Cross with sharp ends. What does the inscription on the cross mean?
Christianity can be understood by deciphering its symbols. From them one can trace both its history and the development of spiritual thought.
The eight-pointed cross is also called the Orthodox cross or the cross of St. Lazarus. The smallest crossbar marks the title, where it was written “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”, the upper end of the cross is the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ showed.
The seven-pointed cross is a variation of the Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but from above.
2. Ship
The ship is an ancient Christian symbol that symbolized the church and each individual believer.
Crosses with a crescent, which can be seen on many churches, just depict such a ship, where the cross is a sail.
3. Calvary cross
The cross-Golgotha is monastic (or schema). It symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ.
Widespread in ancient times, now the Golgotha cross is embroidered only on paraman and analava.
4. Vine
The vine is the gospel image of Christ. This symbol also has its meaning for the Church: its members are branches, and bunches of grapes are a symbol of Communion. In the New Testament, the vine is a symbol of Paradise.
5. Ichthys
Ichthys (from ancient Greek - fish) is an ancient monogram of the name of Christ, consisting of the first letters of the words "Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior." Often depicted allegorically - in the form of a fish. Ichthys was also a secret identifying mark among Christians.
6. Dove
The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Also - a symbol of peace, truth and innocence. Often 12 doves symbolize the 12 apostles. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are also often depicted as doves. The dove that brought Noah an olive branch marked the end of the Flood.
7. Lamb
The lamb is an Old Testament symbol of the sacrifice of Christ. Also, the Lamb is a symbol of the Savior himself, this refers believers to the mystery of the Sacrifice on the Cross.
8. Anchor
Anchor is a hidden image of the Cross. It is also a symbol of hope for the future Resurrection. Therefore, the image of an anchor is often found in the burial places of ancient Christians.
9. Christ
Chrisma is the monogram of the name of Christ. The monogram consists of the initial letters X and P, often flanked by the letters α and ω. Chrism was widely spread in apostolic times and was depicted on the military standard of Emperor Constantine the Great.
10. Crown of Thorns
The crown of thorns is a symbol of the suffering of Christ, often depicted on crucifixes.
11. IHS
IHS is another popular monogram for the name of Christ. These are the three letters of the Greek name of Jesus. But with the decline of Greece, other, Latin, monograms with the name of the Savior began to appear, often in combination with a cross.
12. Triangle
The triangle is a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Each of the sides personifies the hypostasis of God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All sides are equal, and together form a single whole.
13. Arrows
Arrows or a beam piercing the heart - an allusion to the saying of St. Augustine in Confessions. Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize the prophecy of Simeon.
14. Skull
The skull or Adam's head is equally a symbol of death and a symbol of victory over it. According to Holy Tradition, the ashes of Adam were on Golgotha when Christ was crucified. The blood of the savior, washing the skull of Adam, symbolically washed all mankind and gave him a chance for salvation.
15. Eagle
The eagle is a symbol of ascension. It is a symbol of the soul that seeks God. Often - a symbol of new life, justice, courage and faith. The eagle also symbolizes the evangelist John.
16. All-seeing eye
The eye of the Lord is a symbol of omniscience, omniscience and wisdom. Usually it is depicted as inscribed in a triangle - a symbol of the Trinity. It can also symbolize hope.
17. Seraphim
Seraphim are angels closest to God. They are six-winged and carry fiery swords, they can have from one to 16 faces. As a symbol, they mean the cleansing fire of the spirit, divine heat and love.
18. Eight-pointed star
The eight-pointed or Bethlehem star is a symbol of the birth of Christ. In different centuries, the number of rays changed, until, finally, it reached eight. It is also called the Virgin Star.
19. Nine-pointed star
The symbol originated around the 5th century AD. The nine rays of the star symbolize the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
20. Bread
Bread is a reference to the biblical episode when five thousand people were satisfied with five loaves. Bread is depicted in the form of ears (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the apostles) or in the form of bread for communion.
21. Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd is a symbolic image of Jesus. The source of this image is the gospel parable, where Christ himself calls himself a shepherd. Christ is depicted as an ancient shepherd, sometimes carrying a lamb (lamb) on his shoulders.
This symbol has deeply penetrated and entrenched itself in Christianity, parishioners are often called flocks, and priests - shepherds.
22. Burning Bush
In the Pentateuch, the Burning Bush is a thorn bush that burns but does not burn out. In his image, God appeared to Moses, calling him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. The burning bush is also a symbol of the Mother of God, who was touched by the Holy Spirit.
23. Leo
The forest is a symbol of vigilance and Resurrection, and one of the symbols of Christ. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Mark, and is associated with the power and royal dignity of Christ.
24. Taurus
The calf (bull or ox) is the symbol of the Evangelist Luke. Taurus means the sacrificial ministry of the Savior, his Cross sacrifice. Also, the ox is considered a symbol of all martyrs.
25. Angel
The angel symbolizes the human nature of Christ, his earthly incarnation. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Matthew.
The cross is a whole complex of symbolic meanings. It is very important to correctly understand all the signs, all the images and inscriptions on it.
Cross and Savior
The most important symbol is, of course, the cross itself. The custom of wearing a cross arose only in the 4th century; before that, Christians wore medallions depicting a lamb - a sacrificial lamb, symbolizing the self-sacrifice of the Savior. There were also medallions depicting a crucifix.
The cross - the image of the instrument of death of the Savior - became a natural continuation of this tradition.
Initially, there were no signs on underwear, only vegetable. He symbolized the Tree of Life, which Adam lost and returned to people by Jesus Christ.
In the 11th-13th centuries. the image of the Savior appears on the crosses, but not crucified, but sitting on a throne. This emphasizes the image of Christ as the King of the Universe, to whom “every authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given.”
But even in earlier eras, crosses with the image of the crucified Savior occasionally appear. This had a special meaning in the context of the fight against Monophysitism - the idea of the complete absorption of human nature in the person of Jesus Christ by Divine nature. Under such conditions, the depiction of the death of the Savior emphasized his human nature. In the end, it was the image of the Savior on the pectoral cross that prevailed.
The head of the crucified is surrounded by a halo - a symbol of holiness - with an inscription in Greek "UN", "Existing". This emphasizes the divine nature of the Savior.
Other signs
At the top of the cross is an additional crossbar with four letters, which are like "Jesus Christ - King of the Jews." A tablet with such an inscription was nailed to the cross by order of Pontius Pilate, since many followers of Christ really considered him as a future king. The Roman governor in this way wanted to emphasize the futility of the hopes of the Jews: "Here he is - your king, betrayed by the most shameful execution, and so it will be with everyone who dares to encroach on the power of Rome." Perhaps it would not be worth remembering this trick of the Roman, all the more so - perpetuating it in pectoral crosses, if the Savior really was not the King, and not only of the Jews, but of the entire universe.
The lower crossbar originally had a utilitarian meaning - supporting the body on the cross. But it also has a symbolic meaning: in Byzantium, from where Christianity came to Russia, there was always a footstool on the images of noble and royal persons. Here is the foot of the cross - this is another symbol of the royal dignity of the Savior.
The right end of the crossbar is raised, the left one is lowered - this is a hint at the fate of the thieves crucified with Christ. The one who was crucified on the right repented and went to Paradise, while the other died without repenting. Such a symbol reminds a Christian of the need for repentance, the path to which is open to everyone.
Under the feet of the crucified is depicted. According to legend, Adama was on Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified. The Savior, as it were, tramples the skull with his feet, symbolizing death - a consequence of the slavery of sin to which Adam doomed humanity. This is a graphic expression of the words from the Easter hymn - "Death tramples death."
On the reverse side of the pectoral cross is usually the inscription: "Save and". This is a small prayer, a Christian's appeal to God - to protect not only from misfortunes and dangers, but also from temptations and sins.
The eight-pointed cross consists of a vertical component and three crossbars. The top two are straight and the bottom one is oblique.
There is a version that says that the upper part of the crossbar of the Orthodox cross faces north, and the lower part faces south. By the way, this is how the cross is erected today.
Why the lower crossbar is oblique, even theologians are unlikely to be able to explain. The answer to this question has not yet been found. There are many versions, each of which reflects a certain idea and is often supported by convincing arguments. But, unfortunately, there is no exact evidence of any version at the moment.
Versions based on biblical legends
The options for why, after all, the lower crossbar is oblique are varied. The household version explains this fact by the fact that Jesus stumbled on the foot, so it was skewed.
There is also a variant that the upper part of the lower crossbar of the Orthodox cross points to the path to Paradise, and the lower one to Hell.Also, there is often a version that after the coming of Jesus Christ on Earth, the balance of good and evil was disturbed, all previously sinful people began their journey to the light, and it is this disturbed balance that the skewed crossbar shows.
Household versions
The most plausible version is that the lower crossbar is a symbolic image of such a special crossbar for the feet of a person who was crucified. Previously, this form of execution was common. A person was crucified, but in the complete absence of support, it is likely that under the weight of his own weight, the person simply fell from the cross, since under his weight the arms and legs nailed to the cross were simply torn. It was precisely for the purpose of maintaining a person in a hanging position, in order to prolong his torment, that such a stand was invented, which was symbolically reflected on the Orthodox eight-pointed cross. On average, as indicated in some sources, the time before death with this type of execution was approximately 24-30 hours.
There is also a variant in the literature that the lower crossbar is only conditionally designated as oblique. In fact, this is only a schematic representation of a three-dimensional figure in a two-dimensional plane. But in fact, the surface of the crossbar was still flat.
In which version of the proposed ones to believe, it seems that everyone can choose for themselves, because after so many years the truth is unlikely to be revealed to anyone.
Sources:
- The second Pokloniye Cross was erected
The process is very individual. But, despite this, like the process of birth, it has its own mechanisms and symptoms, by which one can accurately predict the approach of death.
Apathy
What happens to a dying person. How does it change and What signs can accurately tell that a person is dying. The dying person becomes sleepy. He sleeps almost all the time, periods of wakefulness are increasingly reduced, energy is gradually fading away. Apathy sets in, a person loses interest in life and the world around him."Death rattle"
He's out of breath. Its rhythm is broken, fast and intermittent is replaced by full stops. Toward the end, "death rattles" appear. Breathing becomes noisy as fluid builds up in the lungs and the weakened body does not expel it.Loss of appetite
Appetite worsens. The functions of the urinary system and gastrointestinal tract are disturbed. There is a delay in the stool due to the process of constipation (constipation) in the intestines and dark urine due to an increase in its concentration as a result of a violation of the filtration function of the kidneys. The dying person refuses to eat and drink because his metabolism slows down and he does not need the amount of food and liquid that he needed before. In addition, the ability to swallow is reduced.Body temperature
Body temperature also changes. This is due to a violation of the activity of the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating body temperature. Moreover, the dying person may experience fever, that is, the temperature is too high, followed by cold extremities and a temperature much lower than normal.hallucinations
There are changes in hearing and vision. A person may not see or hear what is happening around - deterioration in vision and darkening in the eyes is especially common, but begins to notice what others do not see. There are visual or auditory hallucinations. Animation, hallucinations, and unconsciousness followed by revival are symptoms of the so-called "delirious fever" that often accompanies the process of dying.Spotted skin lesions
The skin of the dying person turns pale and covered with yellowish-bluish spots. Particularly strong changes undergo face and limbs. Changes in the color of the skin of the face, hands and feet are called patchy lesions, and they almost unmistakably indicate the approach of the last hours of a person's life.Psycho-emotional changes
Often, before death, a person “withdraws into himself”, closes in on his feelings and stops responding to what is happening. It is also possible a state of painful excitement, in which the dying person constantly strives to "go" somewhere. He can also have conversations with long-dead people or rethink his life, remembering in detail all the events and reliving them again.Among all Christians, only Orthodox and Catholics venerate crosses and icons. They decorate the domes of churches, their houses with crosses, they wear them around the neck.
The reason why a person wears a pectoral cross is different for everyone. Someone thus pays tribute to fashion, for someone the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry, for someone it brings good luck and is used as a talisman. But there are also those for whom the pectoral cross worn at baptism is indeed a symbol of their infinite faith.
Today, shops and church shops offer a wide variety of crosses of various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are going to baptize a child, but also sales assistants cannot explain where the Orthodox cross is and where the Catholic one is, although it is actually very simple to distinguish them.In the Catholic tradition - a quadrangular cross, with three nails. In Orthodoxy, there are four-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed crosses, with four nails for hands and feet.
cross shape
four-pointed cross
So, in the West, the most common is four-pointed cross. Starting from the III century, when such crosses first appeared in the Roman catacombs, the entire Orthodox East still uses this form of the cross as equal to all others.
For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross does not really matter, much more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, however, eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses have received the greatest popularity.
Eight-pointed Orthodox cross most corresponds to the historically reliable form of the cross on which Christ was already crucified.The Orthodox cross, which is most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches, contains, in addition to a large horizontal bar, two more. The top symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ with the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower slanting crossbar - a prop for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous measure", weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing that the repentant robber, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the robber, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters IC XC are a Christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ.
Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that "When Christ the Lord on His shoulders carried the cross, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or foot on it. There was no foot, because Christ on the cross and the soldiers had not yet been raised, not knowing where the legs would reach Christ's, did not attach a footstool, having finished it already at Calvary". 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 an inscription and placed it on the cross” (John 19:19 ). It was at first that the warriors “who crucified Him” (Mt. 27:35) divided “His clothes” by lot, and only then “They put an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”(Matthew 27:37).
The eight-pointed cross has long been considered the most powerful protective tool against various kinds of evil spirits, as well as visible and invisible evil.
six pointed cross
Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially in the days of Ancient Russia, was also six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper end symbolizes liberation by repentance.
However, not in the shape of the cross or the number of ends lies all its power. The cross is famous for the power of Christ crucified on it, and all its symbolism and miraculousness lies in this.
The variety of forms of the cross has always been recognized by the Church as quite natural. In the words of the Monk Theodore the Studite - "a cross of every form is a true cross" Andhas unearthly beauty and life-giving power.
“There is no significant difference between Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, as well as between any other crosses used in the service of Christians. In essence, all crosses are the same, the differences are only in form., - says the Serbian Patriarch Irinej.
crucifixion
In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special significance is attached not to the shape of the cross, but to the image of Jesus Christ on it.
Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant, and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear.
Yes, we know that Christ died on the cross. But we also know that He later resurrected, and that He suffered voluntarily out of love for people: to teach us to take care of the immortal soul; so that we too can be resurrected and live forever. In the Orthodox Crucifixion, this Paschal joy is always present. Therefore, on the Orthodox cross, Christ does not die, but freely stretches out his arms, the palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to embrace all of humanity, giving them his love and opening the way to eternal life. He is not a dead body, but God, and his whole image speaks of this.
The Orthodox cross above the main horizontal bar has another, smaller one, which symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ indicating the offense. Because Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ, the words appeared on the tablet "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" in three languages: Greek, Latin and Aramaic. In Latin in Catholicism, this inscription looks like INRI, and in Orthodoxy - IHCI(or ІНHI, “Jesus of the Nazarene, King of the Jews”). The lower oblique crossbar symbolizes a leg support. It also symbolizes two thieves crucified to the left and right of Christ. One of them repented of his sins before his death, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. The other, before his death, blasphemed and reviled his executioners and Christ.
Above the middle crossbar are the inscriptions: "IC" "XS"- the name of Jesus Christ; and below it: "NIKA" — Winner.
Greek letters were necessarily written on the cross-shaped halo of the Savior UN, meaning - "Truly Existing", because "God said to Moses: I am who I am"(Ex. 3:14), thereby revealing His name, expressing the self-existence, eternity and immutability of the being of God.
In addition, the nails with which the Lord was nailed to the cross were kept in Orthodox Byzantium. And it was precisely known that there were four of them, not three. Therefore, on Orthodox crosses, the feet of Christ are nailed with two nails, each separately. The image of Christ with crossed feet, nailed with one nail, first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.
In the Catholic Crucifixion, the image of Christ has naturalistic features. Catholics depict Christ as dead, sometimes with streams of blood on his face, from wounds on his arms, legs and ribs ( stigmata). It manifests all human suffering, the torment that Jesus had to experience. His arms sag under the weight of his body. The image of Christ on the Catholic cross is plausible, but this is the image of a dead person, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The crucifixion in Orthodoxy just symbolizes this triumph. In addition, the feet of the Savior are nailed with one nail.
The Significance of the Savior's Death on the Cross
The emergence of the Christian cross is associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, which he accepted on the cross at the forced verdict of Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a common method of execution in ancient Rome, borrowed from the Carthaginians, the descendants of the Phoenician colonists (it is believed that crucifixion was first used in Phoenicia). Usually thieves were sentenced to death on the cross; many early Christians, persecuted since the time of Nero, were also executed in this manner.
Before the sufferings of Christ, the cross was an instrument of shame and terrible punishment. After His suffering, he became a symbol of the victory of good over evil, life over death, a reminder of God's infinite love, an object of joy. The incarnated Son of God sanctified the cross with His blood and made it a vehicle of His grace, a source of sanctification for believers.
From the Orthodox dogma of the Cross (or Atonement), the idea undoubtedly follows that the death of the Lord is the ransom of all, the calling of all peoples. Only the cross, unlike other executions, made it possible for Jesus Christ to die with outstretched arms calling "to all the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 45:22).
Reading the Gospels, we are convinced that the feat of the Cross of the God-man is the central event in His earthly life. By His sufferings on the Cross, He washed away our sins, covered our debt to God, or, in the language of Scripture, "redeemed" us (ransomed us). In Golgotha lies the incomprehensible mystery of the infinite truth and love of God.
The Son of God voluntarily took upon Himself the guilt of all people and suffered for it a shameful and most painful death on the cross; then on the third day he rose again as the conqueror of hell and death.
Why was such a terrible Sacrifice needed to cleanse the sins of mankind, and was it possible to save people in another, less painful way?
The Christian doctrine of the death of the God-man on the cross is often a "stumbling block" for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both many Jews and people of the Greek culture of the apostolic times seemed contradictory to the assertion that the almighty and eternal God descended to earth in the form of a mortal man, voluntarily suffered beatings, spitting and shameful death, that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to mankind. "It's impossible!"- objected one; "It is not necessary!" others argued.
The Holy Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians says: “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in the wisdom of the word, so as not to abolish the cross of Christ. For the word of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved, it is the power of God. where is the wise man, where is the scribe, where is the questioner of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into foolishness? and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks foolishness, for the very called ones, Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power and God's wisdom"(1 Corinthians 1:17-24).
In other words, the apostle explained that what in Christianity was perceived by some as temptation and madness, is in fact the work of the greatest Divine wisdom and omnipotence. The truth of the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior is the foundation for many other Christian truths, for example, about the sanctification of believers, about the sacraments, about the meaning of suffering, about virtues, about achievement, about the goal of life, about the coming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.
At the same time, the redemptive death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even "seductive for those who perish," has a regenerating power that the believing heart feels and strives for. Renewed and warmed by this spiritual power, both the last slaves and the most powerful kings bowed with trepidation before Golgotha; both dark ignoramuses and the greatest scientists. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles became convinced by personal experience of what great spiritual benefits the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior brought them, and they shared this experience with their disciples.
(The mystery of the redemption of mankind is closely connected with a number of important religious and psychological factors. Therefore, in order to understand the mystery of the redemption, it is necessary:
a) to understand what actually is the sinful damage of a person and the weakening of his will to resist evil;
b) it is necessary to understand how the devil's will, thanks to sin, got the opportunity to influence and even captivate the human will;
c) one must understand the mysterious power of love, its ability to positively influence a person and ennoble him. At the same time, if love reveals itself most of all in sacrificial service to one's neighbor, then there is no doubt that giving one's life for him is the highest manifestation of love;
d) one must rise from understanding the power of human love to understanding the power of Divine love and how it penetrates the soul of a believer and transforms his inner world;
e) in addition, in the atoning death of the Savior there is a side that goes beyond the limits of the human world, namely: On the cross there was a battle between God and the proud Dennitsa, in which God, hiding under the guise of weak flesh, emerged victorious. The details of this spiritual battle and Divine victory remain a mystery to us. Even Angels, according to ap. Peter, do not fully understand the mystery of redemption (1 Pet. 1:12). She is a sealed book that only the Lamb of God could open (Rev. 5:1-7)).
In Orthodox asceticism, there is such a thing as bearing one's cross, that is, the patient fulfillment of Christian commandments throughout the life of a Christian. All difficulties, both external and internal, are called "cross." Each bears his life's cross. The Lord said this about the need for personal achievement: "Whoever does not take up his cross (turns away from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), he is not worthy of Me"(Matthew 10:38).
“The cross is the guardian of the whole universe. The Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the power of the kings, the Cross is the faithful affirmation, the Cross is the glory of the angel, the Cross is the plague of the demon,- affirms the absolute Truth of the luminaries of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.
The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious crusaders and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians drawn into this heinous deed, it is all the more impossible to be silent, for, according to the words of St. Basil the Great, “God is given up in silence”!
Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox cross
Thus, there are the following differences between the Catholic cross and the Orthodox:
- most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. - four-pointed.
- Words on a tablet on the crosses are the same, only written in different languages: Latin INRI(in the case of a Catholic cross) and Slavic-Russian IHCI(on an Orthodox cross).
- Another fundamental position is the position of the feet on the Crucifixion and the number of nails. The feet of Jesus Christ are located together on the Catholic Crucifix, and each is nailed separately on the Orthodox cross.
- different is image of the Savior on the cross. The Orthodox cross depicts God, who opened the way to eternal life, and the Catholic cross depicts a man in torment.
In Christianity, the veneration of the cross belongs to Catholics and Orthodox. The symbolic figure adorns the domes of churches, houses, icons and other church paraphernalia. The Orthodox cross is of great importance for believers, emphasizing their endless commitment to religion. No less interesting is the history of the appearance of the symbol, where the variety of forms reflects the depth of Orthodox culture.
The history of the emergence and meaning of the Orthodox cross
Many people perceive the cross as a symbol of Christianity.. Initially, the figure symbolized the murder weapon in the executions of Jews in ancient Rome. In this way, criminals and Christians who had been persecuted since the reign of Nero were executed. A similar type of killing was practiced in ancient times by the Phoenicians and migrated through the colonists - the Carthaginians to the Roman Empire.
When Jesus Christ was crucified on a pillar, the attitude towards the sign changed in a positive direction. The death of the Lord was the atonement for the sins of the human race and the recognition of all nations. His suffering covered people's debts to the Father God.
Jesus carried a simple crosshair up the mountain, then the foot was attached by the soldiers when it became clear to what level the feet of Christ reach. In the upper part there was a tablet with the inscription: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews", nailed by order of Pontius Pilate. From that moment, the eight-pointed form of the Orthodox cross was born.
Any believer, seeing the holy crucifixion, involuntarily thinks about the martyrdom of the Savior, accepted in deliverance from the eternal death of mankind after the fall of Adam and Eve. The Orthodox cross bears emotional and spiritual load, the image of which appears to the inner gaze of the believer. As Saint Justin stated: "The cross is a great symbol of the power and authority of Christ." In Greek, "symbol" means "connection" or the manifestation of an invisible reality through naturalness.
Inoculation of symbolic images was difficult in Jewish times with the emergence of the New Testament church in Palestine. Then adherence to legends was honored and images considered as idolatry were forbidden. With the increase in the number of Christians, the influence of the Jewish worldview declined. In the first centuries after the execution of the Lord, the followers of Christianity were persecuted and performed rituals in secret. The oppressed situation, the lack of protection of the state and the church was directly reflected in the symbolism and worship.
The symbols reflected the dogmas and formulas of the Sacraments, contributed to the expression of the word and were the sacred language of the transmission of faith and the protection of church teaching. That is why the cross was of great importance for Christians, symbolizing the victory of good and over evil and bestowing the eternal light of life over the darkness of hell.
How the cross is depicted: features of external manifestation
There are different types of crucifixes, where you can see simple forms with straight lines or complex geometric shapes, complemented by a variety of symbolism. The religious load of all structures is the same, only the external design differs.
In the Mediterranean eastern countries, Russia, in the east of Europe, they adhere to the eight-pointed form of the crucifix - Orthodox. Its other name is "The Cross of St. Lazarus".
The crosshair consists of a small upper crossbar, a large lower crossbar and an inclined foot. The vertical crossbar, located at the bottom of the pillar, was intended to support the legs of Christ. The direction of the slope of the crossbar does not change: the right end is higher than the left. This position means that on the day of the Last Judgment, the righteous will stand on the right hand, and sinners on the left. The kingdom of heaven is given to the righteous, as evidenced by the right corner raised up. Sinners are thrown into the lowlands of hell - indicates the left end.
For Orthodox symbols characteristic is the monogram mark, mainly at the ends of the middle crosshairs - IC and XC, denote the name of Jesus Christ. Moreover, the inscriptions are located under the middle crossbar - "Son of God", further in Greek NIKA - translated as "winner".
The small crossbar contains an inscription with a tablet, made by order of Pontius Pilate, and contains the abbreviation Inci (ІНЦІ - in Orthodoxy), and Inri (INRI - in Catholicism), - this is how the words "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews" are designated. The eight-point display with great certainty conveys the instrument of death of Jesus.
Construction Rules: Proportions and Dimensions
The classic version of the eight-pointed crosshair is built in the correct harmonious proportion, which means that everything embodied by the Creator is perfect. The construction is based on the law of the golden section, which is based on the perfection of the human body and sounds like this: the result of dividing a person’s height by the distance from the navel to the feet is 1.618, and coincides with the result obtained from dividing the height by the distance from the navel to the top of the head. A similar ratio of proportions is contained in many things, including the Christian cross, the photo of which is an example of construction according to the law of the golden section.
The drawn crucifix fits into a rectangle, its sides are given in relation to the rules of the golden ratio - the height divided by the width is 1.618. Another feature is that the size of the span of a person’s arms is equal to his height, so the figure with outstretched arms harmoniously lies in a square. Thus, the size of the middle intersection corresponds to the span of the Savior's arms and is equal to the distance from the crossbar to the beveled foot and is characteristic of the growth of Christ. Such rules should be taken into account by everyone who is going to write a cross or apply a vector pattern.
Pectoral crosses in Orthodoxy are considered to be worn under clothing, closer to the body. It is not recommended to flaunt the symbol of faith, putting it on over clothes. Church products have an eight-pointed shape. But there are crosses without upper and lower crossbars - four-pointed, such are also allowed to be worn.
The canonical version looks like eight-pointed items with or without the image of the Savior in the center. The custom of wearing church crosses made of various materials on the chest arose in the first half of the 4th century. Initially, it was customary for followers of the Christian faith to wear not crosses, but medallions with the image of the Lord.
During periods of persecution from the middle of the 1st to the beginning of the 4th century, there were martyrs who expressed a desire to suffer for Christ and put a cross on their foreheads. According to the distinctive sign of the volunteers, they were quickly calculated and martyred. The formation of the Christian religion introduced the custom of wearing crucifixes, at the same time they were introduced into the establishment on the roofs of churches.
The variety of forms and types of the cross does not contradict the Christian religion. It is believed that every manifestation of the symbol is a true cross, carrying life-giving power and heavenly beauty. To understand what are Orthodox crosses, types and meaning, consider the main types of design:
In Orthodoxy, the greatest importance is given not so much to the form as to the image on the product. Six-pointed and eight-pointed figures are more common.
Six-pointed Russian Orthodox cross
On the crucifix, the inclined lower bar acts as a measuring scale that evaluates the life of each person and his inner state. The figure in Russia has been used since ancient times. By 1161, the six-pointed worship cross introduced by Princess Euphrosyne of Polotsk dates back to 1161. The sign was used in Russian heraldry as part of the coat of arms of the Kherson province. In the number of its ends was the miraculous power of the crucified Christ.
eight pointed cross
The most common type is a symbol of the Orthodox Russian Church. Otherwise called - Byzantine. Eight-pointed was formed after the act of crucifixion of the Lord, before that the form was equilateral. A feature is the lower foot, in addition to the two upper horizontal transverse.
Together with the Creator, two more criminals were executed, one of whom began to mock the Lord, hinting that if Christ is true, then he is obliged to save them. Another condemned objected to him that they were real criminals, and Jesus was falsely condemned. The defender was on the right hand, so the left end of the foot is raised up, symbolizing elevation above other criminals. The right side of the crossbar is lowered, as a sign of the humiliation of the rest before the justice of the words of the defender.
Greek cross
Also called "korsunchik" Old Russian. Traditionally used in Byzantium, it is considered one of the oldest Russian crucifixes. Tradition says that Prince Vladimir was baptized in Korsun, from where he took out the crucifix and installed Kievan Rus on the banks of the Dnieper. The four-pointed image has been preserved to this day in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, where it is carved on a marble slab of the burial of Prince Yaroslav, who was the son of St. Vladimir.
Maltese cross
Refers to the officially accepted symbolic crucifixion of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem on the island of Malta. The movement openly opposed Freemasonry, and, according to some information, participated in the organization of the murder of Pavel Petrovich, the Emperor of Russia, who patronizes the Maltese. Figuratively, the cross is represented by equilateral rays, expanding at the ends. Awarded for military merit and courage.
The figure contains the Greek letter "Gamma" and resembles in appearance the ancient Indian sign of the swastika, meaning higher being, bliss. It was first depicted by Christians in the Roman catacombs. Often used to decorate church utensils, gospels, embroidered on the clothes of Byzantine church ministers.
The symbol was widespread in the culture of the ancient Iranians, Aryans, and was often found in China and Egypt in the Paleolithic era. The swastika was revered in many areas of the Roman Empire and ancient Slavic pagans. A sign was depicted on rings, jewelry, rings, signifying fire or the sun. The swastika was churched by Christianity and many ancient pagan traditions have been rethought. In Russia, the image of the swastika was used in the decoration of church items, ornaments and mosaics.
What does the cross on the domes of churches mean?
Domed crosses with a crescent decorated cathedrals since ancient times. One of these was the Cathedral of St. Sophia of Vologda, built in 1570. In the pre-Mongolian period, an eight-pointed dome shape was often found, under the crossbar of which there was a crescent moon turned upwards with its horns.
There are various explanations for this symbolism. The most famous concept is compared to the ship's anchor, which is considered a symbol of salvation. In another version, the moon is marked by a font in which the temple is clothed.
The value of the month is interpreted in different ways:
- Bethlehem font, which received the baby Christ.
- Eucharistic chalice containing the body of Christ.
- Church ship driven by Christ.
- The serpent trampled down by the cross and placed at the feet of the Lord.
Many people are concerned about the question - what is the difference between the Catholic cross and the Orthodox. In fact, it's quite easy to tell them apart. In Catholicism, a four-pointed cross is provided, on which the hands and feet of the Savior are crucified with three nails. A similar display appeared in the III century in the Roman catacombs, but still remains popular.
Features:
Over the past millennia, the Orthodox cross has invariably protected the believer, being a talisman against evil visible and invisible forces. The symbol is a reminder of the Lord's sacrifice for salvation and the manifestation of love for humanity.