Russian Orthodox cross. Which pectoral cross is correct? Versions based on biblical legends

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 were and are a huge number of crosses in the world: the ancient Egyptian Ankh, the Celtic cross, the 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 the martyrdom of 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 on the right side. By right hand According to legend, a repentant and therefore justified thief was crucified from Christ. 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 a more complete form of the 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

Most full view The Orthodox cross is the cross of Golgotha. 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. The cross of the Armenian Church, in which Christianity was recognized as the state religion for the first time in the world at the beginning of the 4th century AD, 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. The crescent on the cross, according to 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 of 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. The Catholic crucifixion is more realistic: often depicted bleeding blood, stigmata from nails, spears.

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, as an integral part of the monument, or it 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 church are assigned the 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, pectoral Orthodox crosses are made precisely according to this principle.

We hope our article will help you do right choice shape of a cross on a 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.

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

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

The Cross itself, as a terrible instrument of shameful execution, chosen by Satan as the banner of lethality, evoked insurmountable fear and horror, but, thanks to Christ the Victor, it became a desired trophy, evoking joyful feelings. Therefore, Saint Hippolytus of Rome, the Apostolic Man, exclaimed: “and the Church has its own trophy over death - this is the Cross of Christ, which it bears on itself,” and Saint Paul, the Apostle of the tongues, wrote in his Epistle: “I wish to boast (.. .) only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"

The cross accompanies an Orthodox person throughout his life. “Telnik”, as the pectoral cross was called in Rus', is placed on the baby in the Sacrament of Baptism in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34 ).

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

Today there are many different misunderstandings and even superstitions and myths associated with the pectoral cross. Let's try to figure out this difficult issue together.

This is why the pectoral cross is called that because it is worn under clothing, never on display (only priests wear the cross outside). This does not mean that the pectoral cross must be hidden and hidden under any circumstances, but still it is not customary to deliberately display it for public viewing. The church charter establishes that one should kiss one’s pectoral cross at the end of evening prayers. In a moment of danger or when your soul is anxious, it would also not be amiss to kiss your cross and read the words “Save and preserve” on its back.

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

There is no canonical form of the pectoral cross approved by the councils. According to the expression of Rev. Theodore the Studite - “the cross of any form is the true cross.” Saint Demetrius of Rostov wrote back in the 18th century: “We venerate the Cross of Christ not by the number of trees, not by the number of ends, but by Christ himself, with the Most Holy Blood, Whom he was stained with. Displaying miraculous power, any Cross does not act by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and by invoking His Most Holy Name.” The Orthodox tradition knows an endless variety of types of crosses: four-, six-, eight-pointed; with a semicircle at the bottom, petal-shaped, teardrop-shaped, crescent-shaped and others.

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

Eight-pointed shape of the Orthodox cross

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

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

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

The oblique crossbar to which the Savior’s feet were nailed thus means that in the earthly life of people with the coming of Christ, who walked the earth preaching, the balance of all people without exception being under the power of sin was disrupted. When the eight-pointed Cross depicts the crucified Lord Jesus Christ, the Cross as a whole becomes a complete image of the Savior’s Crucifixion and therefore contains all the fullness of the power contained in the Lord’s suffering on the cross, the mysterious presence of Christ crucified.

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

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

Four-pointed cross shape

The debate about the “correct” cross did not arise today. The debate about which cross was correct, eight-pointed or four-pointed, was waged by Orthodox and Old Believers, with the latter calling a simple four-pointed cross “the seal of the Antichrist.” Saint John of Kronstadt spoke out in defense of the four-pointed cross, devoting his candidate’s dissertation “On the Cross of Christ, in denunciation of imaginary Old Believers” to this topic.

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

Encolpion - reliquary cross

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

The reliquary cross consists of two halves with indentations on the inside, which form a cavity where the shrines are placed. As a rule, such crosses contain a piece of fabric, wax, incense, or just a tuft of hair. When filled, such crosses acquire great protective and healing power.

Schema cross, or “Golgotha”

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

• "M.L.R.B." - the place of execution was quickly crucified
• "G.G." - Mount Golgotha
• "G.A." - head of Adamov
• The letters "K" and "T" stand for the warrior's copy and the cane with a sponge, depicted along the cross.

The following inscriptions are placed above the middle crossbar:

• “IC” “XC” is the name of Jesus Christ;
• and under it: “NIKA” - Winner;
• on the title or near it there is an inscription: “SN” “BZHIY” - Son of God,
• but more often “I.N.C.I” - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews;
• the inscription above the title: “TSR” “SLVI” means King of Glory.

Such crosses are supposed to be embroidered on the vestments of monks who have accepted the schema - a vow to observe particularly strict ascetic rules of behavior. The Calvary cross is also depicted on the funeral shroud, which marks the preservation of the vows given at Baptism, like the white shroud of the newly baptized, signifying cleansing from sin. When consecrating churches and houses, the image of the Cross “Golgotha” is also used on the walls of the building in the four cardinal directions.

How to distinguish an Orthodox cross from a Catholic one?

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

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

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

Consecration of the pectoral cross

Another very important question- this is the consecration of a pectoral cross. If a cross is purchased at a temple shop, then it is usually consecrated. If the cross was purchased elsewhere or has an unknown origin, then it must be taken to the church, ask one of the temple servants or the worker behind the candle box to transfer the cross to the altar. After examining the cross and if it complies with Orthodox canons, the priest will serve the rite prescribed in this case. Usually the priest blesses the crosses during the morning prayer service. If we are talking about a baptismal cross for a baby, then consecration is possible during the Sacrament of Baptism itself.

When consecrating the cross, the priest reads two special prayers in which he asks the Lord God to pour heavenly power into the cross and that this cross will protect not only the soul, but also the body from all enemies, sorcerers and all evil forces. That is why many pectoral crosses have the inscription “Save and Preserve!”

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

Material prepared by Ignatova Natalya

The history of the Orthodox cross goes back many centuries. The types of Orthodox crosses are varied, each of them has its own symbolism. Crosses were intended not only to be worn on the body, but they are also used to crown the domes of churches, and crosses stand along the roads. Objects of art are painted with crosses, icon crosses are placed near icons at home, and special crosses are worn by clergy.

Crosses in Orthodoxy

But crosses in Orthodoxy had not only a traditional shape. Many different symbols and forms made up such an object of worship.

Orthodox cross shapes

The cross worn by believers is called a body cross. Priests wear a pectoral cross. They differ not only in size, there are many of their forms, each of which has its own specific meaning.

1) T-shaped cross. As you know, execution by crucifixion was invented by the Romans. However, in the southern and eastern parts of the Roman Empire, a slightly different cross was used for this purpose, namely the “Egyptian” cross, shaped like the letter “T”. This "T" is also found on 3rd-century tombs in the Callis catacombs and on one 2nd-century carnelian. If this letter was found in monograms, it was written in such a way as to protrude above all others, since it was considered not only a symbol, but also a clear image of the cross.

2) Egyptian cross "ankh". This cross was perceived as a key with the help of which the gates to Divine knowledge were opened. The symbol was associated with wisdom, and the circle with which this cross was crowned was associated with the eternal beginning. Thus, the cross combines two symbols - the symbol of life and eternity.

3) Letter cross. The first Christians used letter crosses so that their image would not scare off the pagans who were familiar with them. In addition, at that time, what was important was not so much the artistic side of the depiction of Christian symbols, but rather the convenience of their use.

4) Anchor-shaped cross. Initially, such an image of the cross was discovered by archaeologists in the Solunsk inscription of the 3rd century. The “Christian Symbolism” says that on the slabs in the caves of Pretextatus there were only images of an anchor. The image of an anchor referred to a certain church ship that sent everyone to the “quiet haven of eternal life.” Therefore, the cross-shaped anchor was considered by Christians to be a symbol of eternal existence - the Kingdom of Heaven. Although for Catholics this symbol rather means the strength of earthly affairs.

5) Monogram cross. It represents a monogram of the first letters of Jesus Christ in Greek. Archimandrite Gabriel wrote that the shape of a monogram cross crossed by a vertical line is the cover image of the cross.

6) Cross “shepherd’s staff”. This cross is a so-called Egyptian staff, which crosses the first letter of the name of Christ, which together is the monogram of the savior. At that time, the shape of the Egyptian staff resembled a shepherd's staff, its upper part was bent down.

7) Burgundy cross. This cross also represents the shape of the letter "X" of the Greek alphabet. It also has another name - Andreevsky. The letter "X" from the second century primarily served as the basis for monogamous symbols, because the name of Christ began with it. In addition, there is a legend that the Apostle Andrew was crucified on such a cross. At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter the Great, wishing to express the religious difference between Russia and the West, placed an image of this cross on the state emblem, as well as on the naval flag and his seal.

8) Cross - monogram of Constantine. Constantine's monogram was a combination of the letters "P" and "X". It is believed that it is associated with the word Christ. This cross has such a name, since a similar monogram was often found on the coins of Emperor Constantine.

9) Post-Constantine cross. Monogram of the letters "P" and "T". The Greek letter "P" or "rho" means the first letter in the word "raz" or "king" - symbolizing King Jesus. The letter "T" stands for "His cross." Thus, this monogram serves as a sign of the Cross of Christ.

10) Trident cross. Also a monogram cross. The trident has long symbolized the Kingdom of Heaven. Since the trident was previously used in fishing, the trident monogram of Christ itself meant participation in the Sacrament of Baptism as a catch in the net of the Kingdom of God.

11) Round cross. According to the testimony of Gortius and Martial, Christians cut freshly baked bread in a cross shape. This was done to make it easier to break later. But the symbolic transformation of such a cross came from the east long before Jesus Christ.

Such a cross divided the whole into parts, uniting those who used it. There was such a cross, divided into four parts or six. The circle itself was displayed even before the Nativity of Christ as a symbol of immortality and eternity.

12) Catacomb cross. The name of the cross comes from the fact that it was often found in the catacombs. It was a quadrangular cross with equal parts. This form of the cross and some of its forms are most often used in ancient ornaments that were used to decorate the guises of priests or temples.

11) Patriarchal cross. In the West, the name Lorensky is more common. Already from the middle of the last millennium, such a cross began to be used. It was this form of the cross that was depicted on the seal of the governor of the Byzantine emperor in the city of Korsun. In the museum ancient Russian art Named after Andrei Rublev, exactly such a copper cross is kept, which belonged to Abraham Rostvom in the 18th century and was cast according to samples of the 11th century.

12) Papal Cross. Most often, this form of cross is used in the bishop's services of the Roman Church of the 14th-15th centuries, and it is because of this that such a cross bears this name.

Types of crosses on church domes

The crosses that are placed on the domes of the church are called overhead crosses. Sometimes you can notice that straight or wavy lines emanate from the center of the upper cross. Symbolically, the lines convey the radiance of the sun. The sun is very important in human life, it is the main source of light and heat, life on our planet is impossible without it. The Savior is sometimes even called the Sun of Truth.

A famous expression says, “The light of Christ enlightens all.” The image of light is very important for Orthodox Christians, which is why Russian blacksmiths came up with such a symbol in the form of lines emanating from the center.

Small stars can often be seen along these lines. They are symbols of the queen of stars - the Star of Bethlehem. The same one who led the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In addition, the star is a symbol of spiritual wisdom and purity. Stars were depicted on the Cross of the Lord so that it would “shine like a star in heaven.”

There is also a trefoil shape of the cross, as well as trefoil endings of its ends. But the branches of the cross were decorated not only with this image of leaves. A huge variety of flowers and heart-shaped leaves could be found. The trefoil can have either a round or pointed shape, or a triangle shape. The triangle and trefoil in Orthodoxy symbolize the Holy Trinity and are often found in temple inscriptions and inscriptions on tombstones.

Trefoil cross

The vine entwining the cross is a prototype of the Living Cross, and it is also a symbol of the Sacrament of Communion. Often depicted with a crescent at the bottom, which symbolizes the cup. Combined together, they remind believers that during Communion the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is depicted in the form of a dove on the cross. The dove is mentioned in Old Testament, he returned to Noah's ark with an olive branch to proclaim peace to the people. Ancient Christians depicted the human soul in the form of a dove, resting in peace. The dove, meaning the holy spirit, flew to Russian lands and landed on the golden domes of churches.

If you take a closer look at the openwork crosses on the domes of churches, you can see doves on many of them. For example, in Novgorod there is a church called the Myrrh-Bearing Women, on its dome you can see a beautiful dove woven “literally from thin air.” But most often the cast figurine of a dove is at the top of the cross. Even in ancient times, crosses with doves were a fairly common occurrence; in Rus' there were even three-dimensional cast figurines of doves with outstretched wings.

Thriving crosses are those that have shoots growing from their base. They symbolize the rebirth of life - the resurrection of the cross from the dead. The Cross of the Lord in the Orthodox canon is sometimes called the “Life-Giving Garden.” You can also hear how the holy fathers call him “life-giving.” Some crosses are generously dotted with shoots that really resemble flowers in a spring garden. The interweaving of thin stems - an art made by masters - looks alive, and tasteful plant elements complete the incomparable picture.

The cross is also a symbol of the tree of eternal life. The cross is decorated with flowers, shoots from the core or from the lower crossbar, commemorating the leaves that are about to bloom. Very often such a cross crowns a dome.

In Russia it is almost impossible to find crosses with a crown of thorns. And in general, the image of Christ the martyr did not take root here, unlike in the West. Catholics often depict Christ hanging on the cross, with traces of blood and sores. It is customary for us to glorify his inner feat.

Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox tradition, crosses are often crowned with flower crowns. The crown of thorns was placed on the head of the Savior and was considered a healing for the soldiers who wove it. Thus, the crown of thorns becomes the crown of righteousness or the crown of glory.

At the top of the cross, although not often, there is a crown. Many believe that crowns were attached to temples related to holy persons, but this is not so. In fact, the crown was placed on the top of the cross of churches built by royal decree or with money from the royal treasury. Additionally, the Scriptures say that Jesus is the king of kings or lord of lords. Royal power, accordingly, is also from God, which is why the crosses contain a crown on their top. The cross topped with a crown is also sometimes called the Royal Cross or the Cross of the King of Heaven.

Sometimes the cross was depicted as a divine weapon. For example, its ends could have the shape of a spear tip. Also on the cross there could be a blade or its handle as a symbol of a sword. Such details symbolize the monk as a warrior of Christ. However, it can only act as an instrument of peace or salvation.

The most common types of crosses

1) Eight-pointed cross. This cross is the most consistent with historical truth. The cross acquired this shape after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on it. Before the crucifixion, when the Savior carried the cross to Calvary on his shoulders, it had a four-pointed shape. The upper short crossbar, as well as the lower oblique, were made immediately after the crucifixion.

Eight-pointed cross

The lower oblique crossbar is called the footboard, or footstool. It was attached to the cross when it became clear to the soldiers where His feet would reach. The top crossbar was a tablet with an inscription, which was made by order of Pilate. To this day, this form is the most common in Orthodoxy; eight-pointed crosses are found on body crosses, they crown the domes of the church, and they are installed on tombstones.

Eight-pointed crosses were often used as the basis for other crosses, such as awards. Into the Age Russian Empire During the reign of Paul I and before him, under Peter I and Elizabeth Petrovna, there was a practice of rewarding the clergy. Pectoral crosses were used as a reward, which was even formalized by law.

Paul used the Paul Cross for this purpose. It looked like this: on the front side there was an applied image of the Crucifixion. The cross itself was eight-pointed and had a chain, all made of gilded silver. The cross was issued for a long time - from its approval by Paul in 1797 until the revolution of 1917.

2) The practice of using crosses when awarding awards was used not only to present awards to clergy, but also to soldiers and officers. For example, the very well-known St. George Cross, approved by Catherine, was subsequently used for this purpose. The quadrangular cross is also reliable from a historical point of view.

In the Gospel it is called “His cross.” Such a cross, as has already been said, was carried by the Lord to Golgotha. In Rus' it was called Latin or Roman. The name comes from the historical fact that it was the Romans who introduced execution by crucifixion. In the West, such a cross is considered the most faithful and is more common than the eight-pointed one.

3) The “grapevine” cross has been known since ancient times; it was used to decorate the tombstones of Christians, utensils and liturgical books. Nowadays such a cross can often be purchased in a church. It is an eight-pointed cross with a crucifix, surrounded by a branchy vine that sprouts from below and is decorated with full-bodied tassels and leaves with a variety of patterns.

Cross "grapevine"

4) The petal-shaped cross is a subtype of the quadrangular cross. Its ends are made in the form of flower petals. This form is most often used in painting church buildings, decorating liturgical utensils, and in sacramental vestments. Petal crosses are found in the oldest Christian church in Rus' - in the Church of Hagia Sophia, the construction of which dates back to the 9th century. Pectoral crosses in the form of a petal cross are also common.

5) The trefoil cross is most often four-pointed or six-pointed. Its ends have a corresponding trefoil shape. Such a cross could often be found in the coats of arms of many cities of the Russian Empire.

6) Seven-pointed cross. This form of cross is found very often on icons of northern writing. Such messages mainly date back to the 15th century. It can also be found on the domes of Russian churches. Such a cross is a long vertical rod with one upper crossbar and an oblique pedestal.

On a golden pedestal, the clergy before the appearance of Jesus Christ made an atonement sacrifice - this is what it says in the Old Testament. The foot of such a cross is an important and integral element of the Old Testament altar, which symbolizes the redemption of God's anointed one. The foot of the seven-pointed cross contains one of its most sacred qualities. In the sayings of the messenger Isaiah the words of the Almighty are found: “Give praise to the footstool of My feet.”

7) Cross “crown of thorns”. Various peoples who converted to Christianity depicted a cross with a crown of thorns on many objects. On the pages of an ancient Armenian handwritten book, as well as on the 12th century “Glorification of the Cross” icon, which is located in the Tretyakov Gallery, such a cross can now be found on many other elements of art. Teren symbolizes thorny suffering and the thorny path that Jesus, the son of God, had to go through. A crown of thorns is often used to cover the head of Jesus when depicting him in paintings or icons.

Cross "crown of thorns"

8) Gallows-shaped cross. This form of the cross finds wide application when painting and decorating temples, priestly vestments and liturgical objects. On images, the ecumenical holy teacher John Chrysostom was often decorated with such a cross.

9) Korsun cross. Such a cross was called Greek, or Old Russian. According to church tradition, the cross was installed by Prince Vladimir after returning from Byzantium to the banks of the Dnieper. A similar cross is still kept in Kyiv in the St. Sophia Cathedral, and it is also carved on the tombstone of Prince Yaroslav, which is a marble plaque.

10) Maltese cross. This type of cross is also called the St. George cross. It is a cross of equal shape with widening sides towards the edge. This form of the cross was officially adopted by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which was formed on the island of Malta and openly fought against Freemasonry.

This order organized the murder of Pavel Petrovich, the Russian Emperor, ruler of the Maltese, and therefore has the appropriate name. Some provinces and cities had such a cross on their coats of arms. The same cross was a form of award for military courage, called the St. George cross and had 4 degrees.

11) Prosphora cross. It is somewhat similar to St. George's, but includes words written in Greek “IC. XP. NIKA" which means "Jesus Christ the Conqueror". They were written in gold on three large crosses in Constantinople. According to ancient tradition, these words, together with a cross, are printed on prosphoras and mean the ransom of sinners from sinful captivity, and also symbolize the price of our redemption.

12) Wicker cross. Such a cross can have either equal sides or a longer lower side. Weaving came to the Slavs from Byzantium and was widely used in Rus' in ancient times. Most often, images of such crosses are found in Russian and Bulgarian ancient books.

13) Wedge-shaped cress. A widening cross with three field lilies at the end. Such field lilies are called “selnye krins” in Slavic. A cross with field lines from the 11th century Serenstvo can be seen in the book “Russian Copper Casting”. Such crosses were widespread both in Byzantium and later in the 14th-15th centuries in Rus'. They meant the following - “the heavenly Bridegroom, when he descends into the valley, becomes a lily.”

14) Drop-shaped four-pointed cross. The four-pointed cross has small drop-shaped circles at the ends. They symbolize the drops of Jesus' blood that sprinkled the tree of the cross during the crucifixion. The drop-shaped cross was depicted on the first page of the 2nd century Greek Gospel, which is in the State Public Library.

Often found among copper pectoral crosses, which were cast in the first centuries of the second millennium. They symbolize Christ's struggle to the point of blood. And they tell the martyrs that they must fight the enemy to the last.

15) Cross "Golgotha". Since the 11th century, under the lower oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross, an image of Adam buried on Golgotha ​​appears. The inscriptions on the Calvary cross mean the following:

• "M. L.R.B. " - "the place of execution was quickly crucified", "G. G." - Mount Golgotha, "G. A." - head of Adamov.
• The letters "K" and "T" stand for a warrior's spear and a cane with a sponge, which is depicted along the cross. Above the middle crossbar: “IC”, “XC” - Jesus Christ. The inscriptions under this crossbar: “NIKA” - Winner; on the title or near it there is an inscription: “SN BZHIY” - Son of God. Sometimes "I. N. Ts. I" - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews; inscription above the title: “TSR” “SLVY” - King of Glory.

Such a cross is depicted on a funeral shroud, signifying the preservation of the vows given at baptism. The sign of the cross, unlike the image, conveys its spiritual meaning and reflects the real meaning, but is not the cross itself.

16) Gammatic cross. The name of the cross comes from its similarity to the Greek letter “gamma”. This form of cross was often used in Byzantium to decorate Gospels and churches. The cross was embroidered on the vestments of church ministers and depicted on church utensils. The gammamatic cross has a shape similar to the ancient Indian swastika.

For the ancient Indians, such a symbol meant eternal existence or perfect bliss. This symbol is associated with the sun, it has become widespread in ancient culture Aryans, Iranians, found in Egypt and China. During the era of the spread of Christianity, such a symbol was widely known and revered in many areas of the Roman Empire.

The ancient pagan Slavs also widely used this symbol in their religious attributes. The swastika was depicted on rings and rings, as well as other jewelry. It symbolized fire or the sun. The Christian Church, which had powerful spiritual potential, was able to rethink and churchize many cultural traditions antiquities. It is quite possible that the gammatic cross has just such an origin and that it entered Orthodox Christianity as an ecclesiastical swastika.

What kind of pectoral cross can an Orthodox Christian wear?

This question is one of the most frequently asked among believers. Indeed, this is quite an interesting topic, because with such a wide variety of possible species, it is difficult not to get confused. The basic rule to remember: Orthodox Christians wear a cross under their clothes; only priests have the right to wear a cross over their clothes.

Any cross must be consecrated by an Orthodox priest. It should not contain attributes that are related to other churches and do not apply to the Orthodox.

The most significant attributes are:

• If this is a cross with a crucifix, then there should be not three crosses, but four; both feet of the Savior can be pierced with one nail. Three nails belong to the Catholic tradition, but in the Orthodox there should be four.
• There used to be another distinguishing feature that is no longer supported. In the Orthodox tradition, the Savior would be depicted alive on the cross; in the Catholic tradition, his body was depicted hanging in his arms.
• A sign of an Orthodox cross is also considered to be an oblique crossbar - the foot of the cross with the right ends up, when looking at the cross in front of it. True, now the Russian Orthodox Church also uses crosses with a horizontal foot, which were previously found only in the West.
• Inscriptions on Orthodox crosses are made in Greek or Church Slavonic. Sometimes, but rarely, on the tablet above the savior you can find inscriptions in Hebrew, Latin or Greek.
• There are often widespread misconceptions regarding crosses. For example, it is believed that Orthodox Christians should not wear the Latin cross. The Latin cross is a cross without a crucifix or nails. However, this point of view is a delusion; the cross is not called Latin for the reason that it is common among Catholics, because the Latins crucified the Savior on it.
• The emblems and monograms of other churches must be absent from the Orthodox cross.
• Inverted cross. Provided there is no crucifix on it, historically it has always been considered the cross of St. Peter, who, at his own request, was crucified head down. This cross belongs to the Orthodox Church, but is now rare. The upper beam is larger than the lower one.

The traditional Russian Orthodox cross is an eight-pointed cross with an inscription on top, an oblique footplate at the bottom, and a six-pointed cross.

Contrary to popular belief, crosses can be given, found and worn; you can not wear a baptismal cross, but simply keep one. It is very important that any of them be consecrated in the church.

Votive Cross

In Rus' there was a custom to erect votive crosses in honor of memorable dates or holidays. Usually such events were associated with death large quantity of people. It could be fires or famine, as well as Cold winter. Crosses could also be installed as gratitude for deliverance from any misfortune.

In the city of Mezen in the 18th century, 9 such crosses were installed, when during a very harsh winter, all the inhabitants of the city almost died. In the Novgorod principality, personalized votive crosses were installed. After that, the tradition passed to the northern Russian principalities.

Sometimes certain people would erect a votive cross to mark a specific event. Such crosses often bore the names of the people who created them. For example, in the Arkhangelsk region there is the village of Koinas, where there is a cross called Tatyanin. According to the residents of this village, the cross was installed by a fellow villager who made such a vow. When his wife Tatyana was overcome by illness, he decided to take her to a church that was located far away, since there were no other churches nearby, after which his wife recovered. It was then that this cross appeared.

Worship cross

This is a cross fixed next to the road or near the entrance, intended for making prayer bows. Such worship crosses in Rus' were fixed near the main city gates or at the entrance to the village. At the worship cross they prayed for the protection of the city residents with the help of the miraculous power of the Resurrection Cross. In ancient times, cities were often fenced off on all sides with such worship crosses.

There is an opinion among historians that the first worship cross was installed on the initiative of Princess Olga more than a thousand years ago on the slopes of the Dnieper. In most cases, Orthodox worship crosses were made of wood, but sometimes you could find stone or cast worship crosses. They were decorated with patterns or carvings.

They are characterized by an easterly direction. The base of the worship cross was lined with stones to create its elevation. The hill represented Mount Golgotha, on the top of which Christ was crucified. When installing it, people placed earth brought from the doorstep under the base of the cross.

Now the ancient custom of erecting worship crosses is gaining strength again. In some cities, on the ruins of ancient temples or at the entrance to a populated area, you can see such crosses. They are often placed on hills to commemorate the victims.

The essence of the worship cross is as follows. It is a symbol of gratitude and trust in the Almighty. There is another version of the origin of such crosses: it is assumed that they may be associated with the Tatar yoke. There is a belief that the most courageous residents, who hid from raids in the thickets of the forest, after the end of the danger, returned to the burned village and erected such a cross as gratitude to the Lord.

There are a great many types of Orthodox crosses. They differ not only in their form and symbolism. There are crosses that serve a specific purpose, for example, baptismal or icon crosses, or crosses that are used, for example, for awards.

In Orthodoxy, a six-pointed crucifix is ​​considered canonical: a vertical line is crossed by three transverse ones, one of them (the lower one) is oblique. The upper horizontal crossbar (the shortest of the three transverse ones) symbolizes a tablet with an inscription in three languages ​​(Greek, Latin and Hebrew): “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This tablet, by order of Pontius Pilate, was nailed to the Cross of the Lord before the crucifixion.

The middle crossbar, shifted closer to the top (longest), is a direct part of the Cross - the hands of the Savior were nailed to it.

The lower oblique crossbar is a support for the legs. Unlike Catholics, in Orthodoxy on the Crucifixion both legs of the Savior are shown pierced by nails. This tradition is confirmed by studies of the Shroud of Turin - the cloth in which the body of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ was wrapped.

It is worth adding that the oblique shape of the lower crossbar carries a certain symbolic meaning. The raised end of this crossbar rushes upward to the sky, thereby symbolizing the thief crucified at the right hand of the Savior, who, already on the cross, repented and entered with the Lord into the Kingdom of Heaven. The other end of the crossbar, facing down, symbolizes the second thief, crucified left hand from the Savior, who blasphemed the Lord and was not worthy of forgiveness. The state of this robber's soul is a state of God-forsakenness, of hell.

There is another version of the Orthodox Crucifixion, the so-called full or Athos cross. It carries even more symbolic meanings. Its peculiarity is that certain letters are inscribed above the canonical six-pointed Cross.

What do the inscriptions on the cross mean?

Above the topmost crossbar is inscribed: “IS” - Jesus and “XC” - Christ. A little lower, along the edges of the middle crossbar: “SN” - Son and “BZHIY” - God. There are two inscriptions under the middle crossbar. Along the edges: “TSR” - King and “SLVY” - Glory, and in the center - “NIKA” (translated from Greek - victory). This word means that with His suffering and death on the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ conquered death and atoned for human sins.

On the sides of the Crucifixion are depicted a spear and a cane with a sponge, designated, respectively, by the letters “K” and “T”. As we know from the Gospel, they pierced the Lord’s right rib with a spear, and they offered Him a sponge with vinegar on a cane in order to relieve His pain. The Lord refused to alleviate His suffering. Below, the Crucifixion is depicted standing on the base - a small elevation, which symbolizes Mount Golgotha, on which the Lord was crucified.

Inside the mountain is the skull and crossbones of the forefather Adam. In accordance with this, on the sides of the elevation there is an inscription - “ML” and “RB” - Place of Execution and Crucified Byst, as well as two letters “G” - Golgotha. Inside Golgotha, on the sides of the skull, the letters “G” and “A” are placed - the head of Adam.

The image of Adam's remains has a certain symbolic meaning. The Lord, being crucified, sheds His blood on the remains of Adam, thereby washing and cleansing him from the fall he committed in paradise. Together with Adam, the sins of all humanity are washed away. In the center of the crucifix there is also a circle with thorns - this is a symbol of the crown of thorns, which was put on the head of the Lord Jesus Christ by Roman soldiers.

Orthodox cross with crescent

It is also worth mentioning another form of the Orthodox cross. In this case, the cross has a crescent at its base. Such crosses very often crown the domes of Orthodox churches.

According to one version, the cross emerging from the crescent symbolizes the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Eastern tradition, the crescent is often considered a symbol of the Mother of God - just as the cross is considered a symbol of Jesus Christ.

Another interpretation explains the crescent as a symbol of the Eucharistic cup with the blood of the Lord, from which, in fact, the Cross of the Lord is born. There is another interpretation regarding the cross emerging from the crescent.

This interpretation suggests understanding this as a victory (or rise, advantage) of Christianity over Islam. However, as research has shown, this interpretation is incorrect, since the very form of such a cross appeared much earlier than the 6th century, when, in fact, Islam arose.

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 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 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 according to right side from 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 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).

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.

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” Andhas 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 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, 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.

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 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.

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, the power of God and the wisdom of God."(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 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. Cross the beauty of the Church, Cross of the kings power, Cross true statement"The Cross is an angel's glory, The Cross is a demon's plague"— 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:

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


2. 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).


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