The difference between the Orthodox cross and the Catholic cross. Orthodox and Catholic Crucifixion: similarities and differences
During Baptism, each person wears a pectoral cross. It must be worn on your chest for the rest of your life. Believers note that the cross is not a talisman or dyeing. This is a symbol of commitment to the Orthodox faith and God. It helps in difficulties and troubles, strengthens the spirit. When wearing a cross, the main thing is to remember its meaning. By putting it on, a person promises to persevere through all trials and live according to God’s commandments.
It is worth noting that a cross on the body is considered a sign that a person is a believer. Those who have not joined the church, that is, have not been baptized, should not wear it. Also, according to church tradition, only priests can wear it over their clothes (they wear it over their cassock). All other believers are not allowed to do this and it is believed that those who wear it over their clothes are bragging about their faith and putting it on display. But such a manifestation of pride is not appropriate for a Christian. Also, believers are not allowed to wear a cross in their ear, on a bracelet, in their pocket or on their bag. Some people argue that only Catholics can wear four-pointed crosses; supposedly Orthodox Christians are prohibited from wearing them. In fact, this statement is false. The Orthodox Church recognizes today different types crosses (photo 1).
This means that Orthodox Christians can wear a four-pointed or eight-pointed cross. It may or may not depict the crucifixion of the Savior. But what an Orthodox Christian should avoid is depicting the crucifixion with very extreme realism. That is, the details of the sufferings on the cross, the sagging body of Christ. This image is typical of Catholicism (photo 2).
It is also worth noting that the material from which the cross is made can be absolutely anything. It all depends on the wishes of the person. For example, silver is not suitable for some people because it does not immediately turn black. Then it is better for them to refuse such material and opt for, for example, gold. In addition, the church does not prohibit wearing crosses large sizes, inlaid with expensive stones. But, on the contrary, some believers believe that such a demonstration of luxury is not at all compatible with faith (photo 3).
The cross must be consecrated in the church if it was purchased at a jewelry store. Usually the consecration takes a couple of minutes. If you buy it in a shop that operates at a church, then you don’t need to worry about it, it will already be consecrated. Also, the church does not prohibit wearing crosses that were inherited from a deceased relative. There is no need to be afraid that in this way he will “inherit” the fate of his relative. In the Christian faith there is no concept of inevitable fate (photo 4).
So, as already said, the Catholic Church recognizes only the four-pointed shape of the cross. The Orthodox, in turn, is more lenient and recognizes six-pointed, four-pointed and eight-pointed forms. It is believed that more correct form, still eight-pointed, with two additional partitions. One should be at the head, and the second for the legs (photo 5).
It is better not to buy crosses with stones for small children. At this age, they try everything, they can bite off a pebble and swallow it. We have already noted that the Savior does not necessarily have to be on the cross. Also orthodox cross It differs from the Catholic one in the number of nails for the feet and hands. So, in the Catholic Creed there are three of them, and in the Orthodox Creed there are four (photo 6).
Let us note that on the cross, in addition to the crucified Savior, the face of the Mother of God, the image of Christ Pantocrator, can be depicted. Various ornaments can also be depicted. All this does not contradict faith (photo 7).
In The magic of signs and symbols. Continuation.
Cross
This is a symbol of Rule and Navi, separated by the Reveal line. All sides of the cross are equal in length, because all elements are in balance, i.e. a balance of power is maintained.
Christians appropriated this symbol for themselves, changing the entire design. They extended the Navi line, thereby establishing themselves as a religion of death. The balance of power was upset.
The energy of such a cross is negative, because Navi's field is increased, he is essentially a vampire. And, if you consider that crosses of this kind are hung on the necks of all people, and in addition with a corpse, then the very low energy of the adherents of this religion becomes clear. When hanging a cross on children, the harmonious development of the child is disrupted.
Now many adults understand that they need to get away from Christian vampirism, but they don’t know how to do it. So, regardless of when a person was baptized (as an adult or a child), the debaptism procedure can be carried out independently, quietly and unnoticed by others. And you shouldn’t trust this to any “magi in the Nth generation.” To do this, you only need a desire and a conscious decision to leave the sect of the dead. And the procedure is extremely simple, anyone can handle it.
So, you need to stay in all alone so that no one is distracted. It can be indoors, it can be outdoors. First the cross is removed. Then we imagine a dark cloud above our head (this is a Christian egregor), from which a “hose” goes to the top of our head. Mentally, we take this “hose” with our hand, unhook it from the head, but do not let go.
Mentally (or maybe out loud) we say words of gratitude to the egregor for all the good things he has done to us throughout our lives. And it doesn’t matter whether it was or wasn’t - the main thing here is gratitude. Then we say that our paths have diverged, and the time has come for us to part forever. Only after this do we release the “hose” and watch how it is drawn into the cloud, which floats away or dissolves. All. Usually the person feels great relief. The shoulders straighten on a physical level.
As for the cross, it, together with the chain, needs to be cleaned with the fire of a candle (not a church one), then it is better to melt it into some other decoration. You can simply take it to church and leave it there, i.e. give.
Circle
The circle is a symbol of the sun, planet. All children draw the same sun. This is Life.
But with the advent of Christianity, “horror stories” appeared in the form evil spirits, from which you need to hide inside the circle. And so everyone begins to draw circles around themselves - eternal protection from the outside world. And psychics are promoting this, and magicians of all levels and sorcerers of the Nth generation...
Everyone builds protection around themselves in the form of circles, raising them high in the form of cylinders, barrels, etc., etc. And they do not understand that for every action there is a reaction. The more powerful the defense against a supposed attack, the weaker the person actually becomes, because... he, fencing himself off from the World, receives less energy from the Cosmos. Everything is elementary. Any defense always loses. You need to strengthen your energy and then no “nasty” will be able to reach you.
Pectoral cross- a small cross, symbolically representing the cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified (sometimes with an image of the Crucified One, sometimes without such an image), intended for constant wear Orthodox Christian as a sign of his loyalty to Christ, belonging to the Orthodox Church, serving as a means of protection.
The cross is the greatest Christian shrine, a visible evidence of our redemption. In the service for the Feast of the Exaltation, the tree of the Cross of the Lord is sung with many praises: “the guardian of the entire universe, beauty, the power of kings, the affirmation of the faithful, glory and plague.”
A pectoral cross is given to a baptized person who becomes a Christian and is constantly worn in the most important place (near the heart) as an image of the Cross of the Lord, an outward sign of an Orthodox person. This is also done as a reminder that the Cross of Christ is a weapon against fallen spirits, having the power to heal and give life. That is why the Cross of the Lord is called Life-Giving!
He is evidence that a person is a Christian (a follower of Christ and a member of His Church). This is why it is a sin for those who wear a cross for fashion without being a member of the Church. Consciously wearing a cross on the body is a wordless prayer, allowing this cross to demonstrate the true power of the Archetype - the Cross of Christ, which always protects the wearer, even if he does not ask for help, or does not have the opportunity to cross himself.
The cross is consecrated only once. It needs to be reconsecrated only in exceptional conditions (if it was severely damaged and restored again, or fell into your hands, but you do not know whether it was consecrated before).
There is a superstition that when consecrated, the cross acquires magical protective properties. But it teaches that the sanctification of matter allows us not only spiritually, but also physically - through this sanctified matter - to join the Divine grace that we need for spiritual growth and salvation. But the grace of God does not act unconditionally. A person is required to have a correct spiritual life, and it is this that makes it possible for the grace of God to have a salutary effect on us, healing us from passions and sins.
Sometimes one hears the opinion that, supposedly, sanctification pectoral crosses- a late tradition and this did not exist before. To this we can answer that the Gospel, as a book, also once did not exist and there was no Liturgy in its current form. But this does not mean at all that the Church cannot develop forms of worship and church piety. Is it contrary to Christian doctrine to invoke God’s grace on the creation of human hands?
Is it possible to wear two crosses?
The main question is why, for what purpose? If you were given another one, then it is quite possible to reverently keep one of them in a holy corner next to the icons, and wear one constantly. If you bought another one, then wear it...
A Christian is buried with a pectoral cross, so it is not passed on by inheritance. As for wearing the second pectoral cross somehow left over from a deceased relative, then wearing it as a sign of memory of the deceased indicates a misunderstanding of the essence of wearing a cross, which testifies to the Sacrifice of God, and not family relationships.
A pectoral cross is not an ornament or an amulet, but one of the visible evidence of belonging to the Church of Christ, a means of grace-filled protection and a reminder of the Savior’s commandment: If anyone wants to follow Me, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me... ().
Differences between the Orthodox cross and the Catholic one
In both Orthodoxy and Catholicism, the image of Jesus on the cross is a symbol of faith. But there are fundamental differences between Orthodox and Catholic crosses:
- The Catholic cross is always four-pointed, while the Orthodox cross can be four-, six-, or eight-pointed. Most often it is eight-pointed.
- In Orthodoxy, it is believed that Jesus was nailed with four nails, each leg separately, while on the Catholic cross the legs are nailed with one nail.
- It is customary to depict Jesus on the Catholic cross as suffering and dying. And the Orthodox depict the risen God.
The cross in Orthodoxy is the iconography of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, who conquered death by death and redeemed a person from the oath with his Sacrifice on the Cross. The Orthodox cross is deeply dogmatic and is a symbol Orthodox faith, and its bearers belong to Orthodoxy. That's why Orthodox person it doesn’t matter what kind of cross he wears, sees on the dome of his church, in the seals on the prosphora, in the hands of the priest blessing him, etc. If a person doesn’t care what kind of cross, then he is not Orthodox or simply does not know his faith, the faith of the apostles and holy fathers of the Orthodox Church.
The Catholic cross has three crucifixion nails and the Christian cross has four
The difference between these two crosses is observed. The Catholic cross is a four-pointed cross. But the Orthodox cross is eight-pointed. The crosses are similar because they are the same religion - Christianity.
Fundamentally, there is no difference - Catholic or Orthodox. In fact, there should be no difference in the crosses, just as there is no difference in the executed Jesus Christ himself.
However, most often in Orthodox Christianity we find more elaborate, decorated crosses, with additional elements as a small crossbar at the bottom (often depicted obliquely), as well as another horizontal crossbar above the supposed head of the executed person. This way it’s like three crosses in one. Perhaps this is a hint at the trinity. But I haven’t been able to find an exact, comprehensive answer anywhere yet.
I personally suspect that Orthodox Christianity has always liked to play with symbolism, add details, etc. Most likely, there are two reasons why the Orthodox cross is often different from the Catholic one. Firstly, this is a desire to emphasize the differences between different Christian religions. Secondly, most likely, the cross as a symbol was borrowed from pre-Christian times, from pagans, who often used similar symbols in worship, and in the most different forms and details.
By and large, there are no Catholic and Orthodox crosses - there is a Christian cross on which Christ was crucified, and which became a symbol of Christianity.
Therefore, Christians usually wear a small cross on their chest - and its shape may or may not correspond to the generally accepted tradition.
For example in Russian Orthodox Church The traditional form of an 8-pointed cross, entwined with artistic Byzantine decorative curls, on which is a stylized flat figurine of Christ, is accepted.
IN Roman Catholic Church They usually use a three-dimensional figurine of Christ on a strict 4-pointed cross:
IN Protestantism They completely abandoned the image of the Crucified Christ:
However, this is not a rule: for example, Catholic Franciscan order traditionally uses this Orthodox image of the Crucifixion:
A Greek Catholics also use the Byzantine form of the cross:
That's why, By and large, the shape of the cross on the chest does not matter for a Christian- it is important whether he wears it as a symbol of his faith or simply as decoration, often shocking or fashionable.
Initially, the Christian cross, like Christianity itself, was one with four ends of the simplest form, which now applies to those professing the Catholic Church.
After the division of Christianity into two churches: Catholic and Orthodox, a new Orthodox cross with eight ends appeared accordingly.
Christians still prefer crosses of the exact form of church that they profess, and the variety and design defies the imagination and imagination of thought.
The Catholic and Orthodox crosses have two differences - this is the upper horizontal crossbar near the head of Jesus, on which there was some kind of inscription, and the lower oblique crossbar near the feet of Jesus, that is, on the Orthodox there are additional crossbars and on the Catholic there are only two crossbars.
The Catholic cross has 4 ends, the Orthodox cross has eight. For example, using the Orthodox cross you can navigate to the cardinal points. True, the crosses are very similar to each other, since they are two crosses of the same religion.
Catholics venerate a four-pointed cross with an elongated vertical crossbar; they have Jesus dead, with his legs nailed to one nail.
The Orthodox have a wide variety of crosses, but it is impossible not to have the image of Jesus Christ.
The main difference between the Catholic cross and the Orthodox one is that the Savior’s legs on the Catholic cross are depicted nailed to one nail, one on top of the other. On an Orthodox cross with two nails.
The Orthodox cross is an 8-pointed cross:
Catholic cross - 4-pointed:
The Orthodox cross has an oblique crossbar. According to legend, it is believed that a crossbar was nailed under Christ’s feet and bent. There is also an upper small tablet, where, according to legend, it was written in three languages (Greek, Latin and Aramaic): Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. On an Orthodox cross, the lower oblique crossbar may be missing. Sometimes there is a crescent moon rotated 90 degrees, symbolizing a boat or a boat. Sometimes it is associated with the cradle of Christ (it has nothing to do with Islam).
P.S. *Is it possible to use a Catholic cross for prayer in Orthodox church- I didn’t find a clear answer*.
The Catholic cross is four-pointed. The Orthodox cross is eight-pointed. In addition, using the cross on the dome of the Orthodox Church, you can navigate to the cardinal points. The upper (raised) end of the lower oblique crossbar points to the north, and the lower to the south.
In general, both Orthodox and Catholic priests they say that the cross is the cross, it has no form of great importance, there are separate creeds.
More often, questions about the differences between crosses arise regarding body crosses and crosses in the cemetery. They differ simply:
1.Shape: a traditional Orthodox cross has a lower crossbar at an angle (but not always), a Catholic cross does not have such a crossbar - the crossbar is located much higher than the center of the vertical base. Catholic crosses are more laconic. Moreover, the Orthodox cross can be four, six or eight-pointed.
2.Image of Jesus on the cross:
In Orthodoxy, Jesus is portrayed as calm and majestic. Arms outstretched, palms open. The feet are side by side and each nailed separately. Jesus' body is nailed with four nails.
In Catholicism, the crucifix realistically depicts the suffering of Jesus. The arms are sagging under the weight of the body, the fingers are bent, the head is often drooping with a crown of thorns, the soles of the legs are crossed and nailed with one nail. The body of Jesus is nailed with three nails (on the crucifix of the Catholic Franciscan order, Jesus is depicted nailed with four nails - this image was accepted until the 13th century).
In Christianity, the veneration of the cross belongs to Catholics and Orthodox Christians. 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 allows us to reflect the depth of Orthodox culture.
The history and significance 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 the times of Ancient Rome. Criminals and Christians who had been persecuted since the reign of Nero were executed in this way. Similar view killing was practiced in ancient times by the Phoenicians and migrated through the Carthaginian colonists to the Roman Empire.
When Jesus Christ was crucified on a stake, 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 sufferings 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 Christ’s feet reached. At the top there was a sign with the inscription: “This is Jesus, King of the Jews,” nailed by order of Pontius Pilate. From that moment on, the eight-pointed shape of the Orthodox cross was born.
Any believer, seeing the holy crucifix, involuntarily thinks about the martyrdom of the Savior, accepted as deliverance from the eternal death of humanity after the fall of Adam and Eve. The Orthodox cross carries an emotional and spiritual load, the image of which appears to the inner gaze of the believer. As Saint Justin stated: “The cross is the great symbol of the power and authority of Christ.” In Greek, “symbol” means “union” or the manifestation of an invisible reality through naturalness.
The inculcation of symbolic images became difficult during the time of the Jews with the emergence of the New Testament church in Palestine. At that time adherence to traditions was revered and images considered as idolatry were prohibited. As the number of Christians increased, the influence of the Jewish worldview decreased. In the first centuries after the execution of the Lord, followers of Christianity were persecuted and performed rituals in secret. The oppressed situation, the lack of protection of the state and the church directly affected the symbolism and worship.
Symbols reflected the dogmas and formulas of the Sacraments, contributed to the expression of the word and were the sacred language of transmitting faith and defending church teaching. That is why the cross was of great importance for Christians, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and bestowing eternal light of life over the darkness of hell.
How the cross is depicted: features of external manifestation
There are various options crucifix designs where you can see simple shapes 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 eastern Europe they adhere to the eight-pointed form of the crucifix - Orthodox. Its other name is “The Cross of St. Lazarus.”
The crosshair consists of a small upper crossbar, a large lower crossbar and an inclined foot. The vertical crossbar, located at the bottom of the pillar, was intended to support the feet of Christ. The direction of the crossbar's tilt 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 right hand, and sinners are on the left. The kingdom of heaven is given to the righteous, as evidenced by the right corner raised upward. Sinners are cast into the depths of hell - the left end indicates.
For Orthodox symbols The monogram is characteristically inscribed mainly at the ends of the middle crosshair - IC and XC, denoting 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 Inzi (ІНЦІ - in Orthodoxy), and Inri (INRI - in Catholicism), - this is how the words “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews” are designated. The eight-pointed display conveys with great certainty the instrument of Jesus’ death.
Rules of construction: proportions and sizes
Classic version of the eight-pointed crosshair is built in the correct harmonious proportion, which consists in the fact that everything embodied by the Creator is perfect. The construction is based on the law of the golden ratio, which is based on the perfection of the human body and sounds like this: the result of dividing the height of a person by the distance from the navel to the feet is 1.618, and coincides with the result obtained from dividing the height by the distance from the navel to the top of the head. A similar ratio of proportions is contained in many things, including the Christian cross, the photo of which is an example of construction according to the law of the golden ratio.
The drawn crucifix fits into a rectangle, its sides are adjusted to the rules of the golden ratio - height divided by width equals 1.618. Another feature is that the span of a person’s arms is equal to his height, so a figure with outstretched arms is harmoniously contained 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 height of Christ. Anyone planning to write a cross or apply a vector pattern should take these rules into account.
Pectoral crosses in Orthodoxy are considered to be those worn under clothing, closer to the body. It is not recommended to display the symbol of faith in public by wearing it over clothing. Church products have an eight-pointed shape. But there are crosses without upper and lower crossbars - four-pointed ones, these are also allowed to be worn.
The canonical version looks like eight-pointed products with or without an image of the Savior in the center. The custom of wearing church crosses made of different material, arose in the first half of the 4th century. Initially, it was customary for followers of the Christian faith to wear not crosses, but medallions with the image of the Lord.
During periods of persecution from the middle of the 1st century to the beginning of the 4th century, there were martyrs who expressed a desire to suffer for Christ and applied crosshairs to their foreheads. Using their distinctive sign, volunteers were quickly identified and martyred. The emergence of the Christian religion introduced the custom of wearing crucifixes, and at the same time they were installed 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 they are Orthodox crosses, types and meaning, let's look at the main types of design:
In Orthodoxy highest value is paid 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 a crucifix, the inclined lower crossbar acts as a measuring scale, assessing the life of each person and his internal state. The figure has been used in Rus' since ancient times. 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. The miraculous power of the crucified Christ lay in the number of its ends.
Eight-pointed cross
The most common type is a symbol of the Orthodox Russian Church. It is called differently - Byzantine. The eight-pointed shape was formed after the act of crucifixion of the Lord; before that, the shape was equilateral. A special feature is the lower foot, in addition to the two upper horizontal ones.
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 man objected to him that they were real criminals, and Jesus was falsely convicted. The defender was on the right hand, so the left end of the foot was raised upward, symbolizing eminence above other criminals. Right side the crossbar is lowered as a sign of humiliation of the others 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 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 of Kyiv, where it is carved on a marble slab for the burial of Prince Yaroslav, who was the son of St. Vladimir.
Maltese cross
Refers to the officially accepted symbolic crucifix of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem on the island of Malta. The movement openly opposed Freemasonry, and, according to some information, participated in organizing the murder of Pavel Petrovich, the Russian Emperor who patronized the Maltese. Figuratively, the cross is represented by equilateral rays that widen 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 the highest being, bliss. First depicted by Christians in the Roman catacombs. It was often used to decorate church utensils, gospels, and was embroidered on the clothes of Byzantine church servants.
The symbol was widespread in the culture of the ancient Iranians and Aryans, and was often found in China and Egypt during the Paleolithic era. The swastika was revered in many areas of the Roman Empire and ancient Slavic pagans. The sign was depicted on rings, jewelry, and rings, signifying fire or the sun. The swastika was churched by Christianity and many ancient pagan traditions were reinterpreted. In Rus', the image of the swastika was used in decoration church items, ornaments and mosaics.
What does the cross on church domes 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-Mongol period, an eight-pointed form of a dome was often found, under the crossbar of which there was a crescent moon turned upside down by its horns.
There are various explanations for such symbolism. The most famous concept is compared to a ship's anchor, which is considered a symbol of salvation. In another version, the moon is symbolized by the font in which the temple is clothed.
The meaning of the month is interpreted in different ways:
- The Bethlehem font that received the infant Christ.
- Eucharistic cup containing the body of Christ.
- Church ship, led by Christ.
- The serpent trampled under 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 one. In fact, it is quite easy to distinguish them. Catholicism has a four-pointed cross, on which the hands and feet of the Savior are crucified with three nails. A similar display appeared in the 3rd century in the Roman catacombs, but still remains popular.
Distinctive 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.
