Neck cross. where did the tradition of wearing pectoral crosses come from and why wear it? How to choose a pectoral cross

During Baptism each person wears pectoral cross. For the rest of your life, it must be worn on your chest. Believers note that the cross is not a mascot or dyeing. It is a symbol of commitment to 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. Putting it on, a person promises to endure all trials and live according to God's commandments.

It is worth noting that the pectoral cross is considered a sign that a person is a believer. Those who did not join the church, that is, were not baptized, should not wear it. Also, according to church tradition, only priests can wear it over clothes (they put it on over a cassock). All other believers are not allowed to do this and it is believed that those who wear it over their clothes show off their faith and put it on display. A Christian is not befitting such a display of pride. Also, believers are not allowed to wear a cross in their ear, on a bracelet, in a pocket or on a bag. Some people argue that only Catholics can wear four-pointed crosses, allegedly Orthodox are forbidden. In fact, this statement is false. The Orthodox Church recognizes today different types crosses (photo 1).

This means that the Orthodox can wear a four-pointed, eight-pointed cross. It may or may not show the crucifixion of the Savior. But what an Orthodox Christian should avoid is depicting the crucifixion with a very extreme realism. That is, the details of the sufferings on the cross, the sagging body of Christ. Such an image is typical for Catholicism (photo 2).

It is also worth noting that the material from which the cross is made can be absolutely any. It all depends on the wishes of the person. For example, silver is not suitable for some people, because it does not immediately blacken the body. Then it is better for them to refuse such material and make a choice in favor of, for example, gold. In addition, the church does not prohibit wearing large crosses inlaid with expensive stones. But, conversely, 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 bought in a jewelry store. Usually the consecration takes a couple of minutes. If he is bought in a shop that works at the church, then you should not worry about this, he 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 idea of ​​an inevitable fate (photo 4).

So, as already said, Catholic Church recognizes only the four-pointed form of the cross. Orthodox, in turn, is more lenient and recognizes the six-pointed, four-pointed and eight-pointed forms. At the same time, it is considered that the more correct form, nevertheless, is eight-pointed, with two additional partitions. One should be at the head, and the second for the legs (photo 5).

It is better for small children not to buy pectoral crosses with stones. At this age, they all try to try, they can bite off a pebble and swallow it. We have already noted that the Savior does not have to be on the cross. Also orthodox cross differs from the Catholic one in the number of nails for the legs and arms. So, in the Catholic creed there are three, and in the Orthodox - four (photo 6).

Note that in addition to the crucified Savior, the face of the Virgin Mary, the image of Christ the Almighty, can be depicted on the cross. Various ornaments can also be depicted. All this does not contradict faith (photo 7).

Among all Christians, only Orthodox and Catholics venerate crosses and icons. They decorate the domes of churches, their houses with crosses, they wear them around the neck.

The reason why a person wears a pectoral cross is different for everyone. Someone thus pays tribute to fashion, for someone the cross is beautiful jewel, it brings good luck to someone and is used as a talisman. But there are also those for whom the pectoral cross worn at baptism is indeed a symbol of their infinite faith.

Today, shops and church shops offer a wide variety of crosses. various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are about to baptize a child, but also sales assistants cannot explain where the Orthodox cross is and where the Catholic one is, although it is actually very simple to distinguish them. V Catholic tradition- a quadrangular cross, with three nails. In Orthodoxy, there are four-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed crosses, with four nails for hands and feet.

cross shape

four-pointed cross

So, in the West, the most common is four-pointed cross. Starting from the III century, when such crosses first appeared in the Roman catacombs, the entire Orthodox East still uses this form of the cross as equal to all others.

Eight-pointed Orthodox cross

For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross does not really matter, much more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, however, eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses have received the greatest popularity.

Eight-pointed Orthodox cross most corresponds to the historically reliable form of the cross on which Christ was already crucified. The Orthodox cross, which is most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches, contains, in addition to a large horizontal bar, two more. The top symbolizes the plate on the cross of Christ with the inscription " Jesus of the Nazarene, King of the Jews» (INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower slanting crossbar - the support for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous measure", weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left side, symbolizing that the repentant robber, crucified by right side from Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the robber, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters IC XC are a Christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that " when Christ the Lord carried a cross on His shoulders, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or footstool on it. There was no footstool, because Christ had not yet been lifted up on the cross, and the soldiers, not knowing where Christ's feet would reach, did not attach the footstools, finishing it already at Golgotha". Also, there was no title on the cross before the crucifixion of Christ, because, as the Gospel reports, at first " crucified him"(John 19:18), and then only" Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross"(John 19:19). It was at first that the soldiers divided “His clothes” by lot. crucified Him"(Matt. 27:35), and only then" They placed an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.» (Matthew 27:37).

The eight-pointed cross has long been considered the most powerful protective agent from various kinds of evil spirits, as well as visible and invisible evil.

six pointed cross

Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially in the days of Ancient Russia, was also six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper end symbolizes liberation by repentance.

However, not in the shape of the cross or the number of ends lies all its power. The cross is famous for the power of Christ crucified on it, and all its symbolism and miraculousness lies in this.

The variety of forms of the cross has always been recognized by the Church as quite natural. In the words of the Monk Theodore the Studite - “ a cross of every form is a true cross”and has an unearthly beauty and life-giving power.

« There is no significant difference between Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, as well as between any other crosses used in the service of Christians. In essence, all crosses are the same, the differences are only in form.”, says Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

crucifixion

In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special significance is attached not to the shape of the cross, but to the image of Jesus Christ on it.

Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant, and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear.

Yes, we know that Christ died on the cross. But we also know that He later resurrected, and that He suffered voluntarily out of love for people: to teach us to take care of the immortal soul; so that we too can be resurrected and live forever. In the Orthodox Crucifixion, this Paschal joy is always present. Therefore, on the Orthodox cross, Christ does not die, but freely stretches out his hands, the palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to embrace all of humanity, giving them his love and opening the way to eternal life. He is not a dead body, but God, and his whole image speaks of this.

The Orthodox cross above the main horizontal bar has another, smaller one, which symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ indicating the offense. Because Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ, the words “ Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews» in three languages: Greek, Latin and Aramaic. In Latin in Catholicism, this inscription looks like INRI, and in Orthodoxy - IHCI(or ІНHI, “Jesus of the Nazarene, King of the Jews”). The lower oblique crossbar symbolizes a leg support. It also symbolizes two thieves crucified to the left and right of Christ. One of them repented of his sins before his death, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. The other, before his death, blasphemed and reviled his executioners and Christ.

Above the middle crossbar are the inscriptions: "IC" "XC"- the name of Jesus Christ; and below it: "NIKA"- Winner.

Greek letters were necessarily written on the cross-shaped halo of the Savior UN, meaning - "Truly Existing", because " God said to Moses: I am who I am”(Ex. 3:14), thus revealing His name, expressing the self-existence, eternity and immutability of the being of God.

In addition, the nails with which the Lord was nailed to the cross were kept in Orthodox Byzantium. And it was precisely known that there were four of them, not three. Therefore, on Orthodox crosses, the feet of Christ are nailed with two nails, each separately. The image of Christ with crossed feet, nailed with one nail, first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.

Orthodox Crucifix Catholic Crucifix

In the Catholic Crucifixion, the image of Christ has naturalistic features. Catholics portray Christ dead, sometimes with streams of blood on the face, from wounds on the arms, legs and ribs ( stigmata). It manifests all human suffering, the torment that Jesus had to experience. His arms sag under the weight of his body. The image of Christ on the Catholic cross is plausible, but this image dead man, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The crucifixion in Orthodoxy just symbolizes this triumph. In addition, the feet of the Savior are nailed with one nail.

The Significance of the Savior's Death on the Cross

The emergence of the Christian cross is associated with martyrdom Jesus Christ, which he accepted on the cross at the forced verdict of Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a common method of execution in ancient Rome, borrowed from the Carthaginians, the descendants of the Phoenician colonists (it is believed that crucifixion was first used in Phoenicia). Usually thieves were sentenced to death on the cross; many early Christians, persecuted since the time of Nero, were also executed in this manner.

Roman crucifixion

Before the sufferings of Christ, the cross was an instrument of shame and terrible punishment. After His suffering, he became a symbol of the victory of good over evil, life over death, a reminder of God's infinite love, an object of joy. The incarnated Son of God sanctified the cross with His blood and made it a vehicle of His grace, a source of sanctification for believers.

From the Orthodox dogma of the Cross (or Atonement), the idea undoubtedly follows that the death of the Lord is the ransom of all, the calling of all peoples. Only the cross, unlike other executions, made it possible for Jesus Christ to die with outstretched arms calling "to all the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 45:22).

Reading the Gospels, we are convinced that the feat of the Cross of the God-man is the central event in His earthly life. By His sufferings on the Cross, He washed away our sins, covered our debt to God, or, in the language of Scripture, “redeemed” (ransomed) us. In Golgotha ​​lies the incomprehensible mystery of the infinite truth and love of God.

The Son of God voluntarily took upon Himself the guilt of all people and suffered for it a shameful and most painful death on the cross; then on the third day he rose again as the conqueror of hell and death.

Why was such a terrible Sacrifice needed to cleanse the sins of mankind, and was it possible to save people in another, less painful way?

The Christian doctrine of the death of the God-man on the cross is often a "stumbling block" for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both many Jews and people of the Greek culture of the apostolic times seemed contradictory to the assertion that the almighty and eternal God descended to earth in the form of a mortal man, voluntarily suffered beatings, spitting and shameful death, that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to mankind. " It's impossible!”- some objected; " It's not needed!' - said others.

The Holy Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians says: Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in the wisdom of the word, so as not to abolish the cross of Christ. For the word about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will put away the understanding of the prudent. Where is the sage? where is the scribe? where is the questioner of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? For when the world through its wisdom did not know God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God with the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For the Jews also demand miracles, and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks folly, but for the called ones themselves, Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power and God's wisdom"(1 Cor. 1:17-24).

In other words, the apostle explained that what in Christianity was perceived by some as temptation and madness, is in fact the work of the greatest Divine wisdom and omnipotence. The truth of the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior is the foundation for many other Christian truths, for example, about the sanctification of believers, about the sacraments, about the meaning of suffering, about virtues, about achievement, about the goal of life, about the coming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.

At the same time, the redemptive death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even “seductive for those who perish,” has a regenerating power that the believing heart feels and strives for. Renewed and warmed by this spiritual power, both the last slaves and the most powerful kings bowed with trepidation before Golgotha; both dark ignoramuses and the greatest scientists. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles personal experience became convinced of the great spiritual blessings brought to them by the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior, and they shared this experience with their disciples.

(The mystery of the redemption of mankind is closely connected with a number of important religious and psychological factors. Therefore, in order to understand the mystery of the redemption, it is necessary:

a) to understand what actually is the sinful damage of a person and the weakening of his will to resist evil;

b) it is necessary to understand how the devil's will, thanks to sin, got the opportunity to influence and even captivate the human will;

c) one must understand the mysterious power of love, its ability to positively influence a person and ennoble him. At the same time, if love reveals itself most of all in sacrificial service to one's neighbor, then there is no doubt that giving one's life for him is the highest manifestation of love;

d) one must rise from understanding the power of human love to understanding the power of Divine love and how it penetrates the soul of a believer and transforms his inner world;

e) in addition, in the atoning death of the Savior there is a side that goes beyond the limits of the human world, namely: On the cross there was a battle between God and the proud Dennitsa, in which God, hiding under the guise of weak flesh, emerged victorious. The details of this spiritual battle and Divine victory remain a mystery to us. Even Angels, according to ap. Peter, do not fully understand the mystery of redemption (1 Pet. 1:12). She is a sealed book that only the Lamb of God could open (Rev. 5:1-7)).

In Orthodox asceticism, there is such a thing as bearing one's cross, that is, the patient fulfillment of Christian commandments throughout the life of a Christian. All difficulties, both external and internal, are called "cross." Each bears his life's cross. The Lord said this about the need for personal achievement: Whoever does not take up his cross (shirks the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), he is not worthy of Me» (Matthew 10:38).

« The cross is the guardian of the whole universe. Cross of beauty of the Church, Cross of kings power, Cross of faithful affirmation, Cross of an angel glory, Cross of a demon plague”, - affirms the absolute Truth of the luminaries of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.

The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious crusaders and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians involved in this heinous deed, it is all the more impossible to be silent, for - according to the words of St. Basil the Great - "God is given up in silence"!

Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox cross

Thus, there are the following differences catholic cross from Orthodox:

Catholic cross Orthodox cross

1. Orthodox cross most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. catholic cross- four-pointed.
2. Words on a tablet on the crosses are the same, only written on different languages: latin INRI(in the case of a Catholic cross) and Slavic-Russian IHCI(on an Orthodox cross).
3. Another fundamental position is the position of the feet on the Crucifixion and the number of nails. The feet of Jesus Christ are located together on the Catholic Crucifix, and each is nailed separately on the Orthodox cross.
4. different is image of the Savior on the cross. On the Orthodox cross, God is depicted, who opened the way to eternal life, and on the Catholic one, a person experiencing torment.

Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak

The Holy Cross is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every true believer, at the sight of him, is involuntarily filled with thoughts of the Savior's death throes, 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 burden. Even if there is no image of the crucifix on it, it always appears to our inner gaze.

The instrument of death, which has become a symbol of life

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

In the pre-Christian period, mainly robbers were sentenced to crucifixion, and then the followers of Jesus Christ accepted this martyr's death. 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 the light of eternal life over the darkness of hell.

Eight-pointed cross - a symbol of Orthodoxy

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

In the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, as well as in Russia, the eight-pointed, or, as is often said, the Orthodox cross, has been the symbol of the church for a long time. 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. She small size and is placed at the bottom of the vertical segment, symbolizes the crossbar on which the feet of Christ 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 at the 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 right end of the foot raised up, and the left end is turned into the depths of hell.

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

About the law of the golden section

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross in its classical form is built according to the law. To make it clear what we are talking about, let's dwell on this concept in a little more detail. It is commonly understood as a harmonic proportion, one way or another underlying everything that was created by the Creator.

One example is the human body. By simple experience it can be seen that if we divide our height by the distance from the soles to the navel, and then divide this same value by the distance between the navel and the top of the head, then the results will be the same and will be 1.618. The same proportion lies in the size of the phalanges of our fingers. This ratio of values, 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 section is widely used in architecture, as well as other areas of art. Taking it into account, many artists manage to achieve maximum harmony in their works. The same regularity was observed by composers who worked in the genre of classical music. When writing compositions in the style of rock and jazz, she was abandoned.

The law of construction of the Orthodox cross

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross was also built on the basis of the golden section. The meaning of its ends was explained above, now let's turn to the rules underlying the construction of this main one. They were not established artificially, but poured out of 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 section. Simply put, dividing its height by its width, we get 1.618.

The cross of St. Lazarus (as mentioned above, this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross) in its construction has another feature related to the proportions of our body. It is well known that the width of a person's arms is equal to his height, and a figure with arms spread apart 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 simple, at first glance, rules should be taken into account by every person who is faced with the question of how to draw an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

cross calvary

There is also a special, purely monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross, the photo of which is presented in the article. It is called the "Cross of Golgotha". This is the inscription 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 to the right of the cross can be depicted a cane with a sponge and a spear.

Each of these items has a deep religious meaning. For example, the skull and bones. According to the Holy Tradition, the sacrificial blood of the Savior, shed by him on the cross, fell on the top of Golgotha, seeped into its depths, where the remains of our progenitor 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 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 well remember the moment full of drama when one of the Roman soldiers named Longinus pierced the ribs of the Savior with this weapon and blood and water flowed from the wound. This episode has a different interpretation, but the most common of them is contained in the writings 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 church was created. The blood and water shed at the same time, according to St. Augustine, symbolize the holy sacraments - the Eucharist, where wine is turned 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

Just as importance have images of canes and sponges. From the stories of the holy evangelists it is known that the crucified Christ was twice offered a drink. In the first case, it was wine mixed with myrrh, that is, an intoxicating drink that allows you to dull pain and thereby prolong the execution.

The second time, having heard the exclamation “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 impaled on a cane, since without it they could not reach the mouth of the crucified Jesus. Despite such a gloomy role assigned to them, these objects, like the spear, are among the main Christian shrines, and their image can be seen next to the Calvary cross.

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. In particular, these are IC and XC at the ends of the middle bar. These letters mean 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" in translation.

On the small crossbar, symbolizing, as mentioned above, a tablet with an inscription made by Pontius Pilate, the Slavic abbreviation ІНЦІ is usually written, denoting the words "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews", and above it - "King of Glory". Near the image of the spear, it became a tradition to write the letter K, and near the cane T. 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 "Place of the Execution Crucified Byst."

In addition to the above inscriptions, two letters G should be mentioned, 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 - the 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 inherent in them is fully consistent with 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 in 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. The symbolism in this case 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 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, the proportions, general appearance and meaning of which have become the topic of this article. He accompanies a believing person throughout his life. From the holy font, where the sacrament of baptism opens the gates of the Church of Christ to him, right up to the gravestone, he is overshadowed by an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Pectoral symbol of the Christian faith

The custom is to wear small crosses on the chest, made from the most various materials appeared only at the beginning of the 4th century. Despite the fact that the main instrument of the passions of Christ was the object of reverence among all his followers literally from the first years of his establishment on earth christian church, at first it was customary to wear not crosses around the neck, but medallions with the image of the Savior.

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 put the image of the cross on their foreheads. By this sign they were recognized, and then betrayed to torment and death. After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, wearing pectoral crosses became a custom, and in the same period they began to be installed on the roof of temples.

Two types of pectoral crosses in Ancient Russia

In Russia, the symbols of the Christian faith appeared in 988, simultaneously with her baptism. It is curious to note that our ancestors inherited two types from the Byzantines. One of them was customarily worn on the chest, under clothing. Such crosses were called vests.

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

The main symbol of humanism and philanthropy

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

Gold and silver, copper or made of any other material, it keeps the believer, protecting him from the forces of evil - visible and invisible. Being 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.

Where did the tradition of wearing crosses come from? Why wear it? “I believe in God in my soul, but I don’t need a cross. The Bible does not say anywhere that you have to wear a cross, and nowhere does it say that the first Christians wore crosses. People who consider themselves Orthodox Christians say this or something like this, but do not express their faith in any way. Most unchurched people do not have a Christian understanding of what a cross is and why it should be worn on the body. So what is a pectoral cross? Why does Satan hate it so much and does everything so that no one wears it, or wears it simply as a meaningless decoration?

ORIGIN AND SYMBOLISM OF THE BODY CROSS

The custom, along with Baptism, to put on a pectoral cross around the neck of the newly baptized did not appear immediately. In the first centuries of Christianity, the cross was not worn, but medallions with the image of the slain Lamb or the Crucifixion were worn. But the Cross, as an instrument for the salvation of the world by Jesus Christ, has been the object of the greatest honor among Christians from the very beginning of the Church. For example, the church thinker Tertullian (II-III centuries) in his "Apology" testifies that the veneration of the cross existed from the earliest times of Christianity. Even before being in the 4th century by Queen Helena and Emperor Constantine life-giving cross, on which Christ was crucified, already among the first followers of Christ it was common to always have the image of the cross with them - both as a reminder of the sufferings of the Lord, and for confessing one's faith to others.According to Pontius, the biographer of St. Cyprian of Carthage, in the III century, some Christians depicted the figure of the cross even on their foreheads, by this sign they were recognized during persecution and betrayed to torment. The first Christians who wore a cross on their chests are also known. Mention it and the sources of the II century.

The first documentary evidence of the wearing of pectoral crosses dates back to the beginning of the 4th century. Yes, acts VII Ecumenical The councils testify that the holy martyrs Orestes (†304) and Procopius (†303), who suffered under Diocletian, wore a cross made of gold and silver around their necks.

After the weakening and subsequent cessation of the persecution of Christians, the wearing of the cross became a widespread custom. At the same time, crosses began to be installed on all Christian churches.

In Russia, this custom was adopted precisely with the baptism of the Slavs in 988. Starting from Byzantine times in Russia, there were two types of pectoral crosses: in fact, they themselves "vest" (worn on the body under clothing), etc. « encolpions" (from the Greek word "chest"), worn not on the body, but over clothing. Let's say two words about the latter: initially, pious Christians carried with them (on themselves) an ark with particles of St. relics or other sacred things. A cross was placed on this ark. Subsequently, the ark itself acquired the shape of a cross, and bishops and emperors began to wear such a cross. The modern priestly and episcopal pectoral cross traces its history from encolpions, that is, boxes with relics or other shrines.

Russian people swore allegiance on crosses, and exchanging pectoral crosses, they became cross brothers. During the construction of churches, houses, bridges, the cross was laid in the foundation. There was a custom to cast many crosses from a broken church bell, which enjoyed special reverence.

The cross of Christ is a symbol of Christianity. For modern man a symbol is just an identification mark. The symbol is, as it were, an emblem that points to something with which we are dealing. But the symbol has a much wider meaning than just the meaning of the emblem. In religious culture the symbol is involved in the reality that it symbolizes. What is the reality that the Cross of Christ symbolizes for Christians? .. This reality: The Redemption of the human race, accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ through Death on the Cross.

The veneration of the Cross has always been understood by the Teachings of the Church as the worship of Jesus Christ in the light of His redemptive feat.The Cross of Christ, which Orthodox Christians always wear on their bodies, points out to us and reminds us at what price our Salvation was bought.

For Christians, the cross is not just a sign. For Christians, the cross is a symbol of victory over the devil, a banner of the triumph of God. The cross reminds the believer of Christ, of the sacrifice the Savior made for us.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS

What does the pectoral cross symbolize?

The cross is the greatest Christian shrine, a visible evidence of our redemption.

The cross, as an instrument of a terrible and painful execution, thanks to the sacrificial feat of Christ the Savior, became a symbol of redemption and an instrument for the salvation of all mankind from sin and death. It is on the Cross, through pain and suffering, death and Resurrection, that the Son of God accomplishes the salvation or healing of human nature from mortality, passion and corruption brought into it by the fall of Adam and Eve. Thus, a person who wears the Crucifixion of Christ testifies to his participation in the suffering and feat of his Savior, followed by the hope of salvation, and hence the resurrection of man for eternal life with God.

ABOUT THE FORM OF THE BODY CROSS

The pectoral cross is not a talisman and jewelry. No matter how beautiful it is, no matter what precious metal it is made of, it is primarily a visible symbol of the Christian faith.

Orthodox pectoral crosses have a very ancient tradition and therefore are very diverse in their appearance, depending on the time and place of manufacture.

The iconography of the Orthodox Crucifixion received its final dogmatic justification in 692 in the 82nd canon of the Trul Cathedral who approved canon of the iconographic image of the Crucifixion .

The main condition of the canon is the combination of historical realism with the realism of Divine Revelation. The figure of the Savior expresses Divine peace and greatness. It is, as it were, laid on the cross, and the Lord opens His arms to all who turn to Him. In this iconography, the complex dogmatic task of depicting the two hypostases of Christ - Human and Divine - is artistically solved, showing both death and the victory of the Savior.

Catholics, abandoning their early views, did not understand and did not accept the rules of the Troulsky Cathedral and, accordingly, the symbolic spiritual image of Jesus Christ. Thus, in the Middle Ages, new type The crucifixion, in which the features of the naturalism of human suffering and the agony of the execution of the cross become predominant: the heaviness of the body sagging on outstretched arms, the head crowned with a crown of thorns, the crossed feet are nailed with one nail (an innovation of the end of the 13th century). The anatomical details of the Catholic image, conveying the veracity of the execution itself, nevertheless hide the main thing - the triumph of the Lord, who conquered death and reveals eternal life to us, focuses on torment and death. His naturalism has only an external emotional impact, introducing into the temptation of comparing our sinful sufferings with the redemptive Passion of Christ.

Images of the crucified Savior, similar to Catholic ones, are also found on Orthodox crosses, especially often in the 18th-20th centuries, however, as well as the icon-painting images of God the Father of hosts banned by the Stoglavy Cathedral. Naturally, Orthodox piety requires the wearing of an Orthodox cross, not a Catholic one, which violates the dogmatic foundations of the Christian faith.

The most common form of an Orthodox cross is an eight-pointed cross; a prayer is most often applied on the reverse side. "Bless and save".

THE MEANING OF WEARING THE CROSS AND THE SIGN WE READ ON ITS HAIR: "SAVE AND SAVE"

Christians who wear a pectoral cross, as it were, offer a wordless prayer to God. And he always protects the wearer.

There is a widespread opinion among Christians that the cross of Christ, the image of God, the Lord Himself should keep us precisely from worldly troubles and troubles. And, of course, many of those who wear the pectoral cross are guided by precisely this pragmatic motive. But in fact, the meaning of wearing a cross and the inscription that we read on its back: "Bless and save", completely different.

In itself, the presence of a cross on the chest does not save and has no meaning for a person if he does not consciously confess what the Cross of Christ symbolizes. Although, of course, the Lord, Undoubtedly, it keeps the believer in it from many everyday misfortunes and troubles. That is, if a person wears a cross with faith and hope in the mercy of God, he, relatively speaking, is “included” in a special “God’s plan” and nothing fatally irreparable will ever happen to him in eternity. The concept of "God's plan" here means precisely the plan of our salvation, and not the management of the world on a broad, universal scale, because the whole world, of course, is contained by the right hand of God and is controlled by His Divine Providence. But, no matter how scary it sounds, it is the “necessary” and sometimes painful death becomes for man the door to the Kingdom of God. This does not mean that God wants such an end for us, but it means that, having endured unjust torment, he will certainly find great consolation. If anything, it is the law of God.

So what does the Lord promise to save us from? Not from worldly troubles, misfortunes and difficulties in the first place, because all this is even necessary for the soul, alas, prone to relaxation and forgetting the purpose of its existence. But The Lord promises to save us, first of all, from the terrible power of sin, through which the enemy of the human race destroys our souls. And this power is truly so great that not a single person can free himself from it by his own strength alone. But with the help of God it is possible. Maybe! Holy Fathers say: "The enemy is strong, but the Lord is omnipotent!"

Simple words "Bless and save" means our tireless, from the bottom of our hearts, our appeal to God with a request that He help us partake of grace-filled eternity.

WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR A BODY CROSS

The pectoral cross is placed on us in the Sacrament of Baptism in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "Whoever wants to follow Me, turn away from yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me"(Mark 8:34).

We must bear our life's cross, and the cross that we have on our chest reminds us of this. Cross “there is always a great power for believers, delivering from all evils, especially from the villainy of hated enemies”,- writes the holy righteous John of Kronstadt.

When the Sacrament of Baptism takes place, during the consecration of the pectoral cross, the priest reads two special prayers in which he asks the Lord God to pour into the cross heavenly power and so that this cross protects not only the soul, but also the body from all enemies, sorcerers, sorcerers, from all evil forces. That is why many pectoral crosses have an inscription "Bless and save!".

By the way, the question is often asked: should the crosses sold in stores be already consecrated, or should the cross be taken to the temple for consecration? The cross must be consecrated in the temple. Sprinkling it with holy water at home will not be enough - it must be lit by a priest, because. in the temple, the crosses are consecrated with a special rite.

Exists superstition that when consecrated, the pectoral cross acquires magical protective properties. But superstitions should be avoided. The Church teaches that the sanctification of matter allows us not only spiritually, but also bodily - through this sanctified matter - to partake of Divine grace, which is necessary for us for spiritual growth and salvation. But the grace of God works unconditionally. A correct spiritual life according to the commandments of God is required of a person, and it is this spiritual life that makes it possible for the grace of God to influence us in a salutary way, healing us from passions and sins.

For an Orthodox Christian, wearing a cross is a great honor and responsibility.Taking off the cross or not wearing it has always been understood as apostasy. During the 2000-year history of Christianity, many people have suffered for their faith, for refusing to renounce Christ and take off their pectoral cross. This feat has been repeated in our time.

If you do not wear a cross now, when you can freely confess your faith, then you will hardly dare to put it on when you have to suffer for it. Can you repeat the feat of a simple Russian guy Evgeny Rodionov ?

... He was a grenade launcher, served in the 479th Special Purpose Border Detachment. Exactly a month, Zhenya served at the outpost in Chechnya, and on February 13, 1996, he was captured. Three of his friends were with him: Sasha Zheleznov, Andrey Trusov, Igor Yakovlev. They spent 3.5 months in captivity. During this time, they were bullied as much as they could. But Eugene had a choice, every day they approached him and said: “You can live. To do this, you need to remove the cross, accept our faith, become our brother. And all these nightmares for you will end immediately. But Zhenya did not succumb to these persuasions, he did not take off the cross. And on May 23, 1996, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, in the village of Bamut, Evgeny and his friends were killed. The day of Eugene's death was also the day of his birth. He was only 19 years old. Zhenya was beheaded, but even from Zhenya's dead body, the enemies did not dare to remove the cross.

I think that this great feat of the warrior Eugene should serve as an example for many, for all those who, for such stupid reasons, do not wear a cross or wear it as some kind of decoration. And then they change the holy cross for an amulet, a zodiac sign, and so on ... Let's never forget about it! Keep this in mind when wearing your cross.

ABOUT Reverent Reverence of the Pectoral Cross

The great Russian elders advised that one must always wear a pectoral cross and never take it off anywhere and never until death. "Christian without a cross, - wrote the elder Savva, he is a warrior without weapons, and the enemy can easily overpower him.” The pectoral cross is called so because it is worn on the body, under clothing, never exposing it to the outside (only priests wear the cross outside). This does not mean that the pectoral cross must be hidden and hidden under any circumstances, but it is still not customary to deliberately put it on public display. It is established by the church charter to kiss your pectoral cross at the end of evening prayers. In a moment of danger or when the soul is anxious, it’s good to kiss your cross and read the words “Save and save” on its back.

"Do not wear a cross as on a hanger, - often repeated the Pskov-Caves elder Savva, Christ left light and love on the Cross. Rays emanate from the cross blessed light and love. The cross drives away evil spirits. Kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening, do not forget to kiss it, inhale these rays of grace emanating from it, they invisibly pass into the soul, heart, conscience, character. Under the influence of these blessed rays, a wicked person becomes pious. Kissing your cross, pray for close sinners: drunkards, fornicators and others you know. Through your prayers, they will be corrected and will be good, for the heart gives a message to the heart. The Lord loves us all. He suffered for everyone for the sake of love, and we must love everyone for His sake, even our enemies. If you start the day like this, overshadowing grace from your cross, then you will spend the whole day holy. Let's not forget to do this, it's better not to eat than to forget about the cross!

PRAYER OF OLD MAN SAVVA WHEN KISSING THE BODY CROSS

Elder Savva compiled prayers that should be read when kissing a cross. Here is one of them:

“Pour out, O Lord, a drop of Your Most Holy Blood into my heart, dried up from passions and sins and uncleanness of soul and body. Amen. In the image of fate, save me and my relatives and those I know (names)».

You can not wear a pectoral cross as an amulet, as an ornament. The pectoral cross and the sign of the cross are only an outward expression of what should be in the heart of a Christian: humility, faith, hope in the Lord.

The pectoral cross is a visible evidence of belonging to Orthodox Church, confessions of the Christian faith, a means of grace-filled protection.

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

The cross is real power. They performed and continue to perform many miracles. The cross is a great Christian shrine. In the service on the feast of the Exaltation, the Church sings of the wood of the Cross of the Lord with many praises: “The cross is the guardian of the whole universe, the beauty of the Church, the power of kings, true statement glory of angels and plague of demons.

The cross is a weapon against the devil. The Church can reliably speak about the miraculous, saving and healing power of the cross and the sign of the cross, referring to the experience from the life of her saints, as well as to the numerous testimonies of ordinary believers. The resurrection of the dead, healing from illnesses, protection from evil forces - all these and other good deeds to this day through the cross show the love of God to man.

But the cross becomes an irresistible weapon and an all-conquering force only on the condition of faith and reverence.“The cross does not work miracles in your life. Why? — the holy righteous John of Kronstadt asks and himself gives the answer: “Because of your unbelief.”

Putting on a pectoral cross on our chest or making the sign of the cross, we Christians testify that we are ready to bear the cross meekly, humbly, voluntarily, with joy, for we love Christ and want to sympathize with Him, for His sake. Without faith and reverence, it is impossible to overshadow oneself or others with the sign of the cross.

The whole life of a Christian, from the day of birth to the last breath on earth, and even after death, is accompanied by a cross. A Christian overshadows himself with the sign of the Cross when he wakes up (you must accustom yourself to make it the first movement) and when going to bed - the last movement. A Christian is baptized before and after eating food, before and after teaching, when going out into the street, before starting each business, before taking medicine, before opening a received letter, with unexpected, joyful and sad news, at the entrance to someone else's house, on a train, on on a steamboat, in general, at the beginning of any journey, a walk, a journey, before bathing, visiting the sick, going to court, for interrogation, in prison, in exile, before an operation, before a battle, before a scientific or other report, before and after meetings and conferences, and etc.

The sign of the cross must be made with all attention, with fear, with trepidation and with extreme reverence. (Putting three big fingers on the forehead, say: "in the name of the Father" then, lowering your hand in the same form on your chest, say: "and the Son" moving your hand to your right shoulder, then to your left, say: "and the Holy Spirit." Having made this holy sign of the cross upon yourself, conclude with a word "Amen". Or, when drawing a cross, you can say: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen".) Demons, as St. Simeon the New Theologian writes, are afraid of the image of the Cross and cannot bear to see the sign of the cross depicted even in the air, but flee from it immediately. “If you always use the holy Cross to help yourself, then “evil will not happen to you, and the plague will not come near your dwelling” (Ps. 91:10). Instead of a shield, protect yourself with the Holy Cross, imprint your limbs and heart with it. And do not only put the sign of the cross on yourself with your hand, but also in your thoughts imprint with it your every occupation, and your entrance, and your departure at all times, and your sitting, and rising, and your bed, and any service ... For it is very this weapon is strong, and no one can ever harm you if you are protected by it ”(Rev. Ephraim of Syria).

Glory, Lord, to Your Holy Cross!

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Temple Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

The cross for believers is a great power that delivers from all evils, especially from the villainy of hated enemies. The pectoral cross helps to endure illness and adversity, strengthens the spirit, protects against evil people and in difficult circumstances.

The cross is placed on a person at Baptism, in Russia it is also called a "vest". During the Sacrament of Baptism, a cross is laid as a fulfillment of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Whoever wants to follow Me, turn away from yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34).

The pectoral cross is consecrated by the priest, who reads two special prayers in which he asks the Lord God to pour heavenly power into the cross and that this cross saves not only the soul, but also the body from all enemies, sorcerers, sorcerers, from all evil forces. That is why on many pectoral crosses there is an inscription "Save and save!".

How to choose a pectoral cross?

The pectoral cross is primarily a symbol of the Christian faith, and not a beautiful piece of jewelry. Pectoral crosses have always been distinguished by a variety of shapes and materials from which they are made - gold, silver, copper, bronze, wood, bone, amber. When choosing a cross, one should pay attention not to metal, but to the form, which should correspond to Orthodox traditions. The traditional Orthodox pectoral cross has an eight-pointed shape.

Can crosses be worn with a Catholic crucifix?

The main condition in Orthodox iconography is that the figure of the Savior expresses Divine peace and majesty. It is, as it were, placed on the cross, and the Lord opens His arms to all who turn to Him. The artist performs the task of depicting Christ in the Human and Divine hypostases, showing both the death and victory of the Savior. Catholics in the Middle Ages abandoned the symbolic spiritual image of Jesus. They focus on torment and death, thereby hiding the triumph of the Lord, who conquered death and reveals eternal life. The features of naturalism of human suffering and the torment of the execution of the Cross predominate: The heaviness of the body sagging on outstretched arms. Head crowned with a crown of thorns. The crossed feet are nailed with one nail. Anatomical details that convey the veracity of the execution. Orthodoxy requires the wearing of an Orthodox cross, not a Catholic one. This is due to different views on the foundations and dogmas of the Christian faith.

How to consecrate a pectoral cross?

To consecrate the pectoral cross, you need to come to the church at the beginning of the service and ask the clergyman about it. If the service is already taking place, you can ask for help from a church worker who will help pass the cross to the priest at the altar. If you wish, you can ask to consecrate the cross in your presence in order to participate in prayer.

What to do with the found pectoral cross?

The found pectoral cross can be kept at home, you can give it to the temple or to someone who needs it. These are superstitions that one cannot take up a cross that someone has lost, because by doing so we take on other people's sorrows and temptations. The Lord gives everyone his own path and his trials. If you want to wear the found cross, it must be consecrated. All the same applies to any "vest" that you for some reason were not able to wear.

Is it possible to give a pectoral cross?

You can donate crosses. A person dear to you will be doubly pleased if, when handing over the cross, you say that you went to church and have already consecrated the cross.

The main differences between Orthodox and Catholic crucifixion

1. On the Orthodox Crucifixion, Christ is nailed to the Cross with four nails, on the Catholic one - with three;

2. The most important thing. The Catholic Crucifixion is very naturalistic and sensual, the Orthodox Crucifixion reveals the spiritual essence of the event. On Catholic Crucifixes, Christ is depicted with a body sagging in his arms, with a suffering face, with a crown of thorns on his head, with blood and wounds. On the classic Orthodox icon Crucifixion (Dionysius, 1500) depicts Christ the Conqueror, His appearance expresses Divine peace and majesty. He does not hang helplessly on his hands, but, as it were, soars in the air, inviting the entire Universe into His arms (which is indicated by both His hands and open palms). The Mother of God courageously empathizes with the suffering of Her Son.

The iconography of the Orthodox Crucifixion received its final dogmatic justification in 692 - in the 82nd rule of the Trullo Cathedral. The main condition is the combination of historical realism with the realism of Divine Revelation. The figure of the Savior expresses Divine peace and greatness. It is, as it were, superimposed on a cross, arms outstretched and straight. The Lord opens his arms to all who turn to him. This iconography solves the difficult task of depicting the two hypostases of Christ - Human and Divine, showing both death and the victory of the Savior over it.

The rules of the Tula Cathedral, the Catholics, who abandoned their early views, did not accept. Accordingly, they did not accept the symbolic spiritual image of Jesus Christ.

Thus, in the Middle Ages, the Catholic type of crucifixion arises, in which the naturalistic features of purely human torment become predominant: the heaviness of the body on sagging rather than straight arms. Head of Jesus crowned with thorns. Crossed feet nailed with a single nail is an innovation of the 13th century. The anatomical details of the Catholic image, conveying the veracity of the execution itself, nevertheless hide the main thing - the triumph of Jesus, who conquered death and reveals to us eternal life focusing on the agony of death.

(catholic crucifix) (orthodox crucifix)

Some components

In an Orthodox crucifixion, the outstretched hands of the Savior should be straight, and not sagging under the weight of a dying body.

A distinctive feature of the Catholic Crucifixion is both feet of Christ crossed and pierced with one nail. In the Orthodox tradition, Christ is depicted crucified on four nails: both hands and feet are nailed each with its own nail. (“From ancient times, crucifixion crosses, both in the East and in the West, had a crossbar to support the feet of the Crucified, and His legs were depicted nailed each separately with their own nail. The image of Christ with crossed feet, nailed with one nail, first appeared as an innovation on West in the second half of the thirteenth century.)

Also on the Orthodox Crucifixion, the palms of Christ are necessarily open. The issue of the inadmissibility of the image of the bent fingers of Christ under Catholic influence was raised in 1553 by the clerk Viskovaty and, although the clerk was convicted for reasoning about icon painting, the arguments about the need to depict open palms were recognized as correct, and the controversial icons were rewritten.

In the Orthodox cross, unlike the Catholic one, there are no naturalistic traces of the sufferings of Christ.

The crown of thorns is an attribute of the Catholic crucifix. In the Orthodox tradition, it is rare (for example, on Easter artos).

(Catholic cross) (Orthodox cross)

Common features

The Monk Theodore the Studite taught as early as the 9th century that "a cross of every form is a true cross." “Not according to the number of trees, not according to the number of ends, the Cross of Christ is revered by us, but according to Christ himself, with whose holy blood it was stained. Manifesting miraculous power, any Cross does not act by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and the invocation of His most holy name,” said St. Dmitry of Rostov.

Obviously, in Catholicism there are no clear rules on the leash of the crucifix. On the most ancient crucifixes, Christ is depicted alive, in clothes and crowned with a crown. The crown of thorns, wounds and blood collected in a bowl appear in the late Middle Ages, along with other details that have a mystical or symbolic meaning.

That is, in the Romanesque era, or in the east, where the Greek tradition was preserved, there were no significant differences between the Orthodox and Catholic crucifixions. Actually, naturalism and realism appeared in the West in the Gothic era and received special development in the Baroque era. The features of this naturalism also passed into the Russian religious painting of the Synodal period, although, of course, they are not considered examples of the canon.

Of course, Orthodox and Catholic crucifixes depict two sides of the same event. And on Catholic images, where suffering, death and hopelessness are depicted, the further resurrection and victory of the Savior is implied. And looking at Orthodox crucifixes, where the triumphant Lord - the Conqueror is depicted, we understand that He suffered for the sins of the whole world.

On one of the types of Catholic Crucifixes, which is called the Crucifixion of the Franciscan Order, the Lord is depicted crucified with four nails (such a Crucifix hangs over the stage in the Church of St. Nicholas (House of Organ and Chamber Music) on B. Vasilkovskaya Street in Kiev). And in the Sinai Monastery, the icons of the Lord crucified with three nails are in the temple and are revered on a par with Orthodox crucifixes.

How to choose a gold chain for a cross?

Let's take a look at the women's jewelry collection, hidden in an exquisite jewelry box. Most likely, there will be one or even several gold chains. But the point is not in quantity, but in the fact that the decoration looks perfect on you. How to choose the right chain of gold?

The color and weight of the metal from which the chain is made are very important, as well as pay attention to weaving and length. In addition, the shape of the neck, the condition of the skin and the age of the future owner of the jewelry are important.

How to choose the right gold chain?

In the event that a woman is large, has a full feminine neck, she is perfect gold chain with large weave. On a thin girl, such a product will look much worse, if not ridiculous.

If wrinkles are visible on the neck, then wearing short chains is contraindicated. They will emphasize your age.

Often the chain is selected to wear a pendant, pendant or pectoral cross. With regard to pendants and pendants, it must be remembered that some weaves simply will not work from a functional point of view.

As for the pectoral cross, its color should be matched to the chain, which, in turn, should be elegant, not too prominent with complex weaves.

The moment with the choice of weaving must be taken into account when buying a product for a child. After all, it is not always possible to hope for a careful or careful attitude of your child to an expensive thing. In addition, very complex weaves are not taken to be repaired in every workshop.

Remember about the castle. It must be as reliable as possible. Here you can be guided by a simple observation: the more expensive the chain, the better and stronger its lock.

But, most importantly, the quality of the decoration should come to the fore. In this case, you do not need to chase cheapness. Many imported goods tempt the buyer with their massiveness, inside which there is often a void. They break quickly and are difficult to repair, as too thin metal just burns out.

For example, Russian manufacturers gold items offer heavier, albeit expensive, jewelry. However, they will serve you much longer.