Where did the cross come from in the Christian religion and what does it mean?

Here I would like to recall an incident that occurred more than four centuries ago. Spanish ships under the command of Christopher Columbus, who was looking for the shortest route from Europe to Asia, crossed Atlantic Ocean and approached the shores of a land unknown to Europeans. The sailors did not know what kind of country lay before them; they did not know that on that day they became the discoverers of the largest continent, which later received the name America.

They went ashore and got acquainted with the life and way of life of the local tribes, the existence of which the Europeans did not even suspect. The customs, religious beliefs and rituals of the Indians - everything surprised the Spanish sailors. But, perhaps, what amazed the Spaniards most of all was that one of the native tribes worshiped... the cross as a sacred sign. It seemed incomprehensible. After all, the Indians had not even heard the name of Jesus Christ, knew nothing about the Christian religion, and at the same time revered the cross, which is a symbol of the Christian faith!

How could it happen that this sign, which, as the clergy claims, is unique to Christianity, became known to the native tribes?

The explanation is simple. The cross is not a Christian invention at all. He was revered different peoples antiquity many years before the Christian religion arose. This is confirmed by numerous excavations that were carried out in different countries peace. The image of the cross was found on objects discovered during excavations in Babylon and Persia, in India and Egypt, in China and Mexico.

In museums in many countries around the world you can see stone figurines of ancient pagan gods who were revered by our distant ancestors. Some of these figurines have a cross-shaped sign carved into them. This sign can be found in the images Egyptian god Osiris, Indian - Buddha, Chinese - Tamo, greek god Cupid's love. The image of the cross was found on the walls of ancient temples in Mexico and Tibet, on the graves of natives in New Zealand, on ancient Jewish and Egyptian coins. All this irrefutably proves that the veneration of the cross dates back to ancient times.

Science gives a completely reasonable answer to this question. IN religious beliefs many primitive peoples the cross was a sacred symbol of fire. And fire played an extremely important role in the life of our distant ancestors.

Life primitive people was full of hardships and hardships. Man was helpless in the fight against nature, in the fight against cold, hunger, and disease. Therefore, one can imagine what greatest significance in human life was the discovery of fire. Fire warmed people during cold weather and protected them from predatory animals. Thanks to him, people learned to cook and fry food. With its help, metal processing became possible in the future. But, having learned to use fire, people at first did not yet know how to make it. At first they used fire that occurred naturally, for example in forest fires that broke out from a lightning strike. They kept the fire going for many months, carefully stored it, protected it. After all, if it faded away, it was a real disaster for primitive people.

Only many years later did man learn to make fire himself. The first tools with which people began to get fire were two pieces of wood. They were placed on top of each other and began to rub. After much effort, the bars heated up and began to smolder. It is quite understandable that people began to look at two pieces of wood folded in a cross as a shrine. This tool for making fire began to be revered as sacred.

Subsequently, people began to revere the sign depicting this instrument. They saw that fire protected them from wild animals, protected them from the cold, and began to believe that the cross, which was used to represent a tool for producing fire, was also capable of protecting them from adversity, from evil forces. This sign began to be painted on clothes, weapons, various utensils, and household items. It was placed in ancient temples, placed on statues of gods, on the graves of people. So the cross began to be revered different peoples who had different beliefs, lived in different ends our land.

In the Christian religion, the cross is a sacred symbol, since Jesus Christ was allegedly crucified on the cross. In fact, Christians borrowed the veneration of the cross from contemporary pagan religions. They began to consider the cross as their sacred symbol only from the 4th century.

The first Christians did not honor the cross. Moreover, they despised him, looked at him as a pagan symbol, “the mark of the beast.” It was only at the end of the 4th century that churchmen made up a story that Christ appeared in a dream to the Roman Emperor Constantine and ordered him to inscribe an image of a cross on military banners. At the same time, another legend was composed - about how the mother of Emperor Constantine Helen made a pilgrimage to Palestine, found the tomb of Christ there and dug up a wooden cross in the ground on which Christ was supposedly crucified. In honor of this event, a special holiday was established - the erection of the Holy Cross. The cross has become a sacred symbol of the Christian religion.

Both of these legends are, of course, fictitious from beginning to end. Elena could not see the “life-giving” cross, no matter how much she wanted. The fact is that the Romans never used the cross as an instrument of execution. The execution of criminals was carried out in the Roman state on a pillar with a crossbar - in the form of the letter “T”. Moreover, if Elena had really managed to find the cross on which Christ was crucified, then, obviously, all Christian believers would have revered just such a cross as a sacred symbol. But in reality, Christians can find crosses of various shapes: four-pointed, six-pointed, eight-pointed. There is an eleven-pointed and even eighteen-pointed cross. So which one of them was Christ crucified on? Of course, not a single church minister can answer this question, because all their stories about the execution of Jesus Christ, about the discovery of the cross on which Christ was allegedly crucified, are just fiction.

Having officially recognized the cross as a symbol of its religion, the Christian church turned it into a symbol of suffering and submission. Referring to the Gospel stories about how Christ, in atonement for human sins, meekly carried the shameful cross on Mount Golgotha, and then was crucified on it, the clergy inspires believers that all their suffering on earth is, in fact, the cross of Christ, which rests on the shoulders of every Christian. And people who believe in God must patiently bear this cross for the sake of salvation in the “other world.” It is not difficult to see that these statements by churchmen have a specific goal - to make people believe in the need for slavish submission to “fate”, to weaken the will of the working people, to force them to come to terms with their situation, to distract them from the struggle for the reconstruction of society, for their happiness on earth.

Thus, having passed through many millennia of human history, an ordinary tool for making fire, which was used by our distant ancestors, became an instrument of spiritual enslavement of believers.

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The Christian (Orthodox) pectoral cross is a symbol of faith that a person receives at the moment of his initiation into the faith - Baptism and wears of his own free will all his life until his last earthly days. It is called upon to protect, protect from troubles and misfortunes, bring inspiration and remind us of the essence of faith.

The cross has ancient history, it appeared long before Christianity in different cultures: Eastern, Chinese Indian and others. Archaeologists find ancient imprints of the cross in rock carvings of caves in Scandinavia, Easter Island, India, Japan...

The cross personifies great balance, harmony in the Universe, carries deep secret meaning knowledge accumulated by our ancient ancestors. The cross acquired a sacred (hidden deep) meaning after Jesus Christ was crucified on it.

There are people who wear a cross as decoration, as a fashion statement, without considering themselves believers. Is this forbidden? Of course not, for such a person the cross will serve as decoration, completely devoid of the meaning of those things that we outlined above.

What is the difference between an Orthodox cross and a Catholic one?

The eight-pointed cross was considered by ancient people to be the most powerful protective amulet against evil spirits and all kinds of evil. Although the hexagonal one was also widely used.

There is an opinion that Catholics and Orthodox different shapes at the cross. How to distinguish an Orthodox cross from a Catholic one? In general, an Orthodox believer should not have such a question, since any form of the cross is acceptable for such a believer. Venerable Theodore the Studite wrote:

“The cross of every form is the true cross.”

And even though the shape and meaning of the cross changed over the centuries, some attributes were added, but since Christ accepted the sacrifice on it, it has become a symbol of the victory of good over evil.

The Lord himself spoke about how important this symbol is for every believer:

« He who does not take up his cross (deviates from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian) is unworthy of Me"(Matthew 10:38). -24).

Serbian Patriarch Irinej says this:

« There is no significant difference between the Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, or between any other crosses used in Christian services. In essence, all crosses are the same, the only differences are in the shape».

What is the meaning of all the sides of the cross and what do they mean?

Orthodox Christians more often wore six-pointed crosses, when a lower crossbar was added, symbolizing the “righteous standard”: on one side of the scale are sins, on the other are righteous deeds.

For Orthodox form pectoral cross should not matter, the information that is indicated on it is much more important.

• The inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” on the crosses are the same, only written on different languages: in Catholic in Latin font “INRI”, in Orthodox in Slavic-Russian font “IHCI”. Sometimes it has the following form: “IC” “XC” - the name of Jesus Christ;
• Often on back side The cross contains the inscription “Save and Preserve.”
• At the very bottom, sometimes in another place you can see the inscription “NIKA” - which means Winner.

• One more distinctive feature is the position of the feet on the Crucifix and the number of nails. The feet of Jesus Christ are placed together on a Catholic crucifix, and each one is nailed separately on an Orthodox cross.

• Western Christians (Catholics) portray Jesus as tortured and dead; for them he is a man. For Orthodox Christians, Jesus is God and man rolled into one; his crucifix most often has a flat image. Catholics make it more voluminous.
• Catholics have a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, while Orthodox Christians have his head uncovered.

But I repeat once again, in fact, all these differences are not so significant.

And yet, when choosing a cross for yourself and your child, give preference to the one without a crucifix. With all your love for Jesus and filled with gratitude and reverence, remember that the crucifix contains the energy of pain and suffering, which presses on your soul and heart chakra, filling your life, which is already full of suffering. Think about it... Watch this video:

And remember that the cross is just a symbol of faith, and it cannot replace faith itself.

One can come to an understanding of Christianity by deciphering its symbols. From them one can trace both its history and the development of spiritual thought.

The eight-pointed cross is also called the Orthodox cross or the cross of St. Lazarus. The smallest crossbar represents the title, where it was written “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” the upper end of the cross is the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ showed.
The seven-pointed cross is a variation Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but from above.

2. Ship

The ship is an ancient Christian symbol that symbolized the church and each individual believer.
Crosses with a crescent, which can be seen on many churches, just depict such a ship, where the cross is a sail.

3. Calvary cross

The Golgotha ​​Cross is monastic (or schematic). It symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ.

Widespread in ancient times, the cross of Golgotha ​​is now embroidered only on the paraman and the lectern.

4. Grapevine

The vine is the gospel image of Christ. This symbol also has its own meaning for the Church: its members are branches, and the grapes are a symbol of Communion. In the New Testament, the grapevine is a symbol of Paradise.

5. Ichthys

Ichthys (from ancient Greek - fish) is an ancient monogram of the name of Christ, consisting of the first boxes of the words “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior”. Often depicted allegorically - in the form of a fish. Ichthys was also a secret identification mark among Christians.

6. Dove

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Also - a symbol of peace, truth and innocence. Often 12 doves symbolize the 12 apostles. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are also often depicted as doves. The dove that brought an olive branch to Noah marked the end of the Flood.

7. Lamb

The Lamb is the Old Testament symbol of Christ's sacrifice. The Lamb is also a symbol of the Savior himself; this refers believers to the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Cross.

8. Anchor

The anchor is a hidden image of the Cross. It is also a symbol of hope for the future Resurrection. Therefore, the image of an anchor is often found in burial places of ancient Christians.

9. Chrism

Chrisma is a monogram of the name of Christ. The monogram consists of the initial letters X and P, often flanked by the letters α and ω. Christianity became widespread in apostolic times and was depicted on the military standard of Emperor Constantine the Great.

10. Crown of thorns

The crown of thorns is a symbol of the suffering of Christ, often depicted on crucifixes.

11. IHS

IHS is another popular monogram for Christ. It's three letters Greek name Jesus. But with the decline of Greece, other, Latin, monograms with the name of the Savior began to appear, often in combination with a cross.

12. Triangle

The triangle is a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Each side personifies the Hypostasis of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All sides are equal and together form a single whole.

13. Arrows

Arrows or a ray piercing the heart - an allusion to the saying of St. Augustine in Confessions. Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize Simeon's prophecy.

14. Skull

The skull or Adam's head is equally a symbol of death and a symbol of victory over it. According to Sacred Tradition, Adam's ashes were on Calvary when Christ was crucified. The blood of the savior, having washed Adam’s skull, symbolically washed all of humanity and gave him a chance for salvation.

15. Eagle

The eagle is a symbol of ascension. He is a symbol of the soul that seeks God. Often - a symbol of new life, justice, courage and faith. The eagle also symbolizes the evangelist John.

16. All-seeing eye

The Eye of the Lord is a symbol of omniscience, omniscience and wisdom. It is usually depicted inscribed in a triangle - a symbol of the Trinity. Can also symbolize hope.

17. Seraphim

Seraphim are the angels closest to God. They are six-winged and carry fiery swords, and can have from one to 16 faces. As a symbol, they mean the purifying fire of the spirit, divine heat and love.

18. Eight-pointed star

Eight-pointed or Star of Bethlehem- symbol of the birth of Christ. Over the centuries, the number of rays changed until it finally reached eight. It is also called the Virgin Mary Star.

19. Nine-pointed star

The symbol originated around the 5th century AD. The nine rays of the star symbolize the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

20. Bread

The bread is a reference to the biblical episode when five thousand people were satisfied with five loaves of bread. Bread is depicted in the form of ears of corn (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the apostles) or in the form of bread for communion.

21. Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is a symbolic representation of Jesus. The source of this image is the Gospel parable, where Christ himself calls himself a shepherd. Christ is depicted as an ancient shepherd, sometimes carrying a lamb (lamb) on his shoulders.
This symbol has deeply penetrated and become entrenched in Christianity; parishioners are often called the flock, and priests are shepherds.

22. Burning Bush

In the Pentateuch, the Burning Bush is a thorn bush that burns but is not consumed. In his image, God appeared to Moses, calling him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. The burning bush is also a symbol Mother of God touched by the Holy Spirit.

23. Leo

The forest is a symbol of vigilance and the Resurrection, and one of the symbols of Christ. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Mark, and is associated with the power and royal dignity of Christ.

24. Taurus

Taurus (bull or ox) is a symbol of the Evangelist Luke. Taurus means the sacrificial service of the Savior, his Sacrifice on the Cross. The ox is also considered a symbol of all martyrs.

25. Angel

Angel symbolizes human nature Christ, his earthly incarnation. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Matthew.

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

The reason why a person wears pectoral cross, everyone has their own. Some people pay tribute to fashion in this way, for others the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry, for others it brings good luck and is used as a talisman. But there are also those for whom the pectoral cross worn at baptism is truly a symbol of their endless faith.

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

Cross shape

Four-pointed cross

So, in the West the most common is four-pointed cross. Starting from the 3rd century, when similar crosses first appeared in the Roman catacombs, the entire Orthodox East still uses this form of the cross as equal to all others.

Eight-pointed Orthodox cross

For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross is not particularly important, much more more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, but the eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses are the most popular.

Eight-pointed Orthodox cross most corresponds to the historically accurate 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 crossbar, two more. The top one symbolizes the sign on the cross of Christ with the inscription “ Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower oblique crossbar - the support for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the “righteous standard” that weighs the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted in left side, symbolizing the fact that the repentant thief, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the thief 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 carried the cross on His shoulders, the cross was still four-pointed; because there was no title or foot on it yet. There was no footstool, because Christ had not yet been raised on the cross and the soldiers, not knowing where Christ’s feet would reach, did not attach a footstool, finishing this already on Golgotha". Also, there was no title on the cross before the crucifixion of Christ, because, as the Gospel reports, at first “ 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 soldiers divided “His garments” by lot. those who crucified Him"(Matthew 27:35), and only then" they placed an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"(Matt. 27:37).

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

Six-pointed cross

Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially in times Ancient Rus', also had six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper end symbolizes liberation through repentance.

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

The variety of forms of the cross has always been recognized by the Church as quite natural. According to the expression of the Monk Theodore Studite - “ a cross of any form is a true cross"and has unearthly beauty and life-giving power.

« There is no significant difference between the Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, or between any other crosses used in Christian services. In essence, all crosses are the same, the only differences are in the shape“says Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

Crucifixion

In Catholic and Orthodox Churches special meaning is given 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 arms, the palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to hug all 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 has another, smaller one above the main horizontal crossbar, which symbolizes the sign on the cross of Christ indicating the offense. Because Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ; the words “ 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 INHI, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”). The lower oblique crossbar symbolizes a support for the legs. It also symbolizes the two thieves crucified to the left and right of Christ. One of them, before his death, repented of his sins, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. The other, before his death, blasphemed and reviled his executioners and Christ.

The following inscriptions are placed above the middle crossbar: "IC" "XC"- 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 Existent”, because “ God said to Moses: I am who I am"(Ex. 3:14), thereby revealing His name, expressing the originality, 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 known for sure that there were four of them, not three. Therefore, on Orthodox crosses, Christ’s feet are nailed with two nails, each separately. The image of Christ with crossed feet nailed to a single nail first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.

Orthodox Crucifix Catholic Crucifix

IN 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 reveals 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 image dead person, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The crucifixion in Orthodoxy symbolizes this triumph. In addition, the Savior's feet are nailed with one nail.

The meaning of the Savior's death on the cross

Emergence christian cross associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, which he accepted on the cross under the forced sentence of Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a common method of execution in Ancient Rome, borrowed from the Carthaginians - descendants of Phoenician colonists (it is believed that the crucifix was first used in Phenicia). Thieves were usually sentenced to death on the cross; many early Christians, persecuted since the time of Nero, were also executed in this way.

Roman crucifixion

Before the suffering of Christ, the cross was an instrument of shame and terrible punishment. After His suffering, it became a symbol of the victory of good over evil, life over death, a reminder of the endless God's love, a subject of joy. The incarnate 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) undoubtedly follows the idea that the death of the Lord is a ransom for all, the calling of all peoples. Only the cross, unlike other executions, made it possible for Jesus Christ to die with outstretched hands calling “to all the ends of the earth” (Isa. 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. With His suffering on the cross, He washed away our sins, covered our debt to God, or, in the language of Scripture, “redeemed” (ransomed) us. The incomprehensible secret of the infinite truth and love of God is hidden in Calvary.

The Son of God voluntarily took upon himself the guilt of all people and suffered for it a shameful and 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?

Christian teaching about death on the cross The God-man is often a “stumbling block” for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both to many Jews and to the people of the Greek culture of apostolic times, it seemed contradictory to assert that the omnipotent and eternal God descended to earth in the form of a mortal man, voluntarily endured beatings, spitting and shameful death, so that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to humanity. " This is impossible!“- some objected; " It is not necessary!"- others stated.

St. Apostle Paul in his letter 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 make the cross of Christ abolish. For the word about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and destroy the understanding of the prudent. Where is the sage? where is the scribe? where is the questioner of this century? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into foolishness? For when the world through its wisdom did not know God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For both the Jews demand miracles, and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks foolishness, but for those who are called, Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power and God's wisdom"(1 Cor. 1:17-24).

In other words, the apostle explained that what in Christianity was perceived by some as temptation and madness, is in fact a matter 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 feat, about the purpose of life, about the upcoming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.

At the same time, the atoning death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even “tempting for those who are perishing,” 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 in awe before Calvary; both dark ignoramuses and the greatest scientists. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles personal experience They were convinced of the great spiritual benefits that 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, to understand the mystery of redemption it is necessary:

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

b) we must understand how the devil’s will, thanks to sin, gained the opportunity to influence and even captivate the human will;

c) we need to understand the mysterious power of love, its ability to positively influence a person and ennoble him. At the same time, if love most of all reveals itself 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) from understanding the power of human love, one must rise 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 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 St. Peter, do not fully understand the mystery of redemption (1 Peter 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 concept as bearing one’s cross, that is, patiently fulfilling Christian commandments throughout the life of a Christian. All difficulties, both external and internal, are called “cross.” Everyone carries their own cross in life. About the need personal feat The Lord said this: “ He who does not take up his cross (deviates from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian) is unworthy of Me"(Matthew 10:38).

« The cross is the guardian of the entire universe. Cross the beauty of the Church, Cross of the kings power, Cross true statement, Cross is an angel's glory, Cross is a demon's plague", states absolute Truth 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 cross-haters and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians drawn into this vile business, it is all the more impossible to remain silent, for - according to the words of St. Basil the Great - “God is betrayed by silence”!

Differences between Catholic and Orthodox crosses

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

Catholic cross Orthodox cross

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

Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak

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Eat a large number of symbols in Orthodoxy that we use every day. Among them, the crucifix is ​​the most popular. The cross bears specific value in Orthodoxy. This is what he means martyrdom Jesus Christ. If you look closely at this most important symbol of Christianity, you can see some inscriptions. They attract our attention, especially the inscription NIKA on the Orthodox cross.

The meaning of the Orthodox cross

The cross is considered the most important object of religious veneration. Crucifixion was one of the most common methods of execution in Ancient Rome, which was borrowed from the Carthaginians. Mostly robbers were executed in this way, but many other people suffered the same punishment. Christ was crucified on the cross by order of Pontius Pilate, but the Apostle Peter ordered him to be crucified upside down, because he said that he was not worthy of the same death as Jesus.

Until the 6th century, the image of the cross was rarely used. There are a large number of variations of this symbol.

Most often found in Orthodoxy eight-pointed cross, with lower and upper crossbars. These crossbars also carry a special meaning:

• The top one (above the main horizontal crossbar) means the tablet on the cross of Jesus, on which there is the inscription INCI.
• The lower (oblique crossbar) is considered a support for the legs. It carries the meaning of two thieves who were crucified on either side of Christ. One of them, before his death, repented of his sins, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. Another, before his death, spoke unflatteringly about Christ and his executioners.

What does NIKA mean on an Orthodox cross?

Looking closely at the cross you can see several inscriptions. They are found both on the tablets and next to the cross. There are several scriptures that are particularly significant for Christianity. On the top plate you can see the abbreviation “INCI”. This word is practically not translated into other languages ​​and remains unchanged. It means "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Pontius Pilate made such an inscription in order to indicate the offense of Christ, as it was done for other robbers.

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The second important is the inscription on the cross NIKA. This word is located under the lower main upper horizontal bar. There is much disagreement about its origin.

In translation given word it makes sense to win or be the winner. It is this that symbolizes Christ’s victory over death, as well as his Resurrection. Many believe that the appearance of this inscription is connected with another equally important historical event.

It is believed that the appearance of this inscription on the cross arose after the victory of Constantine the Great over Marcus Aurelius in 312. According to legend, before the battle he saw a cross in the sky. And I read next to him the inscription “win with him!” This gave him more strength. After the victory, he began to revere the symbol of the cross and installed 3 crosses with the inscriptions in Constantinople, which was previously called Byzantium:

1. IC - on the cross of the triumphal gates,
2. HS - written on a Roman column,
3. NIKA – on a marble pillar.

If you combine all these inscriptions together, you will get the phrase - Jesus Christ wins. Over time, it became a tradition to write this inscription on prosphora and. After such a victory, universal veneration of the Cross of Christ began among the people.

Why is NIKA written on the crosses? Scientists believe that this shows Christ's power over death. That even after his crucifixion he was able to resurrect and appear to people. So that they would believe in him and in the Lord.

On the cross it is written at the feet of NIKA

The lower crossbar above which there is this inscription symbolizes the peculiar scales of God's judgment. If repentance occurs, then one cup is lifted and thus the person goes to heaven. If he continues to live in sin, then the cup is released, thereby leading the person to hell. It is also believed that Jesus is the New Adam, who atoned for the original sin of humanity.

The Lord is always with you!