an entry was made in the debt book. The poorest part of the population was, as a rule, illiterate and instead of a signature they put a cross.
• There is no cross on you - that is (about someone) unscrupulous.
• Carry your cross - endure difficulties.
• Put an end to (also: Fuck) - (alegorically) completely do away with something; cross out with an oblique cross (in the form of the letter of the Russian alphabet "Kher") - cross out from the list of cases.
• Religious procession - a solemn church procession with a large cross, icons and banners around the temple or from one temple to another, or from one place to another.
• The sign of the cross is a prayer gesture in Christianity (to cross) (Also: “Wake up!” (call) - “Cross yourself!”)
• Baptism is a Sacrament in Christianity.
• Cross name - the name taken in baptism.
• The godfather and godmother is a spiritual parent in Christianity, who, during the sacrament of baptism, takes responsibility before God for the spiritual upbringing and piety of the godson (goddaughter).
• Tic-tac-toe is a game, in the old days it was called "kheriki" in the shape of the letter of the Russian alphabet "Kher" in the form of an oblique cross.
• Deny - refuse (originally: protect yourself with a cross).
• Crossing (in biology) - hybridization, one of the methods of plant and animal breeding.

See also: Patriarchal Cross and Cross of Lorraine

(Russian cross, or cross of Saint Lazarus listen)) is an eight-pointed Christian cross, a symbol of the Orthodox Church in the eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia.

A feature of the eight-pointed cross is the presence of a lower oblique crossbar (foot), in addition to the two upper horizontal ones: the upper, smaller, and the middle, larger.

According to legend, during the crucifixion of Christ, a tablet was nailed over the cross in three languages ​​(Greek, Latin and Aramaic) with the inscription "Jesus of Nazryan, King of the Jews." A crossbar was nailed under Christ's feet.

Two more criminals were executed along with Jesus Christ. One of them began to mock Christ, demanding the release of all three if Jesus really was Christ, and the other said: “He is falsely condemned, and we are real criminals.” [to 1]. This (other) criminal was to the right of Christ, and therefore at the cross the left side of the crossbar is raised. He has risen above another criminal. And the right side of the crossbar is lowered down, as another criminal humiliated himself in front of the criminal who said justice.

A variant of the eight-pointed is the seven-pointed, in which the tablet is attached not across the cross, but from above. In addition, the upper crossbar may be absent altogether. The eight-pointed cross can be supplemented with a crown of thorns in the middle.

It should also be noted that, along with the eight-pointed, the Orthodox Church also uses two other common styles of the cross: the six-pointed cross (it differs from the eight-pointed one in the absence of a small, that is, the uppermost crossbar) and the four-pointed one (it differs from the six-pointed one in the absence of an oblique crossbar).

Varieties

Sometimes, when installing an eight-pointed cross on the dome of a temple, a crescent is placed under the oblique crossbar (horns up). There are various versions about the meaning of such a mark; according to the most famous, such a cross is likened to a ship's anchor, which since ancient times was considered a symbol of salvation.

In addition, there is a special monastic (schema) "cross-Golgotha". It consists of an Orthodox cross resting on a symbolic image of Mount Golgotha ​​(usually in the form of steps), a skull and bones are depicted under the mountain, a spear and a cane with a sponge are located to the right and left of the cross. It also depicts inscriptions: above the middle crossbar ІС҃ ХС҃ - the name of Jesus Christ, below it is the Greek NIKA - the Conqueror; on the tablet or near it there is an inscription: SN҃Ъ BZh҃ІY - "Son of God" or the abbreviation ІНЦІ - "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"; above the plate: TsR҃ SL҃VY - "King of Glory". The letters "K" and "T" symbolize the warrior's spear and cane with a sponge, depicted along the cross. Since the 16th century in Russia, a tradition arose to add the following designations to the image of Golgotha: M L R B - “the place of the frontal was crucified”, G G - “mountain Golgotha”, G A - “head of Adam”. Moreover, the bones of the hands lying in front of the skull are depicted right on the left, as during burial or communion.

Although in ancient times the Calvary cross was widespread, in modern times it is usually only embroidered on paraman and analava.

Usage

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross was placed on the coat of arms of the Russian state from 1577 to 1625, when it was replaced by the third crown. On some annalistic miniatures and icons, Russian soldiers carry red or green (possibly blue) banners with the image of the Golgotha ​​cross. The Calvary cross was also placed on the banners of the regiments of the 17th century.

Coat of arms of Russia from the seal of Fedor I, 1589.

Coat of arms of Russia from the seal of Fedor Ivanovich, 1589.

Icon, Dionysius, 1500.

Hundred banner, 1696-1699

Coat of arms of the Kherson province, 1878.

Unicode

In Unicode, there is a separate character ☦ for the Orthodox cross with the code U+2626 ORTHODOX CROSS. However, in many fonts it is displayed incorrectly - the bottom bar is tilted the wrong way.

Catholic cross. Types and symbolism

In human culture, the cross has long been endowed with a sacred meaning. Many people consider it a symbol of the Christian faith, but this is far from the case. The ancient Egyptian ankh, the Assyrian and Babylonian symbols of the sun god are all variants of the cross, which were integral attributes of the pagan beliefs of peoples around the world. Even the South American tribes of Chibcha Muisca, one of the most advanced civilizations of that time, along with the Incas, Aztecs and Maya, used the cross in their rituals, believing that it protects a person from evil and personifies the forces of nature. In Christianity the cross (Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox) is closely associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ.

Catholic and Protestant Cross

The image of the cross in Christianity is somewhat variable, since it often changed its appearance over time. The following types of Christian crosses are known: Celtic, solar, Greek, Byzantine, Jerusalem, Orthodox, Latin, etc. By the way, it is the latter that is currently used by representatives of two of the three main Christian movements (Protestantism and Catholicism). The Catholic cross differs from the Protestant one in the presence of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A similar phenomenon is explained by the fact that Protestants consider the cross a symbol of the shameful execution that the Savior had to accept. Indeed, in those ancient times, only criminals and thieves were sentenced to death by crucifixion. After his miraculous resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven, so Protestants consider placing a crucifixion with a living Savior on the cross as blasphemy and disrespect for the son of God.

Differences from the Orthodox cross

In Catholicism and Orthodoxy, the image of the cross has much more differences. So, if the Catholic cross (photo on the right) has a standard four-pointed shape, then the Orthodox one has six or eight-pointed ones, since it has a foot and a title. Another difference is manifested in the depiction of the crucifixion of Christ itself. In Orthodoxy, the Savior is usually depicted triumphant over death. Spreading his arms wide, he embraces all those for whom he gave his life, as if to say that his death served a good purpose. In contrast, the Catholic cross with a crucifix is ​​a martyr image of Christ. It serves as an eternal reminder to all believers of death and the anguish that preceded it, which the Son of God endured.

Cross of Saint Peter

The inverted Catholic cross in Western Christianity is by no means a sign of Satan, as third-rate horror films like to convince us. It is often used in Catholic icon painting and in the decoration of churches and is identified with one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. According to the assurances of the Roman Catholic Church, the apostle Peter, considering himself unworthy to die like the Savior, preferred to be crucified upside down on an inverted cross. Hence its name - the cross of Peter. In various photographs with the Pope, you can often see this Catholic cross, which from time to time causes unflattering accusations from the church in its connection with the Antichrist.

Types of crosses and what they mean

ANKH
The ankh is a symbol known as the Egyptian cross, looped cross, crux ansata, "handled cross". Ankh is a symbol of immortality. Combines the cross (symbol of life) and the circle (symbol of eternity). Its form can be interpreted as a rising sun, as a unity of opposites, as a male and female principle.
Ankh symbolizes the union of Osiris and Isis, the union of earth and sky. The sign was used in hieroglyphs, it was part of the words "welfare" and "happiness".
The symbol was applied to amulets in order to prolong life on earth, they were buried with it, guaranteeing their life in another world. The key that opens the gate of death looks like an ankh. In addition, amulets with the image of ankh helped with infertility.
Ankh is a magical symbol of wisdom. It can be found in many images of deities and priests from the time of the Egyptian pharaohs.
It was believed that this symbol could save from floods, so it was depicted on the walls of the canals.
Later, the ankh was used by sorceresses for divination, divination, and healing.
CELTIC CROSS
A Celtic cross, sometimes called a Jonah cross or a round cross. The circle symbolizes both the sun and eternity. This cross, which appeared in Ireland prior to the 8th century, is possibly derived from "Chi-Rho", a Greek monogram of the first two letters of Christ's name. Often this cross is decorated with carvings, animals and biblical scenes, such as the fall of man or the sacrifice of Isaac.
LATIN CROSS
The Latin cross is the most common Christian religious symbol in the Western world. According to tradition, it is believed that Christ was removed from this cross, hence its other name - the cross of the Crucifixion. Usually the cross is an unfinished tree, but sometimes it is covered with gold, which symbolizes glory, or with red spots (the blood of Christ) on green (the Tree of Life).
This form, so similar to a man with outstretched arms, symbolized God in Greece and China long before the advent of Christianity. The cross rising from the heart symbolized kindness among the Egyptians.
CROSS BOTTONNY
A cross with clover leaves, called the "bottonny cross" in heraldry. The clover leaf is a symbol of the Trinity, and the cross expresses the same idea. It is also used to refer to the resurrection of Christ.
PETER'S CROSS
The cross of St. Peter from the 4th century is one of the symbols of St. Peter, who is believed to have been crucified upside down in 65 AD. during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome.
Some Catholics use this cross as a symbol of humility, humility and unworthiness in comparison with Christ.
The inverted cross is sometimes associated with Satanists who use it.
RUSSIAN CROSS
The Russian cross, also called "Eastern" or "Cross of St. Lazarus", is a symbol of the Orthodox Church in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia. The upper of the three transverse bars is called the "titulus", where the name was written, as in the "Patriarchal Cross". The bottom bar symbolizes the footrest.
CROSS OF PEACE
The Peace Cross is a symbol designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 for the emerging Nuclear Disarmament Movement. For this symbol, Holtom was inspired by the semaphore alphabet. He made a cross out of her symbols for "N" (nuclear, nuclear) and "D" (disarmament, disarmament), and placed them in a circle, which symbolized a global agreement. This symbol attracted public attention after the first protest march from London to the Berkshire Nuclear Research Center on April 4, 1958. Soon this cross became one of the most common signs of the 60s, symbolizing both peace and anarchy.
SWASTIKA
The swastika is one of the most ancient and, since the 20th century, the most controversial symbols.
The name comes from the Sanskrit words "su" ("good") and "asti" ("being"). The symbol is ubiquitous and most often associated with the Sun. The swastika is the sun wheel.
The swastika is a symbol of rotation around a fixed center. The rotation from which life arises. In China, the swastika (Lei Wen) once symbolized the cardinal directions, and then acquired the value of ten thousand (the number of infinity). Sometimes the swastika was called the "seal of the heart of the Buddha."
It was believed that the swastika brings happiness, but only when its ends are bent clockwise. If the ends are bent counterclockwise, then the swastika is called sauswastika and has a negative effect.
The swastika is one of the early symbols of Christ. In addition, the swastika was a symbol of many gods: Zeus, Helios, Hera, Artemis, Thor, Agni, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and many others.
In the Masonic tradition, the swastika is a symbol of evil and misfortune.
In the twentieth century, the swastika acquired a new meaning, the swastika or Hakenkreuz ("hooked cross") became a symbol of Nazism. Since August 1920, the swastika began to be used on Nazi banners, cockades, and armbands. In 1945, all forms of the swastika were banned by the Allied occupation authorities.
CROSS OF KONSTANTINE
The Cross of Constantine is a monogram known as "Chi-Rho", in the form of X (the Greek letter "chi") and R ("ro"), the first two letters of the name of Christ in Greek.
The legend says that it was this cross that Emperor Constantine saw in the sky on the way to Rome to his co-ruler and at the same time opponent Maxentius. Along with the cross, he saw the inscription In hoc vinces - "with this you will win." According to another legend, he saw the cross in a dream the night before the battle, while the emperor heard a voice: In hoc signo vinces (with this sign you will win). Both legends claim that it was this prediction that converted Constantine to Christianity. He made the monogram his emblem, placing it on his labarum, the imperial standard, in place of the eagle. The ensuing victory at the Milvian Bridge near Rome on 27 October 312 made him sole emperor. After an edict was issued allowing the practice of the Christian religion in the empire, believers were no longer persecuted, and this monogram, which Christians used secretly until then, became the first generally accepted symbol of Christianity, and also became widely known as a sign of victory and salvation.

The difference between the Orthodox cross and the Catholic. crucifixion. Significance of Christ's death on the cross.

Among all Christians, only Orthodox and Catholics venerate crosses and icons. They decorate the domes of churches, their houses with crosses, they wear them around the neck.

The reason why a person wears a pectoral cross is different for everyone. Someone thus pays tribute to fashion, for someone the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry, for someone it brings good luck and is used as a talisman. But there are also those for whom the pectoral cross worn at baptism is indeed a symbol of their infinite faith.

Today, shops and church shops offer a wide variety of crosses of various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are about to baptize a child, but also sales assistants cannot explain where the Orthodox cross is and where the Catholic one is, although it is actually very simple to distinguish them. In the Catholic tradition - a quadrangular cross, with three nails. In Orthodoxy, there are four-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed crosses, with four nails for hands and feet.

cross shape

four-pointed cross

So, in the West, the most common is four-pointed cross. Starting from the III century, when such crosses first appeared in the Roman catacombs, the entire Orthodox East still uses this form of the cross as equal to all others.

For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross does not really matter, much more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, however, eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses have received the greatest popularity.

Most corresponds to the historically reliable form of the cross on which Christ was already crucified. The Orthodox cross, which is most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches, contains, in addition to a large horizontal bar, two more. The top symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ with the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower slanting crossbar - a prop for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous measure", weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing that the repentant robber, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the robber, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters IC XC are a Christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that "When Christ the Lord on His shoulders carried the cross, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or foot on it. There was no foot, because Christ on the cross and the soldiers had not yet been raised, not knowing where the legs would reach Christ's, did not attach a footstool, having finished it already at Calvary". There was also no title on the cross before the crucifixion of Christ, because, as the Gospel reports, at first they “crucified Him” (John 19:18), and then only “Pilate wrote an inscription and placed it on the cross” (John 19:19 ). It was at first that the warriors “who crucified Him” (Mt. 27:35) divided “His clothes” by lot, and only then “They put an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”(Matthew 27:37).

The eight-pointed cross has long been considered the most powerful protective tool against various kinds of evil spirits, as well as visible and invisible evil.

six pointed cross

Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially in the days of Ancient Russia, was also six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper end symbolizes liberation by repentance.

However, not in the shape of the cross or the number of ends lies all its power. The cross is famous for the power of Christ crucified on it, and all its symbolism and miraculousness lies in this.

The variety of forms of the cross has always been recognized by the Church as quite natural. In the words of St. Theodore the Studite - "a cross of every form is a true cross" and has unearthly beauty and life-giving power.

“There is no significant difference between Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, as well as between any other crosses used in the service of Christians. In essence, all crosses are the same, the differences are only in form., - says the Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

crucifixion

In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special significance is attached not to the shape of the cross, but to the image of Jesus Christ on it.

Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant, and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear.

Yes, we know that Christ died on the cross. But we also know that He later resurrected, and that He suffered voluntarily out of love for people: to teach us to take care of the immortal soul; so that we too can be resurrected and live forever. In the Orthodox Crucifixion, this Paschal joy is always present. Therefore, on the Orthodox cross, Christ does not die, but freely stretches out his hands, the palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to embrace all of humanity, giving them his love and opening the way to eternal life. He is not a dead body, but God, and his whole image speaks of this.

The Orthodox cross above the main horizontal bar has another, smaller one, which symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ indicating the offense. Because Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ, the words appeared on the tablet "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" in three languages: Greek, Latin and Aramaic. In Latin in Catholicism, this inscription looks like INRI, and in Orthodoxy - IHCI(or ІНHI, “Jesus of the Nazarene, King of the Jews”). The lower oblique crossbar symbolizes a leg support. It also symbolizes two thieves crucified to the left and right of Christ. One of them repented of his sins before his death, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. The other, before his death, blasphemed and reviled his executioners and Christ.

Above the middle crossbar are the inscriptions: "IC" "XS"- the name of Jesus Christ; and below it: "NIKA" - Winner.

Greek letters were necessarily written on the cross-shaped halo of the Savior UN, meaning - "Truly Existing", because "God said to Moses: I am who I am"(Ex. 3:14), thereby revealing His name, expressing the self-existence, eternity and immutability of the being of God.

In addition, the nails with which the Lord was nailed to the cross were kept in Orthodox Byzantium. And it was precisely known that there were four of them, not three. Therefore, on Orthodox crosses, the feet of Christ are nailed with two nails, each separately. The image of Christ with crossed feet, nailed with one nail, first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.

Orthodox crucifix Catholic crucifix

In the Catholic Crucifixion, the image of Christ has naturalistic features. Catholics depict Christ as dead, sometimes with streams of blood on his face, from wounds on his arms, legs and ribs ( stigmata). It manifests all human suffering, the torment that Jesus had to experience. His arms sag under the weight of his body. The image of Christ on the Catholic cross is plausible, but this is the image of a dead person, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The crucifixion in Orthodoxy just symbolizes this triumph. In addition, the feet of the Savior are nailed with one nail.

The Significance of the Savior's Death on the Cross

The emergence of the Christian cross is associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, which he accepted on the cross at the forced verdict of Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a common method of execution in ancient Rome, borrowed from the Carthaginians, the descendants of the Phoenician colonists (it is believed that crucifixion was first used in Phoenicia). Usually thieves were sentenced to death on the cross; many early Christians, persecuted since the time of Nero, were also executed in this manner.

Before the sufferings of Christ, the cross was an instrument of shame and terrible punishment. After His suffering, he became a symbol of the victory of good over evil, life over death, a reminder of God's infinite love, an object of joy. The incarnated Son of God sanctified the cross with His blood and made it a vehicle of His grace, a source of sanctification for believers.

From the Orthodox dogma of the Cross (or Atonement), the idea undoubtedly follows that the death of the Lord is the ransom of all, the calling of all peoples. Only the cross, unlike other executions, made it possible for Jesus Christ to die with outstretched arms calling "to all the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 45:22).

Reading the Gospels, we are convinced that the feat of the Cross of the God-man is the central event in His earthly life. By His sufferings on the Cross, He washed away our sins, covered our debt to God, or, in the language of Scripture, "redeemed" us (ransomed us). In Golgotha ​​lies the incomprehensible mystery of the infinite truth and love of God.

The Son of God voluntarily took upon Himself the guilt of all people and suffered for it a shameful and most painful death on the cross; then on the third day he rose again as the conqueror of hell and death.

Why was such a terrible Sacrifice needed to cleanse the sins of mankind, and was it possible to save people in another, less painful way?

The Christian doctrine of the death of the God-man on the cross is often a "stumbling block" for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both many Jews and people of the Greek culture of the apostolic times seemed contradictory to the assertion that the almighty and eternal God descended to earth in the form of a mortal man, voluntarily suffered beatings, spitting and shameful death, that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to mankind. "It's impossible!"- objected one; "It is not necessary!" others argued.

The Holy Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians says: “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in the wisdom of the word, so as not to abolish the cross of Christ. For the word of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved, it is the power of God. where is the wise man, where is the scribe, where is the questioner of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into foolishness? and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks foolishness, for the very called ones, Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power and God's wisdom"(1 Corinthians 1:17-24).

In other words, the apostle explained that what in Christianity was perceived by some as temptation and madness, is in fact the work of the greatest Divine wisdom and omnipotence. The truth of the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior is the foundation for many other Christian truths, for example, about the sanctification of believers, about the sacraments, about the meaning of suffering, about virtues, about achievement, about the goal of life, about the coming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.

At the same time, the redemptive death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even "seductive for those who perish," has a regenerating power that the believing heart feels and strives for. Renewed and warmed by this spiritual power, both the last slaves and the most powerful kings bowed with trepidation before Golgotha; both dark ignoramuses and the greatest scientists. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles became convinced by personal experience of what great spiritual benefits the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior brought them, and they shared this experience with their disciples.

(The mystery of the redemption of mankind is closely connected with a number of important religious and psychological factors. Therefore, in order to understand the mystery of the redemption, it is necessary:

a) to understand what actually is the sinful damage of a person and the weakening of his will to resist evil;

b) it is necessary to understand how the devil's will, thanks to sin, got the opportunity to influence and even captivate the human will;

c) one must understand the mysterious power of love, its ability to positively influence a person and ennoble him. At the same time, if love reveals itself most of all in sacrificial service to one's neighbor, then there is no doubt that giving one's life for him is the highest manifestation of love;

d) one must rise from understanding the power of human love to understanding the power of Divine love and how it penetrates the soul of a believer and transforms his inner world;

e) in addition, in the atoning death of the Savior there is a side that goes beyond the limits of the human world, namely: On the cross there was a battle between God and the proud Dennitsa, in which God, hiding under the guise of weak flesh, emerged victorious. The details of this spiritual battle and Divine victory remain a mystery to us. Even Angels, according to ap. Peter, do not fully understand the mystery of redemption (1 Pet. 1:12). She is a sealed book that only the Lamb of God could open (Rev. 5:1-7)).

In Orthodox asceticism, there is such a thing as bearing one's cross, that is, the patient fulfillment of Christian commandments throughout the life of a Christian. All difficulties, both external and internal, are called "cross." Each bears his life's cross. The Lord said this about the need for personal achievement: "Whoever does not take up his cross (turns away from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), he is not worthy of Me"(Matthew 10:38).

“The cross is the guardian of the whole universe. The Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the power of the kings, the Cross is the faithful affirmation, the Cross is the glory of the angel, the Cross is the plague of the demon,- affirms the absolute Truth of the luminaries of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.

The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious crusaders and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians involved in this heinous deed, it is all the more impossible to be silent, for - according to the words of St. Basil the Great - "God is given up in silence"!

Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox cross

Thus, there are the following differences between the Catholic cross and the Orthodox:

1. most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. - four-pointed.
2. Words on a tablet on the crosses are the same, only written in different languages: Latin INRI(in the case of a Catholic cross) and Slavic-Russian IHCI(on an Orthodox cross).
3. Another fundamental position is the position of the feet on the Crucifixion and the number of nails. The feet of Jesus Christ are located together on the Catholic Crucifix, and each is nailed separately on the Orthodox cross.
4. different is image of the Savior on the cross. The Orthodox cross depicts God, who opened the way to eternal life, and the Catholic cross depicts a man in torment.

Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak

pectoral cross- a small cross, symbolically displaying, on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified (sometimes with the image of the Crucified, sometimes without such an image), intended for constant wear by an Orthodox Christian as a sign of him and fidelity to Christ, belonging to the Orthodox, serving as a means of protection.

The cross is the greatest Christian shrine, a visible evidence of our redemption. In the service on the feast of the Exaltation, he sings of the tree of the Cross of the Lord with many praises: "- the guardian of the whole universe, beauty, power of kings, the faithful affirmation, glory and plague."

The pectoral cross is handed over to a baptized person who becomes a Christian for constant wearing in the most important place (near the heart) as an image of the Cross of the Lord, an external sign of the Orthodox. This is also done as a reminder that the Cross of Christ is a weapon against fallen spirits, having the power to heal and give life. That is why the Cross of the Lord is called Life-Giving!

He is evidence that a person is a Christian (a follower of Christ and a member of His Church). That is why the sin is for those who wear a cross for fashion, not being a member of the Church. The conscious wearing of a pectoral cross is a wordless prayer that allows this cross to manifest the true power of the Prototype - the Cross of Christ, which always protects the wearer, even if he does not ask for help, or does not have the opportunity to cross himself.

The cross is consecrated only once. You need to re-consecrate it only in exceptional conditions (if it was badly damaged and rebuilt, or fell into your hands, but you don’t know if it was consecrated before).

There is a superstition that when consecrated, the pectoral cross acquires magical protective properties. but teaches that the sanctification of matter allows us not only spiritually, but also bodily - through this sanctified matter - to partake of Divine grace, which is necessary for us for spiritual growth and salvation. But the grace of God works unconditionally. A correct spiritual life is required of a person, and it is this that makes it possible for the grace of God to have a salutary effect on us, healing from passions and sins.

Sometimes one hears the opinion that, they say, the consecration of pectoral crosses is a late tradition and this has never happened before. To this it can be answered that the Gospel, as a book, also once did not exist, and there was no Liturgy in its present form. But this does not mean at all that the Church cannot develop forms of worship and church piety. Is it contrary to Christian doctrine to call on God's grace for the work of human hands?

Can two crosses be worn?

The main question is why, for what purpose? If you were given another one, then it is quite possible to reverently keep one of them in the holy corner next to the icons, and wear one all the time. If you bought another, then wear it ...
A Christian is buried with a pectoral cross, so he is not inherited. As for wearing a second pectoral cross somehow left over from a deceased relative, wearing it as a sign of memory of the deceased indicates a misunderstanding of the essence of wearing a cross, which testifies to the Sacrifice of God, and not family relationships.

The pectoral cross is not an ornament or an amulet, but one of the visible evidence of belonging to the Church of Christ, a means of grace-filled protection and a reminder of the commandment of the Savior: If anyone wants to follow Me, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me ... ().

During Baptism, each person wears a pectoral cross. For the rest of your life, it must be worn on your chest. Believers note that the cross is not a mascot or dyeing. It is a symbol of commitment to the Orthodox faith and God. It helps in difficulties and troubles, strengthens the spirit. When wearing a cross, the main thing is to remember its meaning. Putting it on, a person promises to endure all trials and live according to God's commandments.

It is worth noting that the pectoral cross is considered a sign that a person is a believer. Those who did not join the church, that is, were not baptized, should not wear it. Also, according to church tradition, only priests can wear it over clothes (they put it on over a cassock). All other believers are not allowed to do this and it is believed that those who wear it over their clothes show off their faith and put it on display. A Christian is not befitting such a display of pride. Also, believers are not allowed to wear a cross in their ear, on a bracelet, in a pocket or on a bag. Some people argue that only Catholics can wear four-pointed crosses, allegedly Orthodox are forbidden. In fact, this statement is false. The Orthodox Church today recognizes different types of crosses (photo 1).

This means that the Orthodox can wear a four-pointed, eight-pointed cross. It may or may not show the crucifixion of the Savior. But what an Orthodox Christian should avoid is depicting the crucifixion with a very extreme realism. That is, the details of the sufferings on the cross, the sagging body of Christ. Such an image is typical for Catholicism (photo 2).

It is also worth noting that the material from which the cross is made can be absolutely any. It all depends on the wishes of the person. For example, silver is not suitable for some people, because it does not immediately blacken the body. Then it is better for them to refuse such material and make a choice in favor of, for example, gold. In addition, the church does not prohibit wearing large crosses inlaid with expensive stones. But, conversely, some believers believe that such a demonstration of luxury is not at all compatible with faith (photo 3).

The cross must be consecrated in the church if it was bought in a jewelry store. Usually the consecration takes a couple of minutes. If he is bought in a shop that works at the church, then you should not worry about this, he will already be consecrated. Also, the church does not prohibit wearing crosses that were inherited from a deceased relative. There is no need to be afraid that in this way he will "inherit" the fate of his relative. In the Christian faith, there is no idea of ​​an inevitable fate (photo 4).

So, as already mentioned, the Catholic Church recognizes only the four-pointed form of the cross. Orthodox, in turn, is more lenient and recognizes the six-pointed, four-pointed and eight-pointed forms. At the same time, it is considered that the more correct form, nevertheless, is eight-pointed, with two additional partitions. One should be at the head, and the second for the legs (photo 5).

It is better for small children not to buy pectoral crosses with stones. At this age, they all try to try, they can bite off a pebble and swallow it. We have already noted that the Savior does not have to be on the cross. Also, the Orthodox cross differs from the Catholic one in the number of nails for the legs and arms. So, in the Catholic creed there are three, and in the Orthodox - four (photo 6).

Note that in addition to the crucified Savior, the face of the Virgin Mary, the image of Christ the Almighty, can be depicted on the cross. Various ornaments can also be depicted. All this does not contradict faith (photo 7).

The cross is a whole complex of symbolic meanings. It is very important to correctly understand all the signs, all the images and inscriptions on it.

Cross and Savior

The most important symbol is, of course, the cross itself. The custom of wearing a cross arose only in the 4th century; before that, Christians wore medallions depicting a lamb - a sacrificial lamb, symbolizing the self-sacrifice of the Savior. There were also medallions depicting a crucifix.

The cross - the image of the instrument of death of the Savior - became a natural continuation of this tradition.

Initially, there were no signs on underwear, only vegetable. He symbolized the Tree of Life, which Adam lost and returned to people by Jesus Christ.

In the 11th-13th centuries. the image of the Savior appears on the crosses, but not crucified, but sitting on a throne. This emphasizes the image of Christ as the King of the Universe, to whom “every authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given.”

But even in earlier eras, crosses with the image of the crucified Savior occasionally appear. This had a special meaning in the context of the fight against Monophysitism - the idea of ​​the complete absorption of human nature in the person of Jesus Christ by Divine nature. Under such conditions, the depiction of the death of the Savior emphasized his human nature. In the end, it was the image of the Savior on the pectoral cross that prevailed.

The head of the crucified is surrounded by a halo - a symbol of holiness - with an inscription in Greek "UN", "Existing". This emphasizes the divine nature of the Savior.

Other signs

At the top of the cross is an additional crossbar with four letters, which are like "Jesus Christ - King of the Jews." A tablet with such an inscription was nailed to the cross by order of Pontius Pilate, since many followers of Christ really considered him as a future king. The Roman governor in this way wanted to emphasize the futility of the hopes of the Jews: "Here he is - your king, betrayed by the most shameful execution, and so it will be with everyone who dares to encroach on the power of Rome." Perhaps it would not be worth remembering this trick of the Roman, all the more so - perpetuating it in pectoral crosses, if the Savior really was not the King, and not only of the Jews, but of the entire universe.

The lower crossbar originally had a utilitarian meaning - supporting the body on the cross. But it also has a symbolic meaning: in Byzantium, from where Christianity came to Russia, there was always a footstool on the images of noble and royal persons. Here is the foot of the cross - this is another symbol of the royal dignity of the Savior.

The right end of the crossbar is raised, the left one is lowered - this is a hint at the fate of the thieves crucified with Christ. The one who was crucified on the right repented and went to Paradise, while the other died without repenting. Such a symbol reminds a Christian of the need for repentance, the path to which is open to everyone.

Under the feet of the crucified is depicted. According to legend, Adama was on Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified. The Savior, as it were, tramples the skull with his feet, symbolizing death - a consequence of the slavery of sin, to which Adam doomed humanity. This is a graphic expression of the words from the Easter hymn - "Death tramples death."

On the reverse side of the pectoral cross is usually the inscription: "Save and". This is a small prayer, a Christian's appeal to God - to protect not only from misfortunes and dangers, but also from temptations and sins.