Variants of Orthodox crosses. What should be a pectoral Orthodox cross? (Photo)

Symbols and varieties of ancient crosses.

T-shaped cross, "Antonievsky"

This three-pointed cross has come down to us since ancient times. They crucified on such a cross, carried out executions in Old Testament times, and already in the time of Moses such a cross was called “Egyptian.” Such a cross served as an instrument of execution in the Roman Empire. The cross consisted of two bars in the shape of the Greek letter “T” (tau). The Epistle of Barnabas contains an excerpt from the book of the prophet Ezekiel, where the T-shaped cross is typified as a symbol of righteousness: , make a sign. " Here, the word "sign" translates the name of the letter of the Hebrew alphabet "tav" (that is, the literal translation would be: "make tav"), corresponding to the Greek and Latin letter T.

The author of “The Epistle of Barnabas”, referring to the book of Genesis (see: Gen. 14, 14), where it is said that the number of men of the house of Abraham, circumcised as a sign of the Covenant with God, was 318, reveals the transformative meaning of this event. 318 = 300 + 10 + 8, while 8 was denoted in Greek numbering by the letter "pi", 10 - by the letter "I", with which the name of Jesus begins; 300 was designated by the letter "T", which, in his opinion, indicates the expiatory meaning of the T-shaped cross. Also Tertullian writes: "The Greek letter tau. and our Latin T is the image of the cross ”. According to legend, this very cross was worn by the Monk Anthony the Great on his robes, which is why it is called “Antony's”. Saint Zeno, bishop of the city of Verona, erected a T-shaped cross on the roof of the basilica he built in 362.

Cross "Andreevsky"

The image of this cross is already found in Old Testament... Prophet Moses, by the inspiration and action of God, took copper, made the image of the cross and told the people: “If you look at this image and believe, you will be saved through it” (see: Num. 21, 8; John 8). Greek letter cross X (who also hides the name of Christ) is called "Andreevsky" because it was on such a cross that the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was crucified. In 1694year, Emperor Peter the Great ordered to place the image of St. Andrew's cross on the naval flag, which since then has been called the "St. Andrew's" flag.

Schematic cross, or "Golgotha"

At the time of Jesus Christ, criminals sentenced to death on the cross were forced to carry this weapon themselves to the Execution Ground. And the Savior of the world was executed as a criminal. He carried his heavy cross to Calvary Himself. The death of Christ on the cross gave the cross of Calvary the glory of all time. He becamea symbol of the uprising from the dead and finding eternal life in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the greatest symbol of power and the power of Christ. Since XI century, this eight-pointed cross under the lower oblique crossbar has a symbolic image of the head of Adam. According to legend, it was on Golgotha, where Christ was crucified, that the forefather of mankind, Adam, was buried. V Xvicentury in Russia, near the image of Golgotha, the designations "M.L.R.B." - Place Forehead Crucified Byst(or, as they sometimes read: Place Skull Paradise Be) (Golgotha ​​in Hebrew means Execution Ground). On the crosses “Golgotha” you can see other inscriptions “G. G." - Mount Golgotha, “G. A ”- Head of Adamov. On the images of Calvary, the bones of the hands lying in front ofhead, depicted right on left, as in burial or communion. The letters "K" and "T", depicted along the cross, mean a copy of the centurion Longinus and a cane with a sponge. The Calvary Cross stands on the steps that symbolize the path of Christ to Calvary. In total, three steps are depicted, they denote faith, hope and love. Lettering “IC "" XC "- the name of Jesus Christ is placed above the middle crossbar, and under it is the word" Nika "- which means Winner. On or near the title - “SNB BZI Y "- God's Son. Sometimes the abbreviation “I.N.TS.I. " - Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. Above the title we see the words “KING OF SLVY” - the King of Glory.The second name - "schematic" - this cross received because that such crosses are supposed to be embroidered on the vestments of the great and angelic schema - three crosses on the paraman and five on the doll - on the forehead, on the chest, on both shoulders and on the back.Another cross "Calvary" is also depicted on the burial shroud, which marks the preservation of the vows given at baptism.

Monogram cross "pre-Constantine"

On the gravestones of the first centuries of Christianity, there is a monogram consisting of Greek initial letters in the name of Jesus Christ Moreover, such monograms are drawn up by cross-combining them: namely, Greek letters“I” (iot) and"X"(hee). It turns out a symbol in the form of St. Andrew's cross, vertically crossed by a line. Specialist in liturgical theology Archimandrite Gabriel believes that such a monogram is a “hidden image of the cross.” Similar monograms were depicted later, in the post-Constantine period, the image of the pre-Constantine monogram can be seen, for example, on the vaults of the Archbishop's Chapel V century in Ravenna.

Cross anchor

This symbol was first discovered by archaeologists on the Thessalonian inscription. IIIcentury. A.S. Uvarov in his book reports on the slabs discovered by archaeologists in the caves of the Pretextatus, on which there were no inscriptions, but only an image of a cruciform anchor. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used this symbol, but they attached a completely different meaning to it. For them, it was a symbol of hope for a lasting earthly Existence. For Christians, the anchor, cruciform in shape, has become a symbol of hope for strongthe great fruit of the cross - The Kingdom of Heaven, that the Church - like a ship - will deliver all worthy people to the quiet haven of eternal life.Everyone can “take up the present hope (that is, the cross), which for the soul is like a safe and strong anchor.” (Heb. B, 18 "-19). meaning, and there is our strong hope.

Cross "monogram of Constantine"

Greek historian of the Church Eusebius Pamphilus in the book “On Lifeblessed Constantine "testifies about how holy kingConstantine Equal to the Apostles had a dream: heaven and a sign onhim, and appeared to him Christ also commanded the king to make a banner likeseen in the sky, to use it to protect against the attack of enemies. Constantine, fulfilling the will of God, erected a banner. Eusebius Pamphilus, who saw it himself banner, left a description: “It had the following appearance: on a long, gold-covered spear there was a transverse yard, which formed the sign of the cross with the spear, and on it the symbol of the salutary name: two letters showed the name of Christ, and from the middle came out the letter "R".The tsar then wore such a monogram on his helmet. The Konstantinovskaya monogram stood on many coins of the Emperor Constantine and was generally quite widely used. We find her image on a bronze coin of the Emperor Decarius, minted in Lydia in the middle of the 3rd century, on many tombstones. A. S. Uvarov in his "Christian Symbolism" gives an example of such a monogram in the form of a fresco in the caves of St. Sixtus.

Catacomb cross, or "Sign of victory"

The Holy Tsar Constantine testified about the miracle that happened to him on October 28, 312, when the Emperor Constantine marched with an army against Maxentius, who was imprisoned in Rome. “One day at noon hours of the day, when the sun began to lean towards the west, I I saw the sign of the cross, made up of light and lying in the sun, with the inscription “By this, conquer!” ”,- the holy Tsar Constantine testified.This spectacle amazed the emperor and the entire army, which beheld the miracle that had appeared. The miraculous phenomenon of the cross in broad daylight attested by many writers, contemporaries of the emperor. One of them is especially important - the confessor Artemy before Julian the Apostate, to whom, during interrogation, Artemy said: “Christ from above called Constantine when he waged a war against Maxentius, showing him at noon“ the sign of the cross, radiantly shining over the sun and star-shaped Roman letters, predicting his victory in the war. Having been there yourself we saw His sign and read the letters, saw him and the whole army: there are many witnesses to this in your army, if only you want to ask them ”(ch. 29). The cross was four-pointed, and this image of the cross, since God Himself showed the sign of the four-pointed cross in heaven, has become especially important for Christians. “In the catacombs and in general on ancient monuments four-pointed crosses are incomparably more common than any other form, ”says Archimandrite Gabriel in the“ Guide to the Liturgy. ”Emperor Constantine defeated Maxentius, who was doing criminal and wicked deeds in Rome, for the power of God was with him. So, the cross, which was the tool of the pagans shameful execution, became a sign of victory, the triumph of Christianity, an object of reverence and veneration.Since then, such crosses have been placed on contracts and signified a signature "worthy of all trust." This image also held together the acts and decisions of the councils. “We command every conciliar the act, which is confirmed by the sign of the Holy Cross of Christ, should be kept in this way and so it should be, as it is, ”reads one of the imperial decrees.

Monogram cross "post-constant"

The cross - the monogram “post-Constantine” is a combination of the letters “T” (Greek “tav”) and “P” (Greek “ro”). The Greek word begins with the letter "P""Pax",meaning "King" and symbolizing the King-Jesus. The “P” is located above the “T” symbolizing His cross. United in this monogram, they remind together the words that all our strength and wisdom is in the Crucified King (see: 1 Cor. 1, 23-24).The apostles, preaching the Resurrection of the crucified Christ, called Jesus the King, honoring His origin from the royal dynasty of David, in contrast to the self-appointed and power-loving high priests who stole power over the people of God.Openly calling Christ the King, the Apostles suffered severe persecution from the clergy through the deceived people. Saint Justin interprets: "And this monogram served as a sign of the Cross of Christ." It became widespread a century later. "Monograms of Constantine" - inV century. The post-Constantine monogram is depicted in tomb of St. Callistus. It is also found on Greek slabs found in the city of Megara and on the gravestones of the cemetery of St. Matthew in Tire.

Monogram cross "sun-shaped"

In IVcentury, Constantine's monogram has undergone a change: the letter was added to it"I"in the form of a line crossing the monogram across. This is how the sun-shaped cross turned out, in which three letters were connected - "I"-Jesus and "XP" - Christ. This sun-shaped cross symbolizes fulfillment of the prophecy about the all-forgiving and all-conquering power of the Cross of Christ: “And for you, who revere my name, the Sun of righteousness and healing in His rays will rise” - this is how the Lord God proclaimed through the mouth of the prophet Malachi (Mal. 4, 2 ~ 3). And other words reveal to us the symbolism of the sun-shaped cross: “for the Lord God is the sun” (Psalm 84, 12).

Cross "prosphora-konstantinovsky"

This cross, shaped like a "Maltese" cross, has Greek words on its four sides “ IC.XC. NIKA ”,which means "Jesus Christ is the Victor". The first time these words were written gold on three large cr stakh in Constantinople as Equal to the Apostles Emperor Constantine ”. The Savior, the Conqueror of Hell and Death, says: “To him who overcomes I will give to sit with Me on My throne, as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne ”(Rev. 3:21). It is this cross with the addition of the words “ I S.Kh.S. NIKA" printed by ancient tradition, on prosphora.

Monogram cross "Trident"

On ancient monument the sculptor Eutropius engraved an inscription saying that he was baptized. At the end of the inscription there is a trident monogram. What does this monogram symbolize? Passing near the Sea of ​​Galilee, the Savior saw fishermen throwing their nets into the water, and said to them: “Follow Me, and I I will make you fishers of men ”(Matthew 4:19). Teaching the people with parables, Christ said: “like the Kingdom of Heaven is a net cast into the sea and seizedfish of every kind ”(Matthew 13:47).A. S. Uvarov in “Christian symbolism” indicates: “Recognizing in shells for fishing symbolic meaning Of the Kingdom of Heaven, we can assume that all the formulas related to this concept were iconically expressed by these symbols ”. And the trident, which used to catch fish, is also a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven.Consequently, the trident monogram of Christ has long meant participation in the Sacrament of Baptism, as a trap in the network of God's Kingdom.

Crown of thorns cross

This cross is shaped like eight-pointed cross, the second crossbar of which is circled in the center with points along the edge, symbolizing a crown of thorns.When our forefather Adam sinned, the Lord said to him: “Cursed is the earth for you ... thorns and thistles it will grow for you” (Gen. 3, 17-18). And the new sinless Adam - Jesus Christ - voluntarily took upon himself the sins of others, and death, and thorns suffering leading to it.“The soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head,” says the Gospel, “and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53: 5). That is why the crown of thorns became for Christians a symbol of victory and reward, “a crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4, 8), “a crown glory ”(1 Pet. 5, 4),“ the crown of life ”(James 1, 12; Apoc. 2, 10).The cross with a crown of thorns was known among various Christian peoples of antiquity. When the Christian faith spread to other lands, these new Christians also accepted the “crown of thorns” cross.For example, a cross of this shape is depicted on the pages of the ancient Armenian handwritten book of the period of the Cilician kingdom. And in Russia the image of the cross "crown of thorns" was used. Such a cross is placed on the icon "Glorification of the Cross" XII century located in Tretyakov Gallery... The image of a cross with a crown of thorns is also embroidered on the “Calvary” cover - the monastic contribution of Queen Anastasia Romanova.

Hanging cross

This form of the cross is especially often used to decorate temples, church utensils, and holy vestments. Similar crosses, enclosed in a circle, are seen on holy vestments; we see them on the hierarchical homophores of the “three universal teachers”

Cross "vine" or "flourishing cross"

A cross with an inclined foot, and from the lower end, as it were, two stems twist upwards with leaves and a grape cluster on each. “I am the vine, and you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit ”(John 15: 5). Called himself a vine The Savior himself and since then this image has become deeply symbolic. The main meaning of the vine for Christians, - writes A. S. Uvarov, - was in a symbolic connection with the Sacrament of Communion. While partaking, we abide in the Lord, and He is in us, and then we receive a lot of “spiritual fruit” ”.

Petal cross

A four-pointed cross, the ends of which are created in the form of petals, and the middle that connects them looks like a round heart of a flower. Such a cross was worn on the omophorion by Saint Gregory the Wonderworker. The petal cross is most often used for decoration church buildings. We meet petal crosses, for example, in mosaics XI century Kiev Hagia Sophia.

Greek cross

Greek cross - four-pointed, built by the perpendicular intersection of two parts equal in length. These parts can be straight or have small extensions at the ends. The equality of the vertical and horizontal lines indicates the harmony of the heavenly and earthly world. The four-pointed, equilateral cross is the sign of the Cross of the Lord, dogmatically meaning that to the Cross of Christ is equalall ends of the universe, four cardinal points are called. This type of cross symbolizes the Church of Christ in the unity of the invisible and visible sides... The eyes of the invisible church are Christ. He leads the visible church, consisting of clergy and laity, priests and ordinary believers. All rituals and sacraments performed in the visible church gain strength through the action of the invisible church.The Greek cross was traditional for Byzantium and appeared at the same time as the “Latin” cross appeared in the Roman church, in which the vertical beam is longer than the horizontal one.The Greek cross is also considered the oldest Russian cross. According to church tradition, the holy prince Vladimir took out of Korsun, where he was baptized, just such a cross and installed it on the banks of the Dnieper in Kiev. Therefore his also called "Korsunsky". Such a cross is carved on the tomb of Prince Yaroslav the Wise in the Kiev Sophia Cathedral.Sometimes the "Greek cross" is depicted inscribed in a circle, symbolizing the cosmological sphere of heaven.

Latin four-pointed cross

Four-pointed cross with an elongated bottom highlights the idea of ​​the longsuffering of Divine love, which gave the Son of God as a sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. Such crosses first appeared in IIIcentury in the Roman catacombs, where Christians gathered for divine services. Crosses of this shape were as common as the Greek ones. The variety of forms of the cross was recognized by the Church quite natural. According to the expression of the Monk Theodore the Studite, "... a cross of every form is a true cross." “By a variety of sensory signs, we are hierarchically elevated to a uniform union with God” (John Damascene). A cross of this shape is still used by some Eastern Orthodox Churches.The stance of this cross is much longer than the beam. The post and beam intersect so that the two horizontal arms and the upper vertical portion are the same length. Bottom part the rack is two-thirds of the total length. This cross primarily symbolizes the suffering of Christ the Savior. A strong impetus for the veneration of the direct image of the cross,and not monogrammed, was the acquisition of the Honest Of the Life-giving Cross mother of the holy Tsar Constantine, Equal to the Apostles Helen. As the direct image of the cross spreads, it gradually acquires the form of the Crucifixion.In the Christian West, such a cross is the most common. Often zealous devotees of the eight-limbed do not recognize the Latin cross. Old Believers, for example, call it dismissively "latin kryzh" or "rimski kryzh", which means the Roman cross. But we must not forget that, as it is written in the Gospel, the execution of the godmother spread throughout the Empire by the Romans and was considered Roman. “Honorable cross, four-pointed power, splendor to the apostles ", - is sung in the" Canon Honest Cross”St. Gregory the Sinaite. The divine power of the Cross containseverything earthly, heavenly and hell. “Behold the four-pointed Cross, had height, depth and breadth,” is sung in the fourth canon of the canon.Saint Demetrius of Rostov says: “... Not according to the length of the tree, not according to the number In the end, the Cross of Christ is revered by us, but according to Christ himself, with whose holy blood he was stained red. Showing miraculous power, any Cross does not work by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and the invocation of His holy name ”.

Cross "Lorenz" or "Russian patriarchal"

In shape, it is a six-pointed cross, with the upper crossbar parallel to the lower one, but shorter than it. The “Patriarchal Cross” has been used since the middle of the last millennium. It is this form six-pointed cross was depicted on the seal of the governor of the Byzantine emperor in the city of Korsun. Such a cross was worn by the Monk Avraamy of Rostov. Such a cross was widespread in the Christian West - it is called there "Loren".

Cross "papal"

This form of an eight-pointed cross has three bars, of which the top and bottom are the same size, smaller than the middle. The lower crossbar, or foot, at this cross is located not obliquely, but at a right angle. Why the foot is depicted at a right angle, and not the way it is on the eight-pointed Orthodox, let us answer with the words of St. Demetrius of Rostov: “I kiss the foot of the cross, even if it is oblique, if not oblique, and the custom of cross-makers and cross-writers, as consistent with the church, I do not dispute, I indulge”.

Round "freebie" cross

Once upon a time, long before the coming of Christ, there was a custom in the East to cut bread crosswise. It was a symbolic act, which meant that the cross, dividing the whole into parts, unites those who used these parts, heals separation.According to the testimony of Horace and Martial, the early Christians cut round bread crosswise to make it easier to break it. In direct connection with the Sacrament of Communion, bread was depicted on chalice, felonies and other things as a symbol of the Body of Christ, broken for our sins. Such round loaves, divided into four parts by a cross, are depicted in the Sintofion inscription. Breads divided by six parts, available on the tombstone from the cave of St.Lukin(III century). The circle means, according to the explanation of St. Clement of Alexandria, that "the Son of God Himself is an endless circle, in which all forces converge."

Nakupolny cross with a crescent

Four-pointed cross with a semicircle in the form of a crescent below, where the ends of the crescent facing upwards - a very ancient form of the Cross. Most often, such crosses were placed and are being erected on the domes of temples. The cross and the semicircle mean the anchor of salvation, the anchor of our hopes, an anchor of repose in the harbor of the Heavenly Kingdom, which is very consistent with the concept of a temple as a ship sailing to the Kingdom of God.There are other interpretations of this symbol: the crescent moon is the Eucharistic cup in which the Body of Christ is located; this is cradle in which the baby Jesus Christ lies.According to another interpretation, the moon marks the font in which the Church, baptized into Christ, is clothed in Him, in the Sun of Truth. Sometimes one has to hear and read an explanation of such a form as "the victory of the cross over the crescent", that is, "the victory of Christianity over Islam." This is completely unfounded, since this form of the cross was known long before the advent of the Muslim faith.

Cross "Maltese", or "St. George"

The handle of the bishop's baton is decorated with a cross called the "Maltese" or "St. George" cross. Patriarch James prophetically honored the Cross when “by faith ... he bowed down,” as the Apostle Paul says, “on the top of his rod” (Heb. 11, 21). And Saint John Damascene explains: "A rod that served as an image of the cross." Therefore, the cross rises above the bishop's rod.In addition to the usual and widespread church use, the form of this cross was officially adopted formed on the island of Malta by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. After that, the cross itself began to be called "Maltese". And the name "St. George" was given to this cross with the establishment of the award sign - the Cross of St. George Victorious.Golden "Maltese" crosses were included in the coats of arms of many Russian cities.

Old printed cross "braided"

The very name of this cross contains basic information about it; its entire surface consists of various weaving elements. Weaving as a species decorative arts existed already in ancient Christian times. It is known in embroidery, stone and wood carving, as well as in mosaics, but images of wicker crosses are especially common in decorating handwritten and early printed books. This cross shape is often found as decoration in Bulgarian and Russian old printed books.

Cross "curved"

The cross, consisting of flowers of the field lily, in Slavic called "krin selyny", bears the name of the "curved" cross. This cross arose as a reminder of In the words of the Savior: "I," said the Lord, "... the lily of the valleys!" (Song. 2.1). Ancient philosopher and the writer Origen writes about Christ: “For the sake of me, who is down, He descends into the valley, and when he comes into the valley, He becomes a lily. Instead of the tree of life, which was planted in the paradise of God, He became the flower of the whole field, that is, the whole world and all the earth. "Curved crosses were widely used in Byzantium. In Russia, pectoral crosses of this form were worn. In the book “Russian copper casting ”contains images of crosses with curved ends XI-XII centuries.

Cross-monogram "shepherd's staff"

Christians consider the rod of Moses to be the prototype of the Cross of Christ. The Lord gave the staff of Moses miraculous power as a sign of pastoral authority. The prophet Moses divided and united the waters of the Black Sea with the image of the cross.The Lord, through the mouth of the prophet Micah, says to His Only Begotten Son: "Feed Thy people with Thy rod with Thy rod, the sheep of Thy inheritance." The symbol "shepherd" is depicted by the early Christians in the form of a bent staff, which crosses the letter“X”, which has two meanings - the vertical rack of the cross and the first letter of the name of Christ. A. S. Uvarov, describing the finds of the Catacomb period with such an image, calls them “the monogram of the Savior”.

Cross in the form of the Egyptian hieroglyph "ankh"

Cross shaped Egyptian hieroglyph“Ankh” is one of the oldest used by Christians. As you know, hieroglyphs do not denote letters, but concepts. The hieroglyph "ankh" means the concept of "life". Christians call the cross life-giving. Christian cross- the tree of Life. “He who found me found life,” Christ announced through the mouth of the king the prophet Solomon! (Proverbs 8.35) and after His incarnation repeated: “II am the resurrection and the life ”(John 11:25). To depict the life-giving cross, Christians from the first centuries used the hieroglyph "ankh", which resembles it in form and means "life".

Cross "gamma"

This cross is called “gammatic” because it consists of the Greek letter “gamma”. Already the first Christians in the Roman catacombs depicted a gamma cross. In Byzantium, this form was often used to decorate the Gospels, church utensils, temples, embroidered on the vestments of the Byzantine hierarchs. V IX century, by order of Empress Theodora, a Gospel was made, decorated with gold ornamentation from gamma crosses. The book "Matenadaran" depicts a four-pointed cross surrounded by twelve gamma crosses. And in Russia the form of this cross has long been used. He is depicted on many church objects of the pre-Mongol period, in the form of a mosaic under the dome of the Cathedral of St. Sophia of Kiev, in the ornament of the doors of the Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral... Gammatic crosses are embroidered on a phelonion from the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas in Pyzhy.The gamma cross used toput on their things, as a sign bringing happiness, the holy martyr Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The Holy Empress drew such a cross with a pencil in the Ipatiev house over her son's bed and on the doorframe on the day the Royal Family arrived in Yekaterinburg.