Orthodox cross description. Orthodox cross: meaning, shape, symbolism

The cross is an ancient and significant symbol. And in Orthodoxy it is of great importance. Here it is both a sign of faith and an indication of belonging to Christianity. The history of the cross is quite interesting. To learn more about this, consider Orthodox crosses: types and meaning.

Orthodox cross: a little history

The cross as a symbol is used in many world beliefs. But for Christians, he initially did not have much good value. Thus, the guilty Jews were executed first in three ways, and then a fourth was added. But Jesus managed to change this order in better side. And he was crucified on a pillar with a crossbar, reminiscent of a modern cross.

Thus, the sacred sign firmly entered the life of Christians. And it became a real protective symbol. In Rus', a person with a cross on his neck inspired trust, and they tried not to do any business with those who did not wear a cross. And they said about them: “There is no cross on them,” meaning a lack of conscience.

We can see crosses of various formats on the domes of churches, on icons, on church attributes and as decorations on believers. Modern Orthodox crosses, the types and meanings of which can vary, play an important role in the transmission of Orthodoxy throughout the world.

Types of crosses and their meaning: Christianity and Orthodoxy

There are a huge variety of types of Orthodox and Christian crosses. Most of them come in the following form:

• straight;
• with extended beams;
• a square or diamond in the middle;
• curved ends of beams;
• triangular ends;
• circles at the ends of the beams;
• flourishing decoration.

The last form symbolizes the Tree of Life. And it is framed with floral patterns, where lilies, vines and other plants may be present.

In addition to differences in shape, Orthodox crosses There are differences by type. Types of crosses and their meaning:

• St. George's Cross. Approved by Catherine the Great as a reward symbol for clergy and officers. This four-pointed cross is considered one of those whose shape is recognized as correct.
• Vine. This cross with eight ends is decorated with images of grape vines. It may have an image of the Savior in the center.

  

• Seven-pointed cross. Was common on 15th century icons. Found on the domes of old churches. In biblical times, the shape of such a cross served as the foot of the altar of the clergy.
• Crown of thorns. The image of a thorny crown on the cross signifies the torment and suffering of Christ. This type can be found on icons of the 12th century.

  

• Gallows-shaped cross. A popular look found on the walls of churches, on the clothes of church employees, and on modern icons.

  

• Maltese cross. Official cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Malta. It has equilateral rays that widen at the ends. This type of cross is issued for military courage.
• Prosphora cross. It is similar to St. George's, but has an inscription in Latin: “Jesus Christ is the winner.” Initially, such a cross was on three churches in Constantinople. According to Orthodox tradition, ancient words with the famous shape of a cross are printed on prosphoras, symbolizing the redemption of sins.

  

• teardrop-shaped four-pointed cross. The drops at the ends of the beams are interpreted as the blood of Jesus. This view was drawn on the first sheet Greek Gospel, dating from the 2nd century. Symbolizes the fight for faith to the end.

  

• Eight-pointed cross. The most common type today. The cross took its form after Jesus was crucified on it. Before that, it was ordinary and equilateral.

  

The last form of the cross is the most common on sale. But why is this cross so popular? It's all about his story.

Orthodox eight-pointed cross: history and symbolism

This cross is directly associated with the moment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. When Jesus carried the cross on which he was to be crucified up the mountain, its shape was ordinary. But after the act of crucifixion itself, a footrest appeared on the cross. It was made by the soldiers when they realized where Jesus' feet would reach after his execution.

The upper bar was made by order of Pontius Pilate and was a tablet with an inscription. This is how the Orthodox eight-pointed cross was born, which is worn around the neck, placed on tombstones, and decorates churches.

Eight-pointed crosses were previously used as the basis for award crosses. For example, during the reign of Paul the First and Elizabeth Petrovna, they were made on such a basis. pectoral crosses for clergy. And the shape of the eight-pointed cross was even enshrined in law.

The history of the eight-pointed cross is closest to Christianity. After all, on the sign above Jesus’ head was the inscription: “This is Jesus. King of the Jews." Even then, in the moments of death, Jesus Christ received recognition from his tormentors and from his followers. This is why the eight-pointed shape is so significant and common among Christians around the world.

In Orthodoxy, a pectoral cross is considered to be one that is worn under clothing, closer to the body. The pectoral cross is not displayed, is not worn over clothing and, as a rule, has an eight-pointed shape. Today there are crosses on sale without crossbars on top and bottom. They are also acceptable to wear, but have four ends, not eight.

And yet, canonical crosses are eight-pointed products with or without the figure of the Savior in the center. There has long been debate about whether it is worth buying crucifixes with Jesus Christ depicted on them. Some representatives of the clergy believe that the cross should be a symbol of the resurrection of the Lord, and the figure of Jesus in the center is unacceptable. Others think that the cross can be considered a sign of suffering for faith, and the image of the crucified Christ is quite appropriate.

Signs and superstitions associated with the pectoral cross

The cross is given to a person during baptism. After this sacrament, the church decoration must be worn almost without taking off. Some believers even wash themselves wearing their crosses for fear of losing them. But what does it mean when the cross is lost?

Many Orthodox people They believe that the loss of the cross is a sign of impending disaster. To ward it off, Orthodox Christians fervently pray, confess and receive communion, and then purchase a new consecrated cross from the church.

Another sign is related to the fact that you cannot wear someone else’s cross. God gives each person his own burden (cross, trials), and by putting on someone else’s badge of faith, a person takes on someone else’s difficulties and fate.

Today, family members also try not to wear each other’s crosses. Although previously the cross, decorated precious stones, was passed down from generation to generation and could become a real family heirloom.

A cross found on the road is not raised. But if they pick it up, they try to take it to church. There it is consecrated and cleansed again, and given to those in need.

Many priests call all of the above superstitions. In their opinion, anyone can wear a cross, but you need to make sure that it is consecrated in the church.

How to choose a pectoral cross for yourself?

You can choose a pectoral cross based on your own preferences. When choosing it, two main rules apply:

• Mandatory blessing of the cross in the church.
• Orthodox view of the selected cross.

Everything that is sold in a church shop undoubtedly belongs to Orthodox paraphernalia. And here catholic crosses Orthodox Christians are not recommended to wear it. After all, they have a completely different meaning, different from the others.

If you are a believer, then wearing a cross becomes an act of union with Divine grace. But God’s protection and grace are not given to everyone, but only to those who truly believe and sincerely pray for themselves and their neighbors. He also leads a righteous lifestyle.

Many Orthodox crosses, the types and meaning of which are discussed above, are devoid of jewelry delights. After all, they are not decoration in the full sense of the word. First of all, the cross is a sign of belonging to Christianity and its norms. And only then - a household attribute that can decorate any outfit. Of course, sometimes pectoral crosses and the crosses on the rings of the priests are made from precious metals. But here, too, the main thing is not the cost of such a product, but its sacred meaning. And this meaning is much deeper than it might initially seem.

The Holy Cross is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every true believer, at the sight of him, is involuntarily filled with thoughts about the dying torments of the Savior, which he accepted to deliver us from eternal death, which became the lot of people after the fall of Adam and Eve. The eight-pointed Orthodox cross carries a special spiritual and emotional load. Even if there is no image of the crucifixion on it, it always appears to our inner gaze.

An instrument of death that has become a symbol of life

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

In the pre-Christian period, it was mainly robbers who were sentenced to crucifixion, and then the followers of Jesus Christ accepted this martyrdom. This phenomenon was especially frequent during the reign of Emperor Nero. The very death of the Savior made this instrument of shame and suffering a symbol of the victory of good over evil and light eternal life over the darkness of hell.

Eight-pointed cross - a symbol of Orthodoxy

The Christian tradition knows many different designs of the cross, from the most common crosshairs of straight lines to very complex geometric designs, complemented by a variety of symbolism. The religious meaning in them is the same, but external differences very significant.

In the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, as well as in Russia, since ancient times, the symbol of the church has been the eight-pointed, or, as they often say, the Orthodox cross. In addition, you can hear the expression “the cross of St. Lazarus,” this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross, which will be discussed below. Sometimes an image of the crucified Savior is placed on it.

External features of the Orthodox cross

Its peculiarity lies in the fact that in addition to two horizontal crossbars, of which the lower one is large and the upper one is small, there is also an inclined one, called the foot. It is small in size and located at the bottom of the vertical segment, symbolizing the crossbar on which Christ’s feet rested.

The direction of its inclination is always the same: if you look from the side of the crucified Christ, then the right end will be higher than the left. There is a certain symbolism in this. According to the words of the Savior on Last Judgment, the righteous will stand on his right hand, and sinners on his left. It is the path of the righteous to the Kingdom of Heaven that is indicated by the raised right end of the footstool, while the left one faces the depths of hell.

According to the Gospel, a board was nailed over the Savior’s head, on which was written in hand: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This inscription was made on three languages- Aramaic, Latin and Greek. This is what the small upper crossbar symbolizes. It can be placed either in the interval between the large crossbar and the upper end of the cross, or at its very top. Such an outline allows us to reproduce with the greatest reliability appearance instruments of Christ's suffering. That is why the Orthodox cross has eight points.

About the law of the golden ratio

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

One example of this would be human body. Through simple experiment, we can be convinced that if we divide the value of our height by the distance from the soles of our feet to the navel, and then divide the same value by the distance between the navel and the top of the head, the results will be the same and amount to 1.618. The same proportion lies in the size of the phalanges of our fingers. This ratio of quantities, called the golden ratio, can be found literally at every step: from the structure of a sea shell to the shape of an ordinary garden turnip.

The construction of proportions based on the law of the golden ratio is widely used in architecture, as well as other fields of art. Taking this into account, many artists manage to achieve maximum harmony in their works. The same pattern was observed by composers working in the genre of classical music. When writing compositions in the style of rock and jazz, it was abandoned.

The law of constructing an Orthodox cross

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross is also built on the basis of the golden ratio. The meaning of its ends was explained above; now let us turn to the rules underlying the construction of this main thing. They were not established artificially, but resulted from the harmony of life itself and received their mathematical justification.

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross, drawn in full accordance with tradition, always fits into a rectangle, the aspect ratio of which corresponds to the golden ratio. Simply put, dividing its height by its width gives us 1.618.

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

Calvary Cross

There is also a special, purely monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross, a photo of which is presented in the article. It is called the “cross of Golgotha.” This is the outline of the usual Orthodox cross, which was described above, placed above the symbolic image of Mount Golgotha. It is usually presented in the form of steps, under which bones and a skull are placed. To the left and right of the cross a cane with a sponge and a spear can be depicted.

Each of these items has a deep religious meaning. For example, skull and crossbones. According to Sacred Tradition, the sacrificial blood of the Savior, shed by him on the cross, falling on the top of Golgotha, seeped into its depths, where the remains of our ancestor Adam rested, and washed away the curse of original sin from them. Thus, the image of the skull and bones emphasizes the connection of the sacrifice of Christ with the crime of Adam and Eve, as well as the New Testament with the Old.

The meaning of the image of the spear on the cross of Golgotha

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross on monastic vestments is always accompanied by images of a cane with a sponge and a spear. Those familiar with the text remember well the dramatic moment when one of the Roman soldiers named Longinus pierced the Savior’s ribs with this weapon and blood and water flowed from the wound. This episode has different interpretation, but the most widespread of them is contained in the works of the Christian theologian and philosopher of the 4th century St. Augustine.

In them he writes that just as the Lord created his bride Eve from the rib of sleeping Adam, so from the wound in the side of Jesus Christ inflicted by the spear of a warrior, his bride the church was created. The blood and water spilled during this, according to St. Augustine, symbolize the holy sacraments - the Eucharist, where wine is transformed into the blood of the Lord, and Baptism, in which a person entering the bosom of the church is immersed in a font of water. The spear with which the wound was inflicted is one of the main relics of Christianity, and it is believed that it is currently kept in Vienna, in the Hofburg Castle.

The meaning of the image of a cane and a sponge

Equally important have images of a cane and a sponge. From the accounts of the holy evangelists it is known that the crucified Christ was twice offered drink. In the first case, it was wine mixed with myrrh, that is, an intoxicating drink that dulls pain and thereby prolongs the execution.

The second time, having heard the cry “I thirst!” from the cross, they brought him a sponge filled with vinegar and bile. This was, of course, a mockery of the exhausted man and contributed to the approach of the end. In both cases, the executioners used a sponge mounted on a cane, since without its help they could not reach the mouth of the crucified Jesus. Despite such a gloomy role assigned to them, these objects, like the spear, were among the main Christian shrines, and their image can be seen next to the cross of Golgotha.

Symbolic inscriptions on the monastic cross

Those who see the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross for the first time often have questions related to the inscriptions inscribed on it. Specifically, these are the IC and XC at the ends of the middle bar. These letters stand for nothing more than the abbreviated name - Jesus Christ. In addition, the image of the cross is accompanied by two inscriptions located under the middle crossbar - the Slavic inscription of the words “Son of God” and the Greek NIKA, which means “winner”.

On the small crossbar, symbolizing, as mentioned above, a tablet with an inscription made by Pontius Pilate, the Slavic abbreviation ІНЦІ is usually written, meaning the words “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” and above it - “King of Glory.” It became a tradition to write the letter K near the image of a spear, and T near the cane. In addition, from about the 16th century, they began to write the letters ML on the left and RB on the right at the base of the cross. They are also an abbreviation and mean the words “The Place of the Execution is Crucified.”

In addition to the listed inscriptions, it is worth mentioning two letters G, standing to the left and right of the image of Golgotha, and being the initial ones in its name, as well as G and A - Head of Adam, written on the sides of the skull, and the phrase “King of Glory”, crowning the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross. The meaning contained in them fully corresponds to the Gospel texts, however, the inscriptions themselves can vary and be replaced by others.

Immortality granted by faith

It is also important to understand why the name of the eight-pointed Orthodox cross is associated with the name of St. Lazarus? The answer to this question can be found on the pages of the Gospel of John, which describes the miracle of his resurrection from the dead, performed by Jesus Christ, on the fourth day after death. Symbolism in in this case It is quite obvious: just as Lazarus was brought back to life by the faith of his sisters Martha and Mary in the omnipotence of Jesus, so everyone who trusts in the Savior will be delivered from the hands of eternal death.

In the vain earthly life, people are not given the opportunity to see the Son of God with their own eyes, but they are given his religious symbols. One of them is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross, proportions, general form and the semantic load of which became the topic of this article. It accompanies a believer throughout his life. From the holy font, where the sacrament of baptism opens the gates of the Church of Christ for him, right up to the gravestone, an eight-pointed Orthodox cross overshadows him.

Pectoral symbol of the Christian faith

The custom of wearing small crosses made from a variety of materials on the chest appeared only at the beginning of the 4th century. Despite the fact that the main instrument of Christ’s passion was the object of veneration among all his followers literally from the first years of his establishment on earth christian church, at first it was customary to wear medallions with the image of the Savior on the neck rather than crosses.

There is also evidence that during the period of persecution that took place from the middle of the 1st to the beginning of the 4th century, there were voluntary martyrs who wanted to suffer for Christ and painted the image of the cross on their foreheads. They were recognized by this sign and then given over to torture and death. After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, wearing crosses became a custom, and during the same period they began to be installed on the roofs of churches.

Two types of pectoral crosses in Ancient Rus'

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

Along with them, the so-called encolpions appeared - also crosses, but somewhat bigger size and worn over clothing. They originate from the tradition of carrying reliquaries with relics, which were decorated with the image of a cross. Over time, encolpions transformed into priests and metropolitans.

The main symbol of humanism and philanthropy

Over the millennium that has passed since the day when the Dnieper banks were illuminated by light Christ's faith, Orthodox tradition has undergone many changes. Only its religious dogmas and basic elements of symbolism remained unshakable, the main one of which is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Gold and silver, copper or made of any other material, it protects a believer, protecting him from the forces of evil - visible and invisible. As a reminder of the sacrifice made by Christ to save people, the cross has become a symbol of the highest humanism and love for one's neighbor.

The cross is life, it is usually considered a symbol of life. However, under no circumstances should one consider the Cross Christian symbol. The ancient people associated the cross with a man with his arms outstretched to the sides; this symbol also denotes a certain point where two directions intersect. It is also considered a symbol of the beginning, since the Cross is the basis of many construction drawings and plans.

The history of the Cross symbol

The mysterious history of this sign begins with the symbol of the sun, which gives an idea of ​​​​smooth and unhurried movement Heavenly Body By celestial sphere. The symbol of the Cross in ancient times could represent a circle - it was a sign of the annual movement of the Earth around the Sun. According to ancient astronomers, the point located at the bottom of the Cross refers to summer solstice, and the point located on top of the Cross to winter solstice. Accordingly, the left dot denotes autumn equinox, A right point- autumn equinox.

There are a huge number of types of the Cross and they all carry very different meanings.

Cross symbols - options

Y- a shaped cross, usually called a forked cross. This sign is always decorated with branches, which indicates the symbolic designation of a tree, and the tree itself is usually associated with the beginning of life.

A cross with a transverse beam at the bottom is called the "Russian Cross". It is he who is the symbol of life since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

X- a figurative Cross is used in various rituals in the church and is used as a talisman.

T- the figurative Cross is a symbol of the chosenness of the gods. The ancient Egyptians supplemented this simple sign with an oval or circle and was considered a sign of life by their rulers.
It should be noted that the sign of the Cross is almost always present on the coats of arms of ancient families. There is even a special science of heraldry, which studies a variety of ancient coats of arms.

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The ankh is a symbol known as the Egyptian cross, the looped cross, the crux ansata, the "cross with a handle." Ankh is a symbol of immortality. Unites the cross (symbol of life) and the circle (symbol of eternity). Its shape can be interpreted as rising Sun, as a unity of opposites, as masculine and feminine.
The Ankh symbolizes the union of Osiris and Isis, the union of earth and sky. The sign was used in hieroglyphs, it was part of the words “welfare” and “happiness”.
The symbol was applied to amulets in order to prolong life on earth; they were buried with it, guaranteeing life in the other world. The key that opens the gate of death looks like an ankh. In addition, amulets with the image of an ankh helped with infertility.
Ankh - magic symbol wisdom. It can be found in many images of deities and priests from the time of the Egyptian pharaohs.
It was believed that this symbol could save from floods, so it was depicted on the walls of canals.
Later, the ankh was used by sorceresses for sorcery, fortune-telling, and healing.

CELTIC CROSS

Celtic cross, sometimes called Jonah's cross or round cross. The circle symbolizes both the sun and eternity. This cross, which appeared in Ireland before the 8th century, is possibly derived from "Chi-Rho", a monogram of the first two letters of Christ's name written in Greek. Often this cross is decorated with carved figures, animals and biblical scenes, such as the Fall of man or the sacrifice of Isaac.

LATIN CROSS

The Latin cross is the most common Christian religious symbol in Western world. According to tradition, it is believed that it was from this cross that Christ was taken down, hence its other name - the cross of the Crucifixion. The cross is usually untreated wood, but is sometimes overlaid with gold to symbolize glory, or with red spots (the blood of Christ) on green (the Tree of Life).
This form, so similar to a man with outstretched arms, symbolized God in Greece and China long before the advent of Christianity. The cross rising from the heart symbolized kindness among the Egyptians.

BOTTONNI CROSS

A cross with clover leaves, called the "bottonni cross" in heraldry. The clover leaf is a symbol of the Trinity, and the cross expresses the same idea. It is also used to refer to the resurrection of Christ.

PETER'S CROSS

The Cross of St. Peter has been one of the symbols of St. Peter since the 4th century, who is believed to have been crucified head down in 65 AD. during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome.
Some Catholics use this cross as a symbol of submission, humility and unworthiness in comparison to Christ.
The inverted cross is sometimes associated with Satanists who use it.

RUSSIAN CROSS

Russian cross, also called "Eastern" or "Cross of St. Lazarus", symbol Orthodox Church in the eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia. The upper of the three cross bars is called the "titulus", where the name was written, as in the "Patriarchal Cross". The bottom crossbar symbolizes the footrest.

CROSS OF PEACE

The Peace Cross is a symbol developed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 for the emerging Peace Movement. nuclear disarmament". For this symbol, Holtom was inspired by the semaphore alphabet. He made a cross from its symbols for "N" (nuclear, nuclear) and "D" (disarmament, disarmament), and placed them in a circle, which symbolized global agreement. This symbol attracted public attention attention after the first protest march from London to the Berkshire nuclear research center on April 4, 1958, the cross soon became one of the most common signs of the 60s, symbolizing both peace and anarchy.

SWASTIKA

The swastika is one of the oldest and, since the twentieth century, the most controversial symbols.
The name comes from the Sanskrit words "su" ("good") and "asti" ("being"). The symbol is ubiquitous and is most often associated with the Sun. Swastika - sun wheel.
The swastika is a symbol of rotation around a fixed center. The rotation from which life arises. In China, the swastika (Lei-Wen) once symbolized the cardinal directions, and then acquired the meaning of ten thousand (the number of infinity). Sometimes the swastika was called the “seal of the heart of Buddha.”
It was believed that the swastika brings happiness, but only when its ends are bent clockwise. If the ends are bent counterclockwise, then the swastika is called sauswastika and has a negative effect.
The swastika is one of the early symbols of Christ. In addition, the swastika was a symbol of many gods: Zeus, Helios, Hera, Artemis, Thor, Agni, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and many others.
In the Masonic tradition, the swastika is a symbol of averting evil and misfortune.
In the twentieth century, the swastika acquired new meaning, the swastika or Hakenkreuz ("hooked cross") became a symbol of Nazism. Since August 1920, the swastika began to be used on Nazi banners, cockades, and armbands. In 1945, all forms of swastikas were banned by the Allied occupation authorities.

CROSS OF CONSTANTINE

The Cross of Constantine is a monogram known as the "Chi-Rho", shaped like an X ( greek letter"chi") and R ("rho"), the first two letters of the name of Christ in Greek.
Legend has it that it was this cross that Emperor Constantine saw in the sky on his way to Rome to see his co-ruler and at the same time enemy Maxentius. Along with the cross, he saw the inscription In hoc vinces - “with this you will win.” According to another legend, he saw a cross in a dream the night before the battle, and the emperor heard a voice: In hoc signo vinces (with this sign you will win). Both legends claim that it was this prediction that converted Constantine to Christianity. He made the monogram his emblem, placing it on his labarum, imperial standard, instead of an eagle. The subsequent victory at the Milvian Bridge near Rome on October 27, 312 made him sole emperor. Afterwards an edict was issued allowing confession Christian religion in the empire, believers were no longer persecuted, and this monogram, which Christians had previously used secretly, became the first generally accepted symbol of Christianity, and also became widely known as a sign of victory and salvation.

THE EIGHT-LEADED CROSS is the most common in Rus'.

Above the middle vertical crossbar there is a short, long and under them oblique crossbar, the upper end of which faces north, the lower end faces south. The upper small crossbar symbolizes a tablet with an inscription made by order of Pilate in three languages: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” the lower crossbar is the footstool on which Jesus’ feet rested, depicted in reverse perspective. The shape of the Orthodox cross most closely corresponds to the one on which Jesus was crucified, therefore it is not only a sign for everyone, but also an image of the Cross of Christ...

The eight ends of the cross symbolize eight main periods in the history of mankind, where the eighth is the life of the next century, the Kingdom of Heaven. The end that points upward symbolizes the path to Heavenly Kingdom, opened by Christ. The oblique crossbar, to which, according to legend, Christ’s feet were nailed, suggests that with his coming in the earthly life of people, the balance of being in the power of sin was disrupted for everyone without exception. This is the beginning spiritual rebirth everywhere and everywhere, the path of man from the region of darkness to the region of heavenly light. This movement from earth to sky is indicated by the oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross.

When the crucifixion of Christ is depicted on the cross, the cross marks the full image of the Crucifixion of the Savior and contains the fullness of the Power of the Cross. Therefore, in Rus' there are eight-pointed pectoral cross always considered the most reliable protection from all evil - both visible and invisible.

SIX-POINTED CROSS.

This is also one of the oldest Russian crosses. For example, the worship cross, installed in 1161 by the Venerable Eurosinia, Princess of Polotsk, was six-pointed, with an inclined lower crossbar. Why is it slanted here, in this version of the cross? The meaning is symbolic and deep.

The cross in the life of every person serves as a measure, as if it were his scales. internal state, soul and conscience. This was the case at the time of the real crucifixion of Jesus on the cross - between two thieves. In the liturgical text of the 9th hour of the service to the Cross there are words that “between two thieves the standard of righteousness will be found.” We know that during the execution one of the robbers blasphemed Jesus, the second, on the contrary, said that he himself suffered the execution justly, for his sins, and Christ was executed innocently.

We know that Jesus, in response to this sincere repentance, told the thief that his sins were being removed, that “today” he would be with the Lord in paradise. And in the six-pointed cross, the inclined crossbar with its lower end symbolizes the terrible weight of unrepentant sin, dragging the first of the thieves into darkness, the second, directed upward, is liberation through repentance, through which the path to the Kingdom of Heaven lies.

IN Orthodox culture An eight-pointed grave cross is usually placed on the grave, and the same cross is placed on the coffin lid. It is often supplemented with the crucifixion of Christ.