The shape of the Orthodox cross explained. Why don't we wear the sign of fish? How to choose a pectoral cross for yourself

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Which cross is considered canonical? Why is it unacceptable to wear a cross with the image of the crucified Savior and other images?

Every Christian from holy baptism to the hour of death must wear on his chest the sign of his faith in the crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. We wear this sign not over our clothes, but on our body, which is why it is called a body sign, and it is called octagonal (eight-pointed) because it is similar to the Cross on which the Lord was crucified on Golgotha.

Unwritten legends keep many nuances. So, after the publication of this article, one Old Believer bishop, and then a reader of the site, pointed out that the word cross, just like the word icon, does not have a diminutive form. In this regard, we also appeal to our visitors with a request to respect the symbols of Orthodoxy and monitor the correctness of their speech!

Male pectoral cross

The pectoral cross, which is always and everywhere with us, serves as a constant reminder of the Resurrection of Christ and that at baptism we promised to serve Him and renounced Satan. Thereby pectoral cross capable of strengthening our spiritual and physical strength, protect us from the devil's evil.

The oldest surviving crosses often take the form of a simple equilateral four-pointed cross. This was customary at a time when Christians venerated Christ, the apostles, and the holy cross symbolically. In ancient times, as you know, Christ was often depicted as a Lamb surrounded by 12 other lambs - the apostles. Also, the Cross of the Lord was depicted symbolically.

Later, in connection with the discovery of the original Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, St. Queen Helena, the eight-pointed shape of the cross begins to be depicted more and more often. This was also reflected in the crosses. But the four-pointed cross did not disappear: as a rule, an eight-pointed cross was depicted inside a four-pointed cross.

In order to remind us of what the Cross of Christ means to us, it is often depicted on the symbolic Calvary with a skull (the head of Adam) at the base. Next to him you can usually see the instruments of the Lord’s passion - a spear and a cane.

Letters INCI(Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews), which are usually depicted on larger crosses, are given in memory of the inscription mockingly nailed above the head of the Savior during the crucifixion.

The explanatory inscription under the titles reads: King of Glory Jesus Christ Son of God" Often the inscription “ NIKA” (Greek word meaning Christ's victory over death).

Individual letters that may appear on pectoral crosses mean “ TO” – copy, “ T” – cane, “ GG” – Mount Golgotha, “ GA” – head of Adam. “ MLRB” – Place Execution Paradise Was (that is: at the site of the execution of Christ, Paradise was once planted).

We are sure that many people do not even realize how perverted this symbolism is in our usual deck of cards . As it turned out in, four card suits are a hidden blasphemy on Christian shrines: cross– this is the Cross of Christ; diamonds- nails; peaks- centurion's copy; worms- This is a sponge with vinegar, which the torturers mockingly gave to Christ instead of water.

The image of the Crucified Savior on body crosses appeared quite recently (according to at least, after the 17th century). Pectoral crosses with the image of the Crucifixion non-canonical , since the image of the Crucifixion turns the pectoral cross into an icon, and the icon is intended for direct perception and prayer.

Wearing an icon hidden from view carries the danger of using it for other purposes, namely as a magical amulet or amulet. The cross is symbol , and the Crucifixion is image . The priest wears a cross with a Crucifix, but he wears it in a visible way: so that everyone sees this image and is inspired to pray, inspired to have a certain attitude towards the priest. The priesthood is an image of Christ. But the pectoral cross that we wear under our clothes is a symbol, and the Crucifixion should not be there.

One of the ancient rules of St. Basil the Great (IV century), which was included in the Nomocanon, reads:

“Anyone who wears any icon as an amulet must be excommunicated from communion for three years.”

As we see, the ancient fathers very strictly followed the right attitude to the icon, to the image. They stood guard over the purity of Orthodoxy, protecting it in every possible way from paganism. By the 17th century, a custom had developed to place on the back of the pectoral cross a prayer to the Cross (“May God rise again and His enemies be scattered…”), or only the first words.

Women's pectoral cross

In the Old Believers, the external difference between “ female" And " male” crosses. The “female” pectoral cross has a smoother, rounded shape without sharp corners. Around the “female” cross, a “vine” is depicted with a floral ornament, reminiscent of the words of the psalmist: “ Your wife is like a fruitful vine in the countries of your home. ”(Ps. 127: 3).

It is customary to wear a pectoral cross on a long gaitan (braid, woven thread) so that you can, without removing it, take the cross in your hands and make the sign of the cross (this is supposed to be done with the appropriate prayers before going to bed, as well as when performing the cell rule).

If we talk about crosses with the image of the crucifixion more broadly, then distinctive feature canonical crosses is the style of depicting the body of Christ on them. Widespread today on New Believer crosses the image of the suffering Jesus is alien Orthodox tradition .

According to canonical ideas, reflected in icon painting and copper sculpture, the body of the Savior on the Cross was never depicted suffering, sagging on nails, etc., which testifies to His divine nature.

The manner of “humanizing” the suffering of Christ is characteristic of Catholicism and borrowed much later church schism in Rus'. Old Believers consider such crosses worthless . Examples of canonical and modern New Believer casting are given below: the substitution of concepts is noticeable even with the naked eye.

The stability of traditions should also be noted: the collections in the photographs were replenished without the goal of showing only ancient forms, that is, hundreds of types of modern “ Orthodox jewelry " - invention last decades against the background of almost complete oblivion of the symbolism and meaning of the image of the honorable Cross of the Lord.

Illustrations on the topic

Below are illustrations selected by the editors of the “Old Believer Thought” website and links on the topic.

An example of canonical pectoral crosses from different times:

An example of non-canonical crosses from different times:

Cross with unusual back side, which you can read about

Modern male cross

Catalog of ancient crosses - online version of the book " Millennium Cross » – http://k1000k.narod.ru

A well-illustrated article on early Christian pectoral crosses with high-quality illustrations in color and additional material on the topic on the site Culturology.Ru – http://www.kulturologia.ru/blogs/150713/18549/

Comprehensive information and photos about cast icon crosses from Novgorod manufacturer of similar products : https://readtiger.com/www.olevs.ru/novgorodskoe_litje/static/kiotnye_mednolitye_kresty_2/

Story Orthodox cross dates back many centuries. Kinds 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, they 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 away 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 on 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. The Museum of Ancient Russian Art named after Andrei Rublev houses just such a copper cross, 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. could be found great amount variety of flowers and leaves in the shape of a heart. 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. Besides, in Holy Scripture Jesus is said to be 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. He looked like this: front side there was an overhead image of the Crucifixion. The cross itself was eight-pointed and had a chain, all of which was made of. 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 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 - Russian Emperor, the ruler of the Maltese, which is why it 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. By ancient tradition these words, together with the cross, are printed on the prosphora 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 both equal sides, and the 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 resemblance to 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 of antiquity. 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, it's quite interesting topic, because with such a wide variety possible types It's hard 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 was another one before hallmark, which is not currently 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 in honor of memorable dates or holidays to install votive crosses. Usually such events were associated with death large quantity of people. It could be fires or famine, or a 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 principality of Novgorod 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 locality 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 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.

The domes of Orthodox churches are crowned with crosses. Believers wear crosses on their chests to always be under the protection of God.

What should a proper Orthodox be like? pectoral cross? on his back side there is an inscription: “Save and preserve.” However, this attribute is not a talisman that can protect against all misfortunes.

The pectoral cross is a symbol of the “cross” that God gives to a person who wants to serve Him - in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him turn aside, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8, 34).

A person who wears a cross thereby gives a guarantee that he will live according to the commandments of God and steadfastly endure all the trials that befall him.

Our story about what to consider when choosing an Orthodox cross will be incomplete if we do not turn to history and talk about the festival dedicated to this Christian attribute.

In memory of the discovery of the Lord's Cross in 326 in Jerusalem, near Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified, the Orthodox Church celebrates a holiday called the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. This holiday symbolizes the triumph of the Church of Christ, which has gone through a difficult path of trials and persecution and spread throughout the world.

As legend says, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, Queen Helena, went in search of the Holy Cross to Palestine. Excavations were carried out here, as a result of which the cave of the Holy Sepulcher was found, and three crosses were discovered not far from it. They were placed one by one on a sick woman, who, thanks to touching the Cross of the Lord, was healed.

According to another legend, a dead person carried by a funeral procession was resurrected from contact with this cross. However, what exactly the cross on which Christ was crucified looked like is unknown. Only two separate crossbars were found, along with a sign and a footstool.

Queen Helena brought part of the Life-Giving Tree and nails to Constantinople. And Emperor Constantine erected a temple in Jerusalem in 325 in honor of the Ascension of Christ, which included the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha.

The cross began to be used as a symbol of faith thanks to Emperor Constantine. As the church historian Eusebius Pamphilus testifies, “Christ, the Son of God, appeared in a dream to the emperor with a sign seen in heaven and commanded, having made a banner similar to this seen in heaven, to use it for protection from the attacks of enemies.”

Constantine ordered images of the cross to be placed on the shields of his soldiers and installed three commemorative Orthodox crosses in Constantinople with gold inscriptions in Greek “IC.XP.NIKA”, which means “Jesus Christ the Victor”.

What should be the correct pectoral cross?

There are different graphic types of crosses: Greek, Latin, St. Peter's cross (inverted cross), Papal cross, etc. No matter how different the different branches of Christianity may be, this shrine is revered by all denominations.

But if in Catholicism Jesus Christ is depicted sagging in his arms, which emphasizes His martyrdom, then in Orthodoxy the Savior appears in power - as a winner, calling the entire Universe into His arms.

The palms of Jesus on the Orthodox cross are usually open; the figure expresses peace and dignity. In Him are embodied His most important hypostases - Divine and Human.

The attribute of the Catholic crucifix is ​​the Crown of Thorns. In the Orthodox artistic tradition it is rare.

Also in Catholic images, Christ is crucified with three nails, that is, nails are driven into both hands, and the soles of his feet are put together and nailed with one nail. In the Orthodox crucifix, each foot of the Savior is nailed separately with its own nail, and a total of four nails are depicted.

The canon of the image of the Orthodox crucifixion was approved back in 692 by the Tula Cathedral and remains unchanged to this day. Of course, Orthodox believers should use crosses that are made in accordance with the Orthodox tradition.

It must be said that the debate about what a Christian cross of the correct shape should be - eight-pointed or four-pointed - has been going on for a long time. In particular, it was led by Orthodox believers and Old Believers.

According to Abbot Luke,
“in the Orthodox Church, its holiness does not depend in any way on the shape of the cross, provided that the Orthodox cross is made and consecrated exactly as christian symbol, and not originally made as a sign, for example, of the sun or part of a household ornament or decoration.”

What form of the pectoral cross is considered correct in Orthodoxy?

Orthodox Church recognizes four-pointed, six-pointed, and eight-pointed types of crosses (the latter, with two additional partitions - one inclined to the left side for the legs and a crossbar at the head, are used more often), with or without the image of the crucified Savior (however, such a symbol cannot be 12- terminal or 16-terminal).

The letters ІС ХС are a christogram, symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ. Also, the Orthodox cross has the inscription “Save and Preserve.”

Catholics also do not give of great importance in the shape of a cross, the image of the Savior is not always found on Catholic crosses.

Why is the cross called a cross in Orthodoxy?

Only clergy wear crosses over their clothes, and ordinary believers should not wear crucifixes for show, thereby demonstrating their faith, because such a manifestation of pride is not appropriate for Christians.

It must also be said that an Orthodox pectoral cross can be made from different materials - gold, silver, copper, bronze, wood, bone, amber, decorated with ornaments or precious stones. The main thing is that it must be sanctified.

If you bought it in a church shop, you don’t have to worry about this: they sell already consecrated crosses. This does not apply to items purchased in jewelry stores, and such crosses will need to be consecrated in the temple. During this ritual, the priest will read prayers calling to protect not only the soul, but also the body of the believer from evil forces.

The cross is a very ancient symbol. What did it symbolize before the Savior’s death on the cross? Which cross is considered more correct - Orthodox or Catholic four-pointed (“kryzh”). What is the reason for the image of Jesus Christ on the cross with crossed feet for Catholics and separate feet in the Orthodox tradition.

Hieromonk Adrian (Pashin) answers:

In different religious traditions, the cross symbolized different concepts. One of the most common is the meeting of our world with the spiritual world. For the Jewish people, from the moment of Roman rule, the cross, crucifixion was a method of shameful, cruel execution and caused 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 Languages, wrote in his Epistle: “I wish to boast... only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).

In the West, the most commonly used now is the four-pointed cross (Fig. 1), which the Old Believers call (for some reason in Polish) “Kryzh Latin” or “Rymski”, which means Roman cross. According to the Gospel, the execution of the cross was spread throughout the Empire by the Romans and, of course, was considered Roman. “And not by the number of trees, not by the number of ends, we venerate the Cross of Christ, but by Christ Himself, whose most holy blood was stained,” says St. Demetrius of Rostov. “And showing 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.”

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.

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross (Fig. 2) most closely corresponds to the historically accurate form of the cross on which Christ was already crucified, as testified by Tertullian, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, St. Justin the Philosopher and others. “And when Christ the Lord carried the cross on His shoulders, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was no title or foot on it yet. There was no footstool, because Christ had not yet been raised on the cross and the soldiers, not knowing where Christ’s feet would reach, did not attach a footstool, having finished this already on Golgotha” (St. Demetrius of Rostov). 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 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” (Matthew 27: 37).

Images of the Savior’s crucifixion have also been known since ancient times. Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant (Fig. 3), and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear (Fig. 4).

Since ancient times, crucifixion crosses, both in the East and in the West, had a crossbar to support the feet of the Crucified One, and His legs were depicted as nailed each separately with its own nail (Fig. 3). The image of Christ with crossed feet nailed to a single nail (Fig. 4) first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.

From the Orthodox dogma of the Cross (or Atonement) undoubtedly follows the idea 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 hands, calling “all the ends of the earth” (Isa. 45:22).

Therefore, in the tradition of Orthodoxy, it is to depict the Savior Almighty precisely as the already Risen Cross-Bearer, holding and calling into His arms the entire universe and carrying on Himself the New Testament altar - the Cross.

And the traditionally Catholic image of the crucifixion, with Christ hanging in his arms, on the contrary, has the task of showing how it all happened, of depicting the dying suffering and death, and not at all what is essentially the eternal Fruit of the Cross - His triumph.

Orthodoxy invariably teaches that suffering is necessary for all sinners for their humble assimilation of the Fruit of redemption - the Holy Spirit sent by the sinless Redeemer, which, out of pride, Catholics do not understand, who through their sinful sufferings seek participation in the sinless, and therefore redemptive Passion of Christ and thereby fall into the crusader heresy "self-rescue".

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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