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Very often, clergymen in an Orthodox Church are asked whether it is possible to wear a cross without a crucifix. You can also hear another similar question, is it possible to wear a cross with a crucifix. To get an answer, you should carefully study the church literature on this topic. First of all, it should be said that the Orthodox Church is very condescending towards the shape of the pectoral cross and what is depicted on it, unlike many other churches. It is allowed to wear crosses, both with a crucifix and without it. However, if the cross is with a crucifix, then it is worth knowing its main differences from the crosses that belong to other churches, for example, to the Catholic.
Wearing crosses without the image of Jesus Christ, as the Orthodox clergy say, is quite acceptable. It is worth noting that earlier it was precisely such crosses that, in most cases, were worn by Christians at the beginning of the formation of the Church of Christ. The shape of the cross can be four-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed. Please note that the Catholic Church only recognizes the four-pointed shape of the cross. In Orthodoxy, the form and image and inscriptions are given less importance. The thing is that the main thing is not what the cross looks like, but what role it plays. But nonetheless, Orthodox crosses different from the creeds that belong to other churches.
What does a cross look like without a crucifix.
As mentioned above, it is possible and permissible to wear a cross without a crucifix. Orthodox Church. Most often, the form of crosses without a crucifix is four-pointed. Front side smooth, on the reverse side there may be a small prayer or the inscription "Save and Save". Sometimes crosses without a crucifix are decorated with stones: non-precious, semi-precious and precious. Crosses without a crucifix decorated with diamonds look very beautiful. As a rule, crosses are put on chains. Men's silver chains around the neck can be bought. The assortment of the Orthodox store also has a rich selection of gold chains.
Gold or and women in the form of a cross are usually worn under clothing. It is advisable to hide the creed from prying eyes. If you are a representative of the beautiful half of humanity and love clothes with a deep neckline, then you should think about such a chain length so that you can hide a pectoral cross under the neckline. Sometimes crosses are put on strings, which can always be found in the Temple. On what to wear a body symbol of faith is absolutely not important. It can be a rope, a chain, and in some cases a pin with reverse side clothes.
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Which cross is considered canonical, why is it unacceptable to wear a pectoral cross with the image of the crucified Savior and other icons?
Every Christian, from holy baptism until the hour of death, must bear on his chest the sign of his faith in the crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. We wear this sign not over our clothes, but on our body, which is why it is called wearable, and it is called octagonal (eight-pointed) because it is similar to the Cross on which the Lord was crucified at Calvary.
The collection of pectoral crosses of the 18th-19th centuries from the area of settlements in the Krasnoyarsk Territory indicates the presence of stable preferences in form against the backdrop of a rich variety of individual products made by craftsmen, and exceptions only confirm the strict rule.Unwritten legends keep many nuances. So, after the publication of this article, one Old Believer bishop, and then the reader of the site, pointed out that the word cross, as well as the word icon, does not have a diminutive form. In this regard, we also appeal to our visitors with a request to respect the symbols of Orthodoxy and monitor the correctness of their speech!
Male pectoral cross
The pectoral cross, which is always and everywhere with us, serves as a constant reminder of the Resurrection of Christ and that at baptism we promised to serve Him and renounced Satan. Thus, the pectoral cross is able to strengthen our spiritual and physical strength, protect us from the evil of the devil.
The oldest surviving crosses often take the form of a simple equilateral four-pointed cross. This was the custom at a time when Christians venerated Christ, the apostles, and the holy cross symbolically. In ancient times, as is known, Christ was often depicted as a Lamb surrounded by 12 other lambs - the apostles. Also, the Cross of the Lord was depicted symbolically.
The rich imagination of the masters was strictly limited by unwritten concepts of the canonicity of pectoral crosses.
Later, in connection with the acquisition of the genuine Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, St. Queen Elena, the eight-pointed shape of the cross begins to be depicted more and more often. This was also reflected in pectoral crosses. But the four-pointed cross did not disappear: as a rule, the eight-pointed cross was depicted inside the four-pointed one.
Along with the forms that have become traditional in Russia, in the Old Believer settlements of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, one can also find the legacy of an older Byzantine tradition.
In order to remind us of what the Cross of Christ means to us, it was often depicted on a symbolic Golgotha with a skull (Adam's head) at the base. Next to him you can usually see the instruments of the passions of the Lord - a spear and a cane.
Letters INCI(Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews), which are usually depicted on larger crosses, commemorate the inscription mockingly nailed over the head of the Savior during the crucifixion.
The inscription TsR SLVA IS XC SN BZHIY explaining under the titles reads: “ King of Glory Jesus Christ Son of God". The inscription " NIKA” (Greek word, means the victory of Christ over death).
Separate letters that can be on pectoral crosses mean “ TO” – copy, “ T”- cane, “ GG”- Mount Golgotha, “ GA” is the head of Adam. “ MLRB”- The Place of the Execution Paradise Became (that is: Paradise was once planted at the place of execution of Christ).
We are sure that many do not even realize how much this symbolism is perverted in our usual deck of cards . As it turned out, four card suits- this is a hidden blasphemy against Christian shrines: baptize- this is the Cross of Christ; diamonds- nails; peaks- a copy of the centurion; worms- this is a sponge with vinegar, which the tormentors mockingly gave Christ instead of water.
The image of the Crucified Savior appeared on pectoral crosses quite recently (at least after the 17th century). Pectoral crosses depicting the Crucifixion non-canonical , since the image of the Crucifixion turns the pectoral cross into an icon, and the icon is intended for direct perception and prayer.
Wearing an icon in a form hidden from the eyes is fraught with the danger of using it for other purposes, namely as a magical amulet or amulet. The cross is symbol , and the Crucifixion is image . The priest wears a cross with a Crucifix, but he wears it in a visible way: so that everyone sees this image and is inspired to pray, inspired to a certain attitude towards the priest. The priesthood is the image of Christ. And the pectoral cross that we wear under our clothes is a symbol, and the Crucifixion should not be there.
One of the ancient rules of St. Basil the Great (4th century), which was included in the Nomocanon, reads:
“Everyone who wears any icon as an amulet must be excommunicated from communion for three years.”
As you can see, the ancient fathers very strictly followed the correct attitude to the icon, to the image. They stood guard over the purity of Orthodoxy, in every possible way protecting it from paganism. By the 17th century, it was customary to place a prayer to the Cross on the back of the pectoral cross (“May God arise and oppose Him…”), or only the first words.
Women's pectoral cross
In the Old Believers, the external difference between “ female" and " male” crosses. The “female” pectoral cross has a smoother, rounded shape without sharp corners. Around the “female” cross, a “vine” is depicted with a floral ornament, reminiscent of the words of the psalmist: “ Your wife is like a fruitful vine in the countries of your house. ” (Ps., 127, 3).
It is customary to wear a pectoral cross on a long gaitan (braid, braided thread) so that you can, without removing it, take the cross in your hands and overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross (this is supposed to be done with the appropriate prayers before going to bed, as well as when making a cell rule).
Symbolism in everything: even the three crowns above the hole symbolize the Holy Trinity!
If we talk about crosses with the image of the crucifixion wider, then distinctive feature canonical crosses is the style of depicting the body of Christ on them. Widespread today on New Rite crosses the image of the suffering Jesus is alien to the Orthodox tradition .
Ancient medallions with a symbolic image
According to canonical ideas, reflected in iconography and copper plastic, the body of the Savior on the Cross was never depicted as suffering, sagging on nails, etc., which testifies to His divine nature.
The manner of “humanizing” the sufferings of Christ is characteristic Catholicism and borrowed much later than the church schism in Russia. Old Believers consider such crosses worthless . Examples of canonical and modern New Believer casting are given below: the substitution of concepts is noticeable even to the naked eye.
The stability of traditions should also be noted: the collections in the photographs were replenished without the goal of showing only ancient forms, that is, hundreds of types of modern “ Orthodox jewelry ”- an invention of recent decades against the backdrop of an almost complete oblivion of the symbolism and meaning of the image of the honest Cross of the Lord.
Related illustrations
Below are illustrations selected by the editors of the site "Old Believer Thought" and links on the topic.
An example of canonical pectoral crosses from different times:
An example of non-canonical crosses from different times:
Unusual crosses, presumably made by the Old Believers in Romania
Photo from the exhibition “Russian Old Believers”, Ryazan
A cross with an unusual back that you can read about
Male cross of modern work
Catalog of ancient crosses - online version of the book " Millennium of the Cross » – http://k1000k.narod.ru
A well-illustrated article on early Christian pectoral crosses with high-quality illustrations in color and additional material on the topic on the site Culturology.Ru – http://www.kulturologia.ru/blogs/150713/18549/
Comprehensive information and photos about cast icon-case crosses from Novgorod manufacturer of similar products : https://readtiger.com/www.olevs.ru/novgorodskoe_litje/static/kiotnye_mednolitye_kresty_2/
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