The history of the image of the Cross. What are the crosses. What are Orthodox crosses, meaning and differences

16.10.2019

CROSS. CRUCIFICATION. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS DEATH OF CHRIST. THE DIFFERENCE OF THE ORTHODOX CROSS FROM THE CATHOLIC CROSS.

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. As for the Protestants, they do not recognize such a symbol as the cross and do not wear it. The cross for Protestants is a symbol of a shameful execution, a tool by which the Savior was not only hurt, but also killed.

The reason why a person wears 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.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SAVIOR'S DEATH ON THE CROSS

As is known, 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, 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 shamefully and shamefully for it. 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. As many Jews as people Greek culture apostolic times it seemed contradictory to say that almighty 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 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, in fact, is 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 achievement, about the goal of life, about the coming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.

Wherein, redemptive death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even "seductive for those who are perishing," has a regenerating power that the believing heart feels and longs 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 personal experience became convinced of the great spiritual blessings brought to them by the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior, 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 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 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 kings, the Cross is the faithful affirmation, the Cross is the glory of the angel, the Cross is the plague of the demon,- claims absolute Truth luminaries of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.

The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious 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”!

FORM OF THE CROSS

four-pointed cross

Today shops and church shops offer big variety crosses various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are about 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.

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 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 to be tilted left side, symbolizing that the repentant thief, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the thief, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters IC XC are a Christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that “When Christ the Lord carried the cross on His shoulders, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or footstool on it. There was no footstool, because Christ had not yet been lifted up on the cross, and the soldiers, not knowing where Christ's feet would reach, did not attach footstools, finishing it already at 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 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 during Ancient Russia, also had six-pointed cross . It also has sloping crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper one - 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.

CRUCIFICATION

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. That's why on the Orthodox cross, Christ does not die, but freely stretches out his hands, 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 dead body, and 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 footrest. She 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. That's why 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 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 image dead man, 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.

Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox cross

Thus, there are the following differences Catholic cross from 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 on 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.

Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak

for the Temple Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

Today, shops and church shops offer a wide variety of crosses of various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are about 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

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 support for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the “righteous measure”, which weighs 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 footstool on it. There was no footstool, because Christ had not yet been lifted up on the cross, and the soldiers, not knowing where Christ's feet would reach, did not attach footstools, finishing it already at 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 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 St. Theodore the Studite - "a cross of every form is a true cross" and has unearthly beauty and life-giving power.

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 hands, 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.

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 have 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 about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will put away the understanding of the prudent. Where is the sage? where is the scribe? where is the questioner of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? For when the world through its wisdom did not know God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God with the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For the Jews also demand miracles, and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks madness, 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 atoning death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even “seductive for the 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 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.

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;

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 “the 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 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.

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 . On the Orthodox cross, God is depicted, who opened the way to eternal life, and on the Catholic one, a person experiencing torment.

A believer wears a cross according to the rules. But how to choose the right one and not get confused in their diversity? You will learn about the symbolism and meaning of the crosses from our article.

There are a lot of types of crosses and many people already know what not to do with a pectoral cross and how to wear it correctly. Therefore, the first question arises as to which of them are relevant to Orthodox faith, and which - to the Catholic. In both types of the Christian religion, there are several types of crosses, which must be understood in order not to be confused.

The main differences of the Orthodox cross

has three transverse lines: upper and lower - short, between them - long;
at the ends of the cross, three semicircles can be decorated, resembling a shamrock;
on some Orthodox crosses below, instead of an oblique transverse line, there may be a month - this sign came from Byzantium, from which Orthodoxy was adopted;
Jesus Christ is crucified at the feet with two nails, while on the Catholic crucifixion - one nail;
there is some naturalism on the Catholic crucifix, which reflects the torments of Jesus Christ that he endured for the people: the body looks literally heavy and hangs on his hands. Orthodox crucifixion shows the triumph of God and the joy of the Resurrection, overcoming death, so the body is, as it were, superimposed on top, and not hanging on the cross.

Catholic crosses

First of all, they include the so-called latin cross. Like everything else, it is a vertical and horizontal line, while the vertical one is noticeably longer. Its symbolism is as follows: this is exactly what the cross that Christ carried to Golgotha looked like. Previously, it was also used in paganism. With the adoption of Christianity, the Latin cross became a symbol of faith and is sometimes associated with opposite things: with death and resurrection.

Another similar cross, but with three transverse lines, is called papal. It is related only to the Pope and is used in ceremonies.

There are also many types of crosses that were used by all kinds of knightly Orders, such as the Teutonic or Maltese. Since they were subordinate to the Pope, these crosses can also be considered Catholic. They look slightly different from each other, but what they have in common is that their lines taper noticeably towards the center.

Lorraine cross very similar to the previous one, but has two crossbars, while one of them may be shorter than the other. The name indicates the area in which this symbol appeared. The Lorraine cross appears on the arms of cardinals and archbishops. Also, this cross is a symbol of the Greek Orthodox Church, therefore it cannot be fully called Catholic.

Orthodox crosses

Faith, of course, implies that the cross must be worn constantly and not removed, except in the rarest of situations. Therefore, it is necessary to choose it with understanding. The most widely used cross in Orthodoxy is eight-pointed. It is depicted as follows: One vertical line, a large horizontal line just above the center and two more shorter crossbars: above and below it. In this case, the lower one is always inclined and its right side is at a level lower than the left one.

The symbolism of this cross is as follows: it already shows the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The upper transverse line corresponds to the nailed crossbar with the inscription "Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews." According to biblical tradition, the Romans joked about him after they had already crucified him on the cross and were waiting for his death. The crossbar symbolizes the one to which the hands of Christ were nailed, and the lower one, where his feet were riveted.

The inclination of the lower crossbar is explained as follows: two thieves were crucified together with Jesus Christ. According to legend, one of them repented before the Son of God and then received forgiveness. The second began to scoff and only aggravated his situation.

However, the first cross that was first brought from Byzantium to Russia was the so-called Greek cross. It, like the Roman one, is four-pointed. The difference is that it consists of identical rectangular crossbars and is completely isosceles. It served as the basis for many other types of crosses, including crosses of Catholic orders.

Other types of crosses

St. Andrew's cross is very similar to the letter X or an inverted Greek cross. It is believed that it was on this that the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was crucified. Used in Russia on the flag of the Navy. It is also featured on the flag of Scotland.

The Celtic cross is also similar to the Greek one. He must be taken in a circle. This symbol has been used for a very long time in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as parts of Britain. At a time when Catholicism was not widespread, Celtic Christianity prevailed in this area, which used this symbol.

Sometimes the cross can appear in a dream. This can be both a good and a very bad sign, according to the dream book. All the best, and don't forget to press the buttons and

26.07.2016 07:08

Our dreams are a reflection of our consciousness. They can tell us a lot about our future, past...

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 during ancient rome. In this way, criminals and Christians who had been persecuted since the reign of Nero were executed. similar view 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 positive side. 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 martyrdom Savior, received 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 sacred language transmission of faith and defense of church doctrine. That is why the cross was of great importance for Christians, symbolizing the victory of good and over evil and bestowing eternal light life above 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 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 situation means that on the day of the Last Judgment the righteous will stand up 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", then 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 perfection human body and it 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 crown. 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. custom to wear on the chest church crosses, made of various materials, arose in the first half of the 4th century. Initially, the followers Christian faith it was customary 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 highest value 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 sloping lower bar acts as a measuring scale that evaluates the life of each person and his internal 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 it on the banks of the Dnieper Kievan Rus. 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 reports, 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.

The cross is the most recognizable symbol of Orthodoxy. But any of you have seen many types of crosses. Which one is correct? You will learn about this from our article!

Cross

Varieties of the cross

“The cross of every form is the true cross,” taught St. Theodore the Studite back inIX century. And in our time it happens that in churches they refuse to accept notes with four-pointed "Greek" crosses, forcing them to correct them for eight-pointed "Orthodox" ones. Is there any one, "correct" cross? We asked the head of the icon-painting school of the MTA, associate professor, hegumen LUKA (Golovkov) and a leading specialist in stavrography, candidate of art criticism Svetlana GNUTOVA to help sort this out.

What was the cross on which Christ was crucified?

« Cross- this is a symbol of the Passion of Christ, and not only a symbol, but an instrument through which the Lord saved us, - says hegumen Luke (Golovkov). “Therefore, the Cross is the greatest shrine through which God’s help is accomplished.”

The history of this Christian symbol began with the fact that the holy Empress Helen in 326 found the Cross on which Christ was crucified. However, what exactly he looked like is now unknown. Only two separate crossbars were found, and next to it was a tablet and a foot. There were no grooves or holes in the crossbars, so there is no way to determine how they were attached to each other. “There is an opinion that this cross could also be in the form of the letter “T”, that is, three-pointed,” says leading specialist in stavrography, candidate of art criticism Svetlana Gnutova. - The Romans had at that time the practice of crucifying on such crosses, but this does not mean that the Cross of Christ was exactly like that. It could be both four-pointed and eight-pointed.

The discussion about the "correct" cross did not arise today. The dispute about which cross is correct, eight-pointed or four-pointed, was led by Orthodox and Old Believers, and the latter called the simple four-pointed cross "the seal of the Antichrist." Saint John of Kronstadt spoke in defense of the four-pointed cross, devoting his Ph.D. thesis to this topic (he defended it in 1855 at St. before the child? And this well-known form of the cross, this most ancient shrine of faith, the seal of all the sacraments, like something new, unknown to our ancestors, which appeared yesterday, our imaginary Old Believers suspected, humiliated, trampled among white day, spouting blasphemy against that which, from the very beginning of Christianity and until now, has served and continues to serve as a source of sanctification and salvation for all. Honoring only the eight-pointed cross, or three-piece, that is, a straight shaft and on it three diameters located known way, they call the seal of the Antichrist and the abomination of desolation the so-called four-pointed cross, which is the true and most common form of the cross!

St. John of Kronstadt explains: “The “Byzantine” four-pointed cross is actually 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 Sophia Cathedral, carved on the marble board of the tomb of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, son of St. Vladimir. But, protecting the four-pointed cross, St. John concludes that one and the other must be honored equally, since the form of the cross itself has no fundamental difference for believers. Hegumen Luke: "In Orthodox Church its holiness does not depend on the shape of the cross, provided that the Orthodox cross is made and consecrated precisely as a Christian symbol, and not originally made as a sign, for example, of the sun or part of a household ornament or decoration. The rite of consecrating crosses became obligatory in the Russian Church for this, as well as icons. It is interesting that, for example, in Greece, the consecration of icons and crosses is not necessary, because Christian traditions in society are more stable.”

Why don't we wear the sign of the fish?

Until the 4th century, while the persecution of Christians continued, it was impossible to openly make images of the cross (including so that the persecutors would not abuse it), so the first Christians came up with ways to encrypt the cross. That is why the very first Christian symbol was the fish. The Greek word for fish is Ίχθύς, an acronym for the Greek phrase "Iησοvς Χριστoς Θεov Υιoς Σωτήρ" - "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior". The image of two fish on the sides of the vertical anchor with the top in the form of a cross was used as a secret "pass-password" to Christian meetings. “But the fish has not become the same symbol of Christianity as the cross,” hegumen Luka explains, “because the fish is an allegory, an allegory. The Holy Fathers at the Fifth-Sixth Trulli Ecumenical Council of 691-692 directly condemned and banned allegories, since this is a kind of "children's" image that only leads to Christ, in contrast to the direct image of Christ himself - our Savior and the Cross of Christ - a symbol of His Suffering . Allegories left the practice of the Orthodox Church for a long time and only ten centuries later began to re-penetrate the East under the influence of the Catholic West.

The first encrypted images of the cross itself were found in the Roman catacombs of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The researchers found that on the tombs of Christians who suffered for their faith, they often painted a palm branch as a symbol of eternity, a brazier as a symbol of martyrdom (this is the method of execution that was common in the first centuries) and a christogram - a letter abbreviation of the name Christ - or a monogram consisting of the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet Α and Ω - according to the word of the Lord in Revelation to John the Theologian: "Az, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rev. 1, 8). Sometimes these symbols were drawn together and arranged in such a way that the image of a cross was guessed in them.

When did the first "legal" cross appear

The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine (IV) “appeared in a dream to Christ, the Son of God, with a sign seen in heaven and commanded, having made a banner similar to this one seen in heaven, to use it to protect against attacks by enemies,” writes church historian Eusebius Pamphilus. “This banner happened to be seen by us with our own eyes. It had the following appearance: on a long spear covered with gold there was a transverse rail, which formed a sign of the cross with the spear, and on it the first two letters of the name Christ, combined together.

These letters, later called the monogram of Constantine, the king wore on his helmet. After the miraculous appearance of St. Constantine ordered to make images of the cross on the shields of his soldiers and installed in Constantinople three commemorative Orthodox crosses with a golden inscription in Greek "IC.XP.NIKA", which means "Jesus Christ the Conqueror". He installed the first cross with the inscription "Jesus" on the triumphal gates of the city square, the second with the inscription "Christ" - on a Roman column, and the third with the inscription "Conqueror" - on a high marble pillar in the bread square of the city. With this began the universal veneration of the Cross of Christ.

“Holy images were everywhere so that, more often visible, they would encourage us to love the Archetype,” explains Abbot Luke. “After all, everything that surrounds us affects us in one way or another, good and evil. A holy reminder of the Lord helps the soul to aspire in thought and heart to God.

As St. wrote about these times. John Chrysostom: “The Cross is everywhere in glory: on houses, in the square, in solitude, on roads, on mountains, on hills, on plains, on the sea, on ship masts, on islands, on lodges, on clothes, on weapons, at feasts, on vessels of silver and gold, on precious stones, on mural painting ... so vying with each other admire this amazing gift.

It is interesting that since the opportunity to legally make images of the cross appeared in the Christian world, the encrypted inscriptions and Christograms did not disappear, but migrated, as an addition, to the crosses themselves. This tradition also came to Russia. Since the 11th century, under the lower oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross-crucifixion, which was installed in temples, a symbolic image of the head of Adam appears, who, according to legend, was buried on Golgotha. The inscriptions are a brief commentary on the circumstances of the crucifixion of the Lord, the meaning of His death on the cross, and are deciphered as follows: “M.L.R.B.” - “the place of the frontal was crucified”, “G.G.” - "Mount Golgotha", The letters "K" and "T" mean a spear of a warrior and a cane with a sponge, depicted along the cross. The inscriptions are placed above the middle crossbar: "IC" "XC", and below it: "NIKA" - "Winner"; on the plate or near the inscription: “SN BZHIY” - “Son of God”, “I.N.Ts.I” - “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”; above the plate there is an inscription: "ЦРЪ СЛАВЫ" - "King of Glory". "G.A." - "Head of Adam"; moreover, the bones of the hands lying in front of the head are depicted: right on the left, as during burial or communion.

Catholic or Orthodox Crucifixion?

“The Catholic Crucifixion is often written in a more naturalistic way,” says Svetlana Gnutova. - The Savior is depicted sagging in his arms, the image conveys the martyrdom and death of Christ. In ancient Russian images, Christ is depicted as Risen and Reigning. Christ is depicted in power - as a conqueror, holding and calling the whole Universe into His arms.

In the 16th century, the Moscow clerk Ivan Mikhailovich Viskovaty even spoke out against crosses, where Christ is depicted on the cross with clenched into a fist, and not open palms. “Christ stretched out his hands on the cross to gather us together,” hegumen Luke explains, “so that we rush to heaven, so that our aspiration will always be towards the heavenly. Therefore, the cross is also a symbol of gathering us together so that we can be one with the Lord!”

Another difference between the Catholic Crucifixion is Christ Crucified with three nails, that is, the nails are driven into both hands, and the soles of the feet are put together and nailed with one nail. In the Orthodox Crucifixion, each foot of the Savior is nailed separately with its own nail. Abbot Luke: "That's enough ancient tradition. In the 13th century, custom-made icons for the Latins were painted in Sinai, where Christ was already nailed with three nails, and in the 15th century, such Crucifixes become the generally accepted Latin norm. However, this is only a tribute to tradition, which we must respect and preserve, but not look for any theological load here. In the Sinai Monastery, the icons of the Lord crucified with three nails are in the temple and are revered on a par with Orthodox crucifixes.

Orthodox cross - Love crucified

“The iconography of the cross is evolving like any other iconography. The cross can be decorated with ornaments or stones, but in no way can it become 12-pointed or 16-pointed,” says Svetlana Gnutova. “The variety of forms of the cross in the Christian tradition is a variety of glorification of the Cross, and not a change in its meaning,” explains Abbot Luke. - Hymnographers glorified the Cross with many prayers, just as icon painters glorify the Cross of the Lord in different ways. For example, an image of a tsata appeared in icon painting - a royal or princely pendant in the shape of a crescent, in our country it is usually used on the icons of the Virgin and Christ, - it soon appeared on the cross to emphasize its royal significance.

Of course, we need to use the crosses that are written in Orthodox tradition. After all, the Orthodox cross on the chest is not only the help that we resort to in prayers, but also the evidence of our faith. Although, I think we can accept images of crosses of ancient Christian denominations (for example, Copts or Armenians). Catholic crosses, which after the Renaissance became too naturalistic in form, do not coincide with the Orthodox understanding of Christ Crucified as the Conqueror, but since this is an image of Christ, we must treat them with reverence.

As St. John of Kronstadt: “The main thing that should remain in the Cross is Love: “A cross without love cannot be thought and imagined: where the cross is, there is love; in church you see crosses everywhere and on everything so that everything reminds you that you are in the temple of Love, crucified for us.