Cross in cross orthodox meaning. Which cross is correct

The Holy Cross is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every true believer, at the sight of him, is involuntarily filled with thoughts about the death throes of the Savior, 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 load. Even if there is no image of the crucifixion on it, it always appears to our inner gaze.

An instrument of death that has become a symbol of life

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

In the pre-Christian period, it was mainly robbers who were sentenced to crucifixion, and then the followers of Jesus Christ accepted this martyrdom. 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.

The eight-pointed cross is a symbol of Orthodoxy

The Christian tradition knows many different designs of the cross, from the most common crosshairs of straight lines to very complex geometric designs, supplemented by various symbols. 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, since ancient times, the symbol of the church has been the eight-pointed, or, as they often say, the Orthodox cross. In addition, you can hear the expression "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 located at the bottom of the vertical segment, symbolizing the crossbar on which Christ’s feet 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 raised right end of the footstool, while the left one faces the depths of hell.

According to the Gospel, a board was nailed over the Savior’s head, 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. This is what the small upper crossbar symbolizes. It can be placed either in the interval between the large crossbar and the upper end of the cross, or at its very top. Such an outline makes it possible to reproduce with the greatest reliability the appearance of the instrument of Christ’s suffering. That is why the Orthodox cross has eight points.

About the law of the golden ratio

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross in its classic form is built according to the law of the golden ratio. To make it clear what we are talking about, let us dwell on this concept in a little more detail. It is usually understood as a harmonic proportion, which in one way or another underlies everything that is created by the Creator.

One example of this would be human body. Through simple experiment, we can be convinced that if we divide the value of our height by the distance from the soles of our feet to the navel, and then divide the same value by the distance between the navel and the top of the head, the results will be the same and amount to 1.618. The same proportion lies in the size of the phalanges of our fingers. This ratio of quantities, 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 ratio is widely used in architecture, as well as other fields of art. Taking this into account, many artists manage to achieve maximum harmony in their works. The same pattern was observed by composers working in the genre of classical music. When writing compositions in the style of rock and jazz, it was abandoned.

The law of constructing an Orthodox cross

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross is also built on the basis of the golden ratio. The meaning of its ends has been explained above; now let us turn to the rules underlying the construction of this main Christian symbol. They were not established artificially, but resulted from 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 ratio. Simply put, dividing its height by its width gives us 1.618.

The Cross of Saint Lazarus (as mentioned above, this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross) in its construction has another feature associated with the proportions of our body. It is well known that the width of a person’s arm span is equal to his height, and a figure with arms spread to the sides 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 seemingly simple rules should be taken into account by every person who is faced with the question of how to draw an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Calvary Cross

There is also a special, purely monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross, a photo of which is presented in the article. It is called the “cross of Golgotha.” This is the outline 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 right of the cross a cane with a sponge and a spear can be depicted.

Each of the listed items has a deep religious meaning. For example, skull and bones. According to Sacred Tradition, the sacrificial blood of the Savior, shed by him on the cross, falling on the top of Golgotha, seeped into its depths, where the remains of our ancestor 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 of 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 dramatic moment when one of the Roman soldiers named Longinus pierced the Savior’s ribs with this weapon and blood and water flowed from the wound. This episode has various interpretations, but the most common of them is contained in the works of the 4th century Christian theologian and philosopher 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 the church was created. The blood and water spilled during this, according to St. Augustine, symbolize the holy sacraments - the Eucharist, where wine is transformed 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 the cane and the sponge. From the accounts of the holy evangelists it is known that the crucified Christ was twice offered drink. In the first case, it was wine mixed with myrrh, that is, an intoxicating drink that dulls pain and thereby prolongs the execution.

The second time, having heard the cry “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 mounted on a cane, since without its help they could not reach the mouth of the crucified Jesus. Despite such a gloomy role assigned to them, these objects, like the spear, were among the main Christian shrines, and their image can be seen next to the cross of Calvary.

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. Specifically, these are the IC and XC at the ends of the middle bar. These letters stand for nothing more than the 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, meaning the words “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” and above it - “King of Glory.” It became a tradition to write the letter K near the image of a spear, and T near the cane. 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 “The Place of the Execution is Crucified.”

In addition to the listed inscriptions, it is worth mentioning two letters G, standing to the left and right of the image of Golgotha, and being the initial ones in its name, as well as G and A - 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 contained in them fully corresponds to 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 on 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 the opportunity 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, proportions, general form and the semantic load of which became the topic of this article. It accompanies a believer throughout his life. From the holy font, where the sacrament of baptism opens the gates of the Church of Christ for him, right up to the gravestone, an eight-pointed Orthodox cross overshadows him.

Pectoral symbol of the Christian faith

The custom of wearing small crosses made from a variety of materials on the chest appeared only at the beginning of the 4th century. Despite the fact that the main instrument of Christ’s passion was an object of veneration among 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 on 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 painted the image of the cross on their foreheads. They were recognized by this sign and then given over to torture and death. After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, wearing crosses became a custom, and during the same period they began to be installed on the roofs of churches.

Two types of body crosses in Ancient Rus'

In Rus', symbols of the Christian faith appeared in 988, simultaneously with its baptism. It is interesting to note that our ancestors inherited two types of pectoral crosses from the Byzantines. It was customary to wear one of them on the chest, under clothes. Such crosses were called vests.

Along with them, the so-called encolpions appeared - also crosses, but somewhat larger in size and worn over clothing. They originate from the tradition of carrying reliquaries with relics, which were decorated with the image of a cross. Over time, 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 time when the Dnieper banks were illuminated by the light of Christ's faith, the Orthodox tradition has undergone many changes. Only hers remained unshakable religious tenets and basic elements of symbolism, the main one of which is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Gold and silver, copper or made of any other material, it protects a believer, protecting him from the forces of evil - visible and invisible. As 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(praslav. *krьstъ< д.-в.-н. krist) - geometric figure, consisting of two or more intersecting lines or rectangles. The angle between them is most often 90°. In many beliefs it has a sacred meaning.

History of the cross

Cross in paganism

Symbol of the sun god Ashur in Assyria

Symbol of the sun god Ashur and the moon god Sin in Mesopotamia

The first civilized people to widely use crosses were the ancient Egyptians. In the Egyptian tradition there was a cross with a ring, an ankh, a symbol of life and 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 crescent 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, Northern and South America. For example, in ancient India, a cross was depicted above the head of a figure killing children and in the arms of the god Krishna, and in South America the Muiscas believed that the cross drives out evil spirits and placed babies under it. And the cross still serves as a religious symbol in countries that are not influenced by Christian churches. For example, among the Tengrians, already before new era Those who professed faith in the Heavenly God Tengri, there was a sign “aji” - a symbol of submission in the form of a cross painted on the forehead with paint or in the form of a tattoo.

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

During the destruction and cleansing of the Serapis Temple, so-called hieroglyphic writings were found in it carved on stones, between which there were signs in the shape of crosses. Having seen such signs, Christians and pagans adopted their own religion. Christians claimed that they belonged Christian faith, because the cross was considered 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 among Christians and a different meaning among pagans. While this dispute was taking place, some who had converted to Christianity from paganism and understood hieroglyphic writing interpreted those cross-shaped signs and declared that they denoted the future life. According to this explanation, Christians began to attribute them to their religion with even greater confidence and exalt themselves before the pagans. When it was revealed from other hieroglyphic writings that at the time the sign of the cross appeared, meaning new life, the temple of Serapis will come to an end, then many pagans turned to Christianity, confessed their sins and were baptized. This is what I heard about those cross-shaped designs. 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 time to time and from generation to generation and unknown the very chief of evil, the devil, then all the less could it have been known to his servants - the Egyptian priests. By the discovery and explanation of these writings, Providence did the same thing that it had previously revealed to the Apostle Paul, for this Apostle, wise by the Spirit of God, in the same way led many Athenians to faith 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 by the Egyptian priests exactly as it once was 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. 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. Nowadays it is often used as a symbol of neo-Nazi movements.
	Solar cross	Graphically represents a cross located inside a circle. It is found on objects from prehistoric Europe, especially during 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 a cross in which the transverse line is divided in half by a vertical line, and the transverse line is located above the middle of the vertical line. It is usually associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and thus with Christianity in general. Before Jesus, this symbol denoted, among other things, the staff of Apollo, the sun god, son of Zeus. Since the fourth century AD, the Latin cross has become what it is associated with now - 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 indicates the death and date of death. In Russia, among Orthodox Christians, the Latin cross was often considered imperfect and was contemptuously called “ kryzh"(from Polish. krzyz- cross, and associated with steal- trim, chop off).
	St. Peter's Cross / Inverted Cross	The Cross of the Apostle Peter is an inverted Latin cross. The Apostle Peter suffered martyrdom in the year 67 by crucifixion upside down.
	Cross of the Evangelists	Symbolic designation of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
	Archangel cross	Archangel's Cross (Cross of Golgotha, lat. Golgata cross) denoted a special cross.
‡	Double cross	Double six-pointed cross with equal crossbars.
	Cross of Lorraine	Cross of Lorraine (fr. Croix de Lorraine) - a cross with two crossbars. Sometimes called patriarchal cross or archiepiscopal cross. Refers to the rank of cardinal or archbishop in 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.
		An Orthodox Christian cross most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches; contains, in addition to the large horizontal crossbar, two more. The top symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ with the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INCI, or INRI in Latin). NIKA - Winner. The lower oblique crossbar is a support for the feet of Jesus Christ, symbolizing the “righteous standard” that weighs the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing that the repentant thief, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the thief crucified on the left side, with 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 (the head of Adam) is depicted below, symbolizing the fallen Adam (including his descendants), since, according to legend, the remains of Adam and Eve were buried under the site of the crucifixion - Golgotha. Thus, the blood of the crucified Christ symbolically washed the bones of Adam and washed away original sin from them and from all his descendants.
	Byzantine cross
	Lalibela Cross	The Lalibela Cross is a symbol of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian people and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
	Armenian cross	Armenian cross - a cross with decorative elements on the arms (sometimes of unequal length). Crosses of similar 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 the 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 Payns after the First Crusade. One of the first religious military orders to be founded, along with the Hospitallers.
	Novgorod cross	Similar to a 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) - a sign of the powerful knightly order of the Knights Hospitallers, founded in the 12th century in Palestine. Sometimes called the Cross of St. John or the Cross of St. George. The symbol of the Knights of Malta was a white eight-pointed cross, the eight ends of which denoted the eight beatitudes awaiting the righteous in the afterlife.
	Short claw cross	Straight equal-pointed cross, a variant of the so-called cross in lat. Cross pattee. The rays of this cross taper towards the center, but, unlike the Maltese cross, do not have cutouts at the ends. Used, in particular, in the depiction of the Order of St. George, the Victoria Cross.
	Bolnisi cross	The type of crosses most widely known and used in Georgia since the 5th century. It is used everywhere along with the cross of St. Nina.
	Teutonic cross	Cross Teutonic Order- a sign of the spiritual-knightly Teutonic Order, founded at the end of the 12th century. Centuries later, based on the cross of the Teutonic Order, were created various options the well-known military order of the Iron Cross. 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 Bundeswehr Army Cross.
	Balkan less often Balkenkreuz, etc. beam cross	The second name is due to the use of German military equipment as an identification mark from 1935 to 1945[ source not specified 1153 days]
	Swastika, gamma cross or catacomb	A cross with curved 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, clothing, banners and coats of arms, and was used in the design of temples and houses. The swastika as a symbol has many meanings, most peoples had positive meanings before it was compromised by the Nazis and removed from widespread use. Among ancient peoples, the swastika was a symbol of the movement of life, the Sun, light, and 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 World War II, due to the presence of a 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	Symbol of the spiritual knightly Order of Christ.
	Red Cross	Symbol of the Red Cross and Emergency Medical Services. The green cross is a symbol of pharmacies. Blue - veterinary service.
	Clubs	The symbol of the suit of clubs (another name is “crosses”) in a card deck. Named after the cross, depicted in the form of a trefoil. The word is borrowed from French, where trefle is clover, in turn from the Latin trifolium - the addition of tri “three” and folium “leaf”.
	Cross of St. Nina	A Christian relic, a cross woven from grapevines, which, according to legend, the Mother of God gave to Saint Nina before sending her to Georgia.
	Tau cross or St. Anthony's cross	T-cross. Anthony's cross - cross T-shape in honor of the founder of Christian monasticism, Anthony. According to some sources, he lived 105 years and spent the last 40 on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea. The cross of St. Anthony is also known as the 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 solstice sign. In the Basque Country, two versions of the cross are common, with the direction of rotation clockwise and counterclockwise.
	Cantabrian cross	It is a forked St. Andrew's cross with pommels at the ends of the crossbars.
	Serbian cross	It is a Greek (equilateral) cross, at the corners of which there are four stylized Ͻ And WITH-shaped flint. It is a symbol of Serbia, the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
	Macedonian cross, Velus cross
	Coptic cross	It consists of two crossed lines at right angles with multiplied ends. The three curved ends represent the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The cross is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt.
	Crossed arrows

Cultural influence

Russian expressions

To take under the cross is an old expression with a not entirely clear meaning (under the cross, a promise to pay, to return?) “To take under the cross” means to borrow, without money. Previously, the practice was to issue goods from a store on credit, and an entry was made in the debt book. The poorest part of the population was, as a rule, illiterate and they put a cross instead of a signature.
There is no cross on you - that is, (about someone) unscrupulous.
Carrying your cross means enduring difficulties.
To put up a cross (also: To give up) - (allegorically) to completely put an end to something; cross out with an oblique cross (in the shape of the letter of the Russian alphabet “Her”) - cross out from the list of cases.
Procession of the Cross - 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 oneself) (Also: “Axe!” (call) - “Cross oneself!”)
Baptism is a Sacrament in Christianity.
Godfather name is the name adopted at baptism.
Godfather and godmother are a spiritual parent in Christianity, who, during the sacrament of baptism, accepts responsibility before God for spiritual education and piety of the godson (goddaughter).
Tic-tac-toe is a game that in the old days was called “heriki” after the shape of the letter of the Russian alphabet “Her” in the form of an oblique cross.
To renounce - to refuse (originally: to protect oneself with a cross).
Crossing (in biology) is hybridization, one of the methods of selection of plants and animals.

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

According to legend, during the crucifixion of Christ, a tablet in three languages (Greek, Latin and Aramaic) with the inscription “Jesus of Nazra, King of the Jews” was nailed above the cross. 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 was falsely convicted, but we are the real criminals.”[k 1]. This (other) criminal was to the right of Christ, and therefore the left side of the crossbar is raised at the cross. He rose above the other criminal. And the right side of the crossbar is lowered down, since another criminal humiliated himself before the criminal who spoke justice.

A variant of the eight-pointed one is the seven-pointed one, in which the plate is attached not across the cross, but on top. In addition, the top crossbar may be absent altogether. The eight-pointed cross can be complemented by a crown of thorns in the middle.

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

Varieties

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

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 crossbones are depicted under the mountain, and a spear and a cane with a sponge are located to the right and left of the cross. It also displays the following inscriptions: above the middle crossbar ІС҃ ХС҃ - the name of Jesus Christ, below it the Greek NIKA - Winner; on the sign or near it there is the inscription: SН҃Ъ BZh҃ІІY - “Son of God” or the abbreviation ІНЦІ - “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; above the sign: TsR҃ь 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 Rus', a tradition arose to add the following designations near the image of Golgotha: M L R B - “the place of the forehead was crucified”, G G - “Mount Golgotha”, GA - “head of Adam”. Moreover, the bones of the hands lying in front of the skull are depicted right on 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. In some chronicle miniatures and icons, Russian soldiers carry red or green (possibly blue) banners with the image of the cross of Golgotha. The Calvary cross was also placed on the banners of 17th-century regiments.

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

Coat of arms of Russia from the seal of Fyodor 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 in the wrong direction.

Catholic cross. Types and symbolism

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

Cross of Catholics and Protestants

The image of the cross in Christianity is characterized by some variability, since it often changed its appearance over time. Known the following types Christian crosses: 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. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that Protestants consider the cross to be a symbol shameful execution which 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 crucifix with the 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 points, since it has a foot and a title. Another difference appears in the depiction of the crucifixion of Christ itself. In Orthodoxy, the Savior is usually depicted triumphant over death. With his arms spread 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 crucifix is a martyr's image of Christ. It serves as an eternal reminder to all believers of death and the torment that preceded it, which the Son of God endured.

St. Peter's Cross

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 iconography 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, chose to be crucified upside down on an inverted cross. Hence its name - Peter's cross. On various photographs This Catholic cross can often be seen with the Pope, which from time to time causes unflattering accusations of 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, the looped cross, the crux ansata, the "cross with a handle." Ankh is a symbol of immortality. Unites the cross (symbol of life) and the circle (symbol of eternity). Its form can be interpreted as the rising sun, as the unity of opposites, as the male and female principles.
The 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 life in another world. The key that opens the gate of death looks like an ankh. In addition, amulets with the image of an 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 canals.
Later, the ankh was used by sorceresses for sorcery, fortune-telling, and healing.
CELTIC CROSS
Celtic cross, sometimes called Jonah's cross or round cross. The circle symbolizes both the sun and eternity. This cross, which appeared in Ireland before the 8th century, may be derived from "Chi-Rho", a monogram of the first two letters of the name of Christ written in Greek. Often this cross is decorated with carved figures, 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 it was from this cross that Christ was taken down, hence its other name - the cross of the Crucifixion. The cross is usually untreated wood, but is sometimes overlaid with gold to symbolize 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 OF BOTTONNI
A cross with clover leaves, called the "bottonni 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 has been one of the symbols of St. Peter since the 4th century, who is believed to have been crucified head down in 65 AD. during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome.
Some Catholics use this cross as a symbol of submission, humility and unworthiness in comparison to Christ.
The inverted cross is sometimes associated with Satanists who use it.
RUSSIAN CROSS
Russian cross, also called "Eastern" or "Cross of St. Lazarus", a symbol of the Orthodox Church in the eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia. The upper of the three cross bars is called the "titulus", where the name was written, as in the "Patriarchal Cross". The bottom crossbar symbolizes the footrest.
CROSS OF PEACE
The Peace Cross is a symbol developed 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 of her symbols for "N" (nuclear) and "D" (disarmament), and placed them in a circle, symbolizing global agreement. The symbol came to public attention after the first protest march from London to the Berkshire Nuclear Research Center on April 4, 1958. This cross soon became one of the most common symbols of the 60s, symbolizing both peace and anarchy.
SWASTIKA
The swastika is one of the oldest and, since the twentieth century, the most controversial symbols.
The name comes from the Sanskrit words "su" ("good") and "asti" ("being"). The symbol is ubiquitous and is most often associated with the Sun. Swastika - 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 meaning of ten thousand (the number of infinity). Sometimes the swastika was called the “seal of the heart of Buddha.”
The swastika was believed to bring happiness, but only when its ends were 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 averting evil and misfortune.
In the twentieth century, the swastika acquired 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 swastikas were banned by the Allied occupation authorities.
CROSS OF CONSTANTINE
The Cross of Constantine is a monogram known as "Chi-Rho", shaped like an X (the Greek letter "chi") and P ("rho"), the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek.
Legend has it that it was this cross that Emperor Constantine saw in the sky on his way to Rome to see his co-ruler and at the same time enemy Maxentius. Along with the cross, he saw the inscription In hoc vinces - “with this you will win.” According to another legend, he saw a cross in a dream the night before the battle, and 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, instead of the eagle. The subsequent victory at the Milvian Bridge near Rome on October 27, 312 made him sole emperor. Afterwards an edict was issued allowing confession Christian religion in the empire, believers were no longer persecuted, and this monogram, which Christians had previously used secretly, became the first generally accepted symbol of Christianity, and also became widely known as a sign of victory and salvation.

The difference between an Orthodox cross and a Catholic cross. Crucifixion. The meaning 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, and wear them around their necks with crosses.

The reason why a person wears pectoral cross, everyone has their own. Some pay tribute to fashion in this way, for some 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.

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.

It most closely 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 the Nazarene, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower oblique crossbar - a support for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous standard" weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing 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, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or foot on it. There was no foot, because Christ had not yet been raised on the cross and the soldiers did not know where their feet would reach Christ's, did not attach the footstools, having finished it already on Golgotha". Also, there was no title on the cross before the crucifixion of Christ, because, as the Gospel reports, first “they crucified Him” (John 19:18), and then only “Pilate wrote the inscription and put it on the cross” (John 19:19 ). It was first that the soldiers who “crucified Him” divided “His clothes” by lot (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 the Studite - “The cross of every form is the 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 shape.”, says Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

Crucifixion

In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special importance 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 arms, Jesus’ palms 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 appeared on the tablet "Jesus the Nazarene 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" "HS"- 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 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 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 it is an image of a dead man, 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

The emergence of the Christian cross is 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.

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?

The Christian teaching about the death of the God-man on the cross is often a “stumbling block” for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both to many Jews and people of 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, that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to humanity. "This is impossible!"- some objected; "It is not necessary!"- others argued.

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 of 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 the understanding of the understanding I will reject. Where is the wise man? where is the scribe? where is the questioner of this age? 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 even the Jews demand miracles, and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks, but to those who are called, both 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 were 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, 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 the “cross.” Everyone carries their own cross in life. About the need personal feat The Lord said this: “Whoever does not take up his cross (deviates from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), is unworthy of Me.”(Matt. 10:38).

“The cross is the guardian of the entire universe. The Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross of kings is the power, the Cross is the affirmation of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of an angel, the Cross is a plague of demons,”- 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 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:

most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. - four-pointed.
Words on a sign on the crosses are the same, only written on different languages: Latin INRI(in the case of the Catholic cross) and Slavic-Russian IHCI(on the Orthodox cross).
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.
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

During Baptism, each person wears a pectoral cross. It must be worn on your chest for the rest of your life. Believers note that the cross is not a talisman or dyeing. This 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. By putting it on, a person promises to persevere through all trials and live according to God’s commandments.

It is worth noting that a cross on the body is considered a sign that a person is a believer. Those who have not joined the church, that is, have not been baptized, should not wear it. Also, according to church tradition, only priests can wear it over their clothes (they wear it over their cassock). All other believers are not allowed to do this and it is believed that those who wear it over their clothes are bragging about their faith and putting it on display. But such a manifestation of pride is not appropriate for a Christian. Also, believers are not allowed to wear a cross in their ear, on a bracelet, in their pocket or on their bag. Some people argue that only Catholics can wear four-pointed crosses; supposedly Orthodox Christians are prohibited from wearing them. In fact, this statement is false. The Orthodox Church recognizes today different types crosses (photo 1).

This means that Orthodox Christians can wear a four-pointed or eight-pointed cross. It may or may not depict the crucifixion of the Savior. But what to avoid Orthodox Christian, so this is a depiction of the crucifixion with very extreme realism. That is, the details of the sufferings on the cross, the sagging body of Christ. This image is typical of Catholicism (photo 2).

It is also worth noting that the material from which the cross is made can be absolutely anything. It all depends on the wishes of the person. For example, silver is not suitable for some people because it does not immediately turn black. Then it is better for them to refuse such material and opt for, for example, gold. In addition, the church does not prohibit wearing crosses large sizes, inlaid with expensive stones. But, on the contrary, 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 purchased at a jewelry store. Usually the consecration takes a couple of minutes. If you buy it in a shop that operates at a church, then you don’t need to worry about it, it 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 concept of inevitable fate (photo 4).

So, as already said, the Catholic Church recognizes only the four-pointed shape of the cross. The Orthodox, in turn, is more lenient and recognizes six-pointed, four-pointed and eight-pointed forms. It is believed that the more regular shape is still eight-pointed, with two additional partitions. One should be at the head, and the second for the legs (photo 5).

It is better not to buy crosses with stones for small children. At this age, they try everything, they can bite off a pebble and swallow it. We have already noted that the Savior does not necessarily 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 of them, and in the Orthodox Creed there are four (photo 6).

Let us note that on the cross, in addition to the crucified Savior, the face of the Mother of God, the image of Christ Pantocrator, can be depicted. Various ornaments can also be depicted. All this does not contradict faith (photo 7).

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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 has a certain meaning in Orthodoxy. It is this that signifies the martyrdom of 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.

The most common cross in Orthodoxy is the 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:

IC - on the cross of the triumphal gates,
HS - written on a Roman column,
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!

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 a cross is different for everyone. Some pay tribute to fashion in this way, for some 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 of 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

For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross is not particularly important; much more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, however, eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses have gained the most popularity.

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 the Nazarene, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower oblique crossbar - a support for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous standard" weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing 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.

Since ancient times, the eight-pointed cross has 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 during the times of Ancient Rus', was also 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.

Crucifixion

In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special importance 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.

The following inscriptions are placed above the middle crossbar: "IC" "HS"- the name of Jesus Christ; and below it: "NIKA" — Winner.

The meaning 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 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 crucifixion 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.

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 God’s endless love, and an object 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.

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 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;

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;

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 the “cross.” Everyone carries their own cross in life. The Lord said this about the need for personal achievement: “Whoever does not take up his cross (deviates from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), is unworthy of Me.”(Matt. 10:38).

“The cross is the guardian of the entire universe. The Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross of kings is the power, the Cross is the affirmation of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of an angel, the Cross is a plague of demons,”— 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 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 - in 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:

most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. - four-pointed.

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).

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.

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

Traditionally, most monuments are decorated with a portrait, text, words of memory and a cross. When choosing a cross for a monument, customers often have difficulties: which cross to choose? Crosses can be four-pointed, six-pointed, eight-pointed. Which one is Orthodox, which one is Catholic, what is the difference between the crosses? Let's try to find out.

How to choose a cross for a monument

There existed and exists in the world great amount crosses: the ancient Egyptian Ankh, Celtic cross, solar, Latin, Orthodox, Byzantine, Armenian (“blooming”), St. Andrew’s and other crosses - these are all geometric symbols used in different eras and in modern times to express different meanings. Most crosses are somehow connected with Christianity.

In the Christian tradition, the veneration of the cross originates from the legend of martyrdom Jesus Christ. Execution by crucifixion existed before Christ - this is how robbers were usually crucified - however, in Christianity, the cross takes on the meaning not only of an instrument of execution, but of the salvation of Christians through the death of Jesus.

To decide on the choice of a monument in the form of a cross, you need to understand the difference between their different types. Considering that the majority of Belarusians identify themselves with Christianity, we will dwell in more detail on the types of Christian crosses used on the territory of Belarus.

In the early Christian Eastern Church, about 16 types of crosses were common. Each of the crosses is revered by the church, and, as the priests say, a cross of any shape is as holy as the tree on which the Savior was crucified.

The most common types of crosses in Belarus:

Six-pointed Russian Orthodox cross
Eight-pointed Orthodox (cross of St. Lazarus)
Eight-pointed cross - Golgotha
Four-pointed Latin (or Catholic). Alternatively, this is also an Orthodox cross.

What is the difference between these crosses?

The six-pointed Russian cross is a cross with one horizontal crossbar and a lower inclined one.

This form of the cross exists in Orthodoxy along with the eight-pointed one, being, in fact, its simplified form. However, it should be noted that the spread of this type of cross is more typical for Belarus. In Russia, you can find an eight-pointed Orthodox cross much more often.

The lower crossbar of the six-pointed Russian cross symbolizes the footrest, a detail that took place in reality.

The cross on which Christ was crucified was four-pointed. Another crossbar at the feet was attached to the cross before placing the cross in a vertical position, after the crucifixion, when the place on the cross where the feet of the crucified person were located became obvious.

The inclination of the lower crossbar has the symbolic meaning of “the measure of righteousness.” The higher part of the crossbar is located with right side. At the right hand of Christ, according to legend, a repentant and therefore justified thief was crucified. On the left side, where the crossbar faces down, a robber was crucified, who by blaspheming the Savior further aggravated his situation. In a broad sense, this crossbar is interpreted as a symbol of a person’s state of mind.

Eight-pointed cross

The eight-pointed cross is more full form Orthodox cross.

The upper crossbar, which distinguishes the cross from the six-pointed one, symbolizes the tablet with the inscription (title), which was nailed to the cross also after the crucifixion, by order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea. Partly in mockery, partly to indicate the “guilt” of the crucified man, the tablet read in three languages: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (I.N.C.I.).

Thus, the meaning of the six-pointed and eight-pointed crosses is the same, but the eight-pointed cross is more rich in symbolic content.

Eight-pointed cross-Golgotha

The most complete type of Orthodox cross is the Golgotha cross. This symbol contains many details that reflect the meaning of Orthodox doctrine.

The eight-pointed cross stands on a symbolic image of Mount Golgotha, on which, as it is written in the Gospel, the crucifixion of Christ took place. To the left and right of the mountain are the letter signatures of G.G. (Mount Golgotha) and M.L. R.B. (Place of Execution Crucified Byst or, according to another version, Place of Execution Paradise Byst - according to legend, at the site of the execution of Christ there was once Paradise and the forefather of humanity, Adam, was buried here).

Under the mountain there is a skull and bones - this is a symbolic image of the remains of Adam. Christ “washed” his bones with his blood, saving humanity from original sin. The bones are arranged in the order in which the hands are folded during communion or burial, and the letters G.A. located near the skull indicate the words Head of Adam.

To the left and right of the cross are depicted the instruments of Christ’s execution: on the left is a spear, on the right is a sponge with the corresponding letter signatures (K. and G.). According to the Gospel, a warrior brought a sponge on a cane, soaked in vinegar, to Christ’s lips, and another warrior pierced his ribs with a spear.

Behind the cross there is usually a circle - this is the crown of thorns of Christ.

On the sides of the cross of Golgotha there are inscriptions: Isa. Xs. (short form of Jesus Christ), King of Glory, and Ni Ka (meaning Conqueror).

As you can see, the Golgotha cross is the most complete form of the Orthodox Christian cross in terms of symbolic content.

Four-pointed cross

The four-pointed cross is one of the most ancient variants of Christian symbolism. Cross Armenian Church, in which Christianity was recognized for the first time in the world state religion back at the beginning of the 4th century AD, it was and remains four-pointed.

In addition, crosses not only on ancient, but also on the most famous Orthodox cathedrals have a four-pointed shape. For example, at the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, the Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereslavl, and the Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg. If we talk about Belarus, then a four-pointed cross with a crescent can be seen on the dome of the Church of St. Elisabeth Monastery in Novinki. Crescent on the cross different versions, symbolizes the anchor (the Church as a place of salvation), the Eucharistic Chalice, the cradle of Christ or the baptismal font.

However, if in Orthodox churches the four-pointed form of the cross is not often found, then in the Catholic Church only one version of the cross is used - the four-pointed one, otherwise called the Latin cross.

When choosing a cross for a monument to a deceased person who professed the Catholic faith, it is best to choose a four-pointed Latin cross.

Difference between Orthodox and Catholic crucifixes

In addition to the difference in the shape of the cross between Eastern and Western Christians, there are also differences in the crucifix itself. Knowing the important distinctive features Orthodox and Catholic crucifixes, you can easily determine which direction of Christianity this symbol belongs to.

Differences between Orthodox and Catholic crucifixes:

Number of nails visible in a crucifix
Position of Christ's body

If in the Orthodox tradition four nails are depicted on the crucifix - for each hand and leg separately, then in the Catholic tradition the legs of Christ are crossed and nailed with one nail, respectively, there are three nails on the crucifix.

Orthodoxy explains the presence of four nails by the fact that the cross on which Christ was crucified, brought by Queen Helena from Jerusalem to Constantinople, had traces of four nails.

Catholics justify their version of the three nails by the fact that all the nails of the cross on which Christ was crucified are kept in the Vatican, and there are only three of them. In addition, the image on the Shroud of Turin is printed in such a way that the legs of the crucified man are crossed, therefore it can be assumed that Christ’s legs were nailed with one nail.

The position of the body of Christ on the Orthodox crucifix is a little unnatural; the body of Jesus does not hang on his hands, as it should have happened according to physical laws. On the Orthodox crucifix, Christ’s hands extend along the cross to the sides, as if calling “all the ends of the earth” (Is. 45:22). The crucifix does not attempt to reflect pain, it is more symbolic. Orthodoxy explains such features of the crucifixion by the fact that the cross is, first of all, a weapon of victory over death. The crucifix in Orthodoxy is a symbol of the victory of life over death, and, paradoxically, almost an object of joy, because it contains the idea of the Resurrection.

On a Catholic crucifix, the position of the body is as close as possible to physiological: the body sags in the arms by its own weight. Catholic crucifix more realistic: bleeding, stigmata from nails, spears are often depicted.

Correct placement of the cross on the monument

In fact, there is no “correct” position on the cross as such. The most great importance has the very presence of a cross if the deceased was a Christian.

Of course, the entire monument could be made in the shape of a cross, and this option would probably be a better tombstone for a Christian. However, in modern monuments the cross is more often used in the form of engraving on steles of various geometric shapes. The cross can be granite, like component monument, can be applied metal or engraved.

Usually the cross is located just above the portrait or medallion, if any, in the higher part of the monument. If there is no image, then the cross is located above the text (above the full name of the deceased).

On a symmetrical stele, it is better to place the cross on the right, because the icons of the Savior on iconostases Orthodox churches are located on the right side. Traditionally, the right side of the interior space of the church is considered “male”; women in the temple are assigned left side, although this rule is more strictly observed in churches at monasteries.

Form cross bars can be selected taking into account the text font. If the text is printed, the shape of the crossbars can also be straight, without decorative elements. For text in italics, you can choose a cross with curly bars.

What should you do if the small size of the granite cross does not allow you to make it six- or eight-pointed?

In this case, the four-pointed shape is engraved with a six-pointed or eight-pointed Orthodox cross. Very often wearable Orthodox crosses made exactly according to this principle.

We hope our article will help you make the right choice of the shape of the cross for your monument. If you have any difficulties, please consult with our order takers. If possible, we will help you decide on the choice of cross for the monument.