Lighting of the cross at home. How to consecrate a pectoral cross
Read also
A pectoral cross is put on a person's neck in the process of the Sacrament of Baptism - from that moment on, it helps to endure all the burdens and hardships. The cross is visible evidence of the wearer's belonging to Orthodox Church, confession Christian faith, a means of beneficial protection.
Traditionally, in the Orthodox Church, the consecration of a pectoral cross is performed by a priest in a church. The rite of blessing the cross to be worn on a persech, i.e. on the chest, contained in the liturgical book - Trebnik.
The cross is consecrated only once. It is necessary to re-consecrate it only in exceptional conditions (if it was badly damaged and restored anew, or fell into your hands, but you do not know whether it was consecrated before).
There is a superstition that when sanctified pectoral cross acquires magical protective properties. The Church teaches that the sanctification of matter allows us not only spiritually, but also physically - through this sanctified matter - to partake of the Divine grace that we need for spiritual growth and salvation. But the grace of God does not work unconditionally. A person is required to have a correct spiritual life according to the commandments of God, and it is this spiritual life that makes it possible for the grace of God to influence us savingly, healing from passions and sins.
Sometimes one hears the opinion that, they say, the consecration of pectoral crosses is a late tradition and this was not the case before. To this one can answer that the Gospel as a book also once did not exist, and there was no Liturgy in its present 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 call God's grace on the creation of human hands?
Crosses that you purchase in jewelry stores are subject to consecration. Everything that is sold in church shops, as a rule, has already been consecrated - crosses, icons, candles, etc. If you do not know whether the cross was consecrated (you received it, got it from relatives, etc.), then it is better to consecrate it. It is important that the cross be exactly Orthodox - with all the necessary attributes.
- Choose the temple in which you want to consecrate the cross - the one that is next to your house or the one where you always go to worship. Go to the priest and find out all the details. For example, if you want to be present at the consecration, then clarify this question in advance.
- Behave in the temple accordingly - cross yourself, bow, seek help from any clergyman - any of them can consecrate the cross. If there are none of the priests, then ask the servants who sell candles and icons, write down the requests, so that they invite the priest.
- There may be a charge to bless the cross, so you will need to pay the required amount in advance. The priest will examine your cross and check its compliance with Orthodox canons. You can give the cross along with the chain (although only the cross itself is subject to lighting) - it will be put on a tray and taken to the altar. There, the priest will read the prayers and ask the Lord for permission to consecrate your cross, pour heavenly power into it. From now on, the cross will keep your body and soul from evil spirits, enemies and sorcerers. You better spend this time reading the prayer - try to concentrate, throw all extraneous thoughts and feelings out of your head. Pray, kiss the icons, light candles.
- When they bring you a cross, put it on yourself. If you have any questions about the cross or any other problems, then talk to the clergyman, find out all the points of interest and be sure to thank.
- Try to treat the cross with care - it is a symbol of your faith. If it breaks, then do not throw it away - take the cross to the temple. Wear the cross at all times without taking it off.
18.10.2014
The pectoral cross is a special Orthodox amulet that should protect a person from adversity, adversity and illness, help them endure them bravely and courageously. The vest (the second name of the Orthodox cross) will help get rid of ill-wishers and protect difficult situations... In connection with this, on many crosses you can see the inscription "Save and preserve." This one is important for everyone Orthodox Christian the attribute is hung around the neck after the sacrament of Baptism has been performed. And this means that a person has accepted faith and is now a servant of God.
Choosing a cross
If you buy a pectoral cross, do not pay attention to its beauty, appearance or bet on the value of the product. It must be remembered that he is just a symbol of the faith that a person has in his soul. And the cost of the cross, as you know, has no effect on the depth of faith.
You can choose from the assortment of the church shop at the temple. Usually, these crosses have already been consecrated before the sale, so nothing needs to be done with them. But a crucifix-shaped piece from a jewelry store is still worth blessing.
If you are choosing a cross not in a shop of Orthodox utensils, pay attention to how Jesus was crucified on the cross. If his feet are nailed down with two nails, this is Orthodox cross... If one - Catholic, which is forbidden to be worn by Orthodox Christians. Therefore, in the temple, they are not subject to consecration.
The cross itself can be:
four-pointed;
six-pointed;
eight-pointed.
All of them are considered Orthodox.
How to consecrate a cross
If you have a desire to wear consecrated cross, be sure to contact the temple. Go to the employees, whom you can always find near the candle box (candles are sold there and demands are recorded). Ask a priest to be invited to you. He will come up immediately after the end of the service. Ask to consecrate your cross.
This rite of consecration can be performed by absolutely any clergyman. First, he must examine whether the crucifixion corresponds to the Orthodox canons. If something confuses him or does not suit him, he will have to choose a new crucifix. Usually the cross itself is sacred, but it is impossible to pass it from hand to hand just like that, but it is imperative to hang it on a chain or waxed cord.
Next, the priest will take him to the altar and serve the rite, which is supposed to similar case... During the consecration of the pectoral cross, the priest reads two prayers in which he asks the Lord to pour his strength into the cross. So a small crucifix will not only protect the soul of a person, but also protect his body from evil forces, sorcery and witchcraft. After reading the prayers, the priest will give you a cross.
Every baptized person wears a cross with the image of Christ on his chest. This is not a decoration, not a mark of distinction, it is a symbol of faith. The cross, which a person receives at baptism, must be worn all his life. You can't shoot it ...
Orthodoxy is rich in tradition. Consecration of a dwelling is one of the most important and obligatory rites. This ritual protects against dark forces, is a symbol of God's blessing and participation in the church. ...
With the advent of Christianity, the cross, the image of which was used by people long before the emergence of any of the famous cults, became a symbol of the Christian. It is believed that every believer should have his own cross with him, which must be consecrated. Purchased from a jewelry store, it carries no value. Therefore, any believer asks the question of how to consecrate the cross in the church before starting to wear it in the most important place - at the heart.
The purpose of the pectoral cross in Christianity
Each person who has undergone the rite of baptism wears a symbol on his chest, reckoning him to the Orthodox Church. The pectoral cross, according to the canons of the church, protects its owner from troubles, diseases, evil eyes and intent, helps to overcome life's obstacles. Therefore, on the front or back side cross you can see the inscription: "Save and preserve." Most often, an Orthodox cross is consecrated during the sacrament of the baptism of a newborn.
If during his life a person accidentally lost his pectoral cross, then the clergy advise to buy a new one as soon as possible and consecrate it in the nearest church. They are sure that any cross is subject to consecration, even the one that you buy in the church shop, because during the sacrament the soul, body and thoughts of the person who will wear the sprinkled cross also undergo purification.
Do not forget that the cross is not a decoration or an attribute of style. Therefore, when choosing, you should not be guided by the type of metal from which it is made, or the amount precious stones. Christian religion suggests modesty and simplicity of life. Classical pectoral cross among Orthodox Christians it has an eight-pointed shape (less often - four- and six-pointed). Each of its bends has its own specific meaning.
In some cases, the church allowed the rite of consecration of the cross to be held in own home... For this, it was necessary to receive a blessing from the church father. But the clergy still recommend holding the sacrament within the walls of the temple in accordance with the ancient church rules.
The sequence of the consecration procedure is outlined in the Trebnik. To the power of this church attribute gave the believer protection and blessing, after the ritual in the church, the priest reads prayers for several weeks.
The book describes the following requirements for the consecration procedure:
- The choice of a new cross, the shape and appearance of which correspond to the canons of the church. It is better to choose protection in the shop of the temple, as jewelry stores often offer crosses made in the Catholic pattern. It does not matter for Orthodox churches what material the cross is made of (be it wood or gold).
- To carry out the consecration, the believer should come to the temple and turn to the clergyman after the end of the service. When requested, use the address "Honest Father". Anyone who has the rank of a priest can carry out the procedure.
- The cross brought to the church must be on a rope or chain. It is advisable to show it to the clergyman in advance.
- The priest takes a cross in his hands and takes it to the altar for worship. During the consecration, a representative of the church voices two prayers in which he asks to fill the cross with spiritual power. While the priest is conducting the veneration, a person can pray and light candles for health.
- The final stage of consecration is sprinkling (three times) with sacred water. The cross is now cleaned and can be worn near the heart. The priest will immediately offer to put on a protective amulet. From this moment on, a person who comes to the temple must keep under his clothes main character Christianity.
- It is advisable to offer the clergyman a symbolic payment for the accomplishment. It can be dropped into the donation box.
Not every believer knows how to consecrate a cross in a church, so a few days before the sacrament, you can come to the temple and receive instructions from a priest. From the moment of the consecration of the pectoral cross, you need to treat it with respect and caution. The idea that losing the cross leads to unhappiness is just superstition.
Each baptized person bears a symbol of evidence of his or her belonging to the Orthodox Church. It is believed that this symbol is a means of protection from all ills. Such an important attribute an Orthodox person given at the time of baptism. Some historians note that such a rite was present in Russia even before Orthodoxy. It is with this that they explain the fact that crosses are also worn by those people who are not believers. They put into it the meaning of a symbol that prevents negativity.
It happens that people lose their pectoral cross or receive a gift jewelry... No one can say for sure whether it is consecrated or not. What to do in this case? In this situation, there are 2 ways out:
consecrate him in the church
consecrate at home
Where to consecrate the cross is already your decision.
How to consecrate a cross?
Often, the pectoral cross is consecrated together with the newborn during the baptismal ceremony. And therefore, there is no point in sanctifying it again. But what to do in that situation if you have lost this symbol? The clergy recommend buying a new one and consecrating it.
Sometimes the question arises: is it necessary to consecrate the cross? The crosses that are sold directly in churches have already been consecrated. But jewelry from stores is unlikely. In addition, no one can guarantee you the purity of the metal from which these products were made and where they were taken from.
It happens that jewelry is stolen, removed from the dead and melted down. Just imagine what kind of energy a cross made of such metal can carry. Of course, it is desirable to consecrate such a talisman.
If you have chosen a place where to conduct a similar ritual, then approach the ministers earlier and specify when it is best to do this. It is noted that a large number of such rituals take place on the eve of Easter. But you need to remember that not only crosses need to be sanctified, but also icons and other objects.
Consecrate the cross in the church
Previously, there were no questions about the location of the cross lighting. In the provinces, people knew that such a ritual could be performed at home. The only requirement was the blessing of the priest. In cities, it was recommended to visit a temple for such an action.
Arguing this by the fact that city dwellers are more susceptible to temptations. The very same procedure of consecration is clearly spelled out in a special church book - the missal. In addition, after such a ritual, the priests read prayers for another month to consolidate the result.
The missal contains certain requirements for this procedure:
It is necessary to choose the right cross. Church crosses perform according to all the canons and they no longer require re-baptism. But the jewelry is mainly made in the Catholic manner.
It does not matter for Orthodoxy whether a cross is made of wood or metal.
After the service, you should contact the priest about the conduct of this rite.
When asking for a ceremony, you need to contact the clergyman "Honest Father"
Anyone in the dignity of a priest can perform such a ritual.
It is advisable to show the decoration to the priest earlier and hang it on a thread or string.
The priest during the ceremony takes him to the altar and conducts the veneration. At this time, you can put candles and pray.
Finally, the items will be sprinkled three times with sacred water and are considered purified.