What does a cross on jewelry mean?

The cross is often regarded as an important, but still external, attribute of Christianity. There are also those who do not attach any importance to this symbol at all and wear it either out of habit or as a talisman, putting it on and taking it off on occasion. How correct this is, how to choose a cross and how to wear it, we discuss in the article.

Types of Orthodox crosses

• Four-pointed – the oldest and most common form in the West, considered Catholic;
• Six-pointed – with a lower crossbar, symbolizing unrepentant sin (the lower end of the crossbar) and liberation from it by repentance (the upper part of the bar).
• Eight-pointed – the most historically accurate form with two crossbars. It is traditional for Orthodoxy and has the inscription on the back “Save and Preserve.” The upper bar depicts a tablet with the name of Christ “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”, the lower one – a footrest. The crossbar tilts to the left and, just like the six-pointed version, symbolizes repentance, which will lead to the gates of heaven, and sin, which leads a person to the flames of hell.

How to choose a pectoral cross

If you need a gift for your baby, take the following principles as a basis:

• there should be no protruding parts on the cross that could scratch a child’s delicate skin – the crucifix can be engraved or you can do without it altogether;
• refuse decor and inserts – a child may inadvertently swallow a fallen pebble or be scratched by a relief part;
• the ends of the cross should be rounded;
• To avoid allergic reactions and oxidation, it is best to buy models made of silver – this precious metal is not as expensive as gold, but is safe, unlike cheap alloys.

When choosing an adult pectoral cross, you need to focus not only on your taste, but also on your lifestyle. For example, excessive physical and nervous stress, associated with profuse sweating, can oxidize the metal from which a simple metal cross is made.

Material

The best options are silver or gold. They are practical and do not cause allergies during everyday wear, but there are still differences between them.

Crosses and icons made of silver may oxidize, but they are less scratched than gold. They are more demanding to care for, and their price is lower.

Gold items do not require special care and hardly oxidize, but they are more expensive than silver items. It’s true that such a cross will look elegant and rich.

Even if you have a beautiful and expensive symbol of faith, you still shouldn’t show it off. Yes, yes, and a masterpiece of jewelry studded with beautiful diamonds will have to be hidden under clothes, since pride and greed are considered mortal sins.

Size

In order not to make a mistake with a gift or when ordering in an online store, focus on the following indicators:

• Crosses up to 2 cm high are suitable for newborn babies and preschoolers.
• For schoolchildren and teenagers you can buy an adult attribute of medium size about 2 cm.
• Female models – from 2,5 to 3 cm.
• Men will need a larger product: choose depending on your height and build. Range of male models 2,5 – 3,5 cm
• Larger crosses are issued, as a rule, for clergy.

Symbolism

Now let’s look at the symbols applied to the sacred attribute – the ancient design was not taken out of thin air, and was hardly created taking into account someone’s taste.

What does the skull on the cross mean?

In the Christian tradition, it is not without reason that it is customary to depict a skull under a crucifix. The fact is that Jesus was executed on Calvary – in the place where the ashes of Adam, the first mortal, rest. Adam sinned and after sin acquired death, resting in the place of execution. Thus, the skull is a sign of death, and Christ, towering above it, is a symbol of the triumph of God over death and over sin.

What does the inscription “NIKA” on the cross mean?

There is still a lot of controversy about this inscription:

According to one version, it symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over death. Another says that the word “NIKA” appeared on the cross after the victory of Constantine the Great over the tyrant Maxentius in 312. According to legend, a heavenly sign appeared to Emperor Constantine in the form of a shining cross with the inscription: “By this, conquer!” The emperor ordered the craftsmen to make a golden crucifix studded with precious stones and, obeying God’s will, went into battle, where he won the victory promised to him by God.

Figure of Christ on an Orthodox and Catholic crucifix

Jesus is depicted on the cross in different ways, depending on one’s faith:

• On the Orthodox attribute, the son of God has risen, and his appearance is life-affirming. Catholics portray Christ as dead or suffering.
• In Orthodoxy, Jesus’ legs are nailed separately from each other, while the Catholic Church traditionally crosses the Savior’s legs.

What is written on the tablet above the crucifix

For Catholics, this is the abbreviation “INRI”, which completely sounds like Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdæorvm, that is, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The fact is that during the execution of the son of God, the guilt of the executed person was written on such tablets, but since no sin or misconduct was found behind Jesus, Pilate had to simply write his name. The Orthodox symbolic version of this abbreviation is “I.N.Ts.I.”

You can often find the letters IC XC, which means “Jesus Christ”

Do I need to consecrate the cross after purchase?

The question of sanctification remains on the conscience of everyone. For those who consider the pectoral cross to be an ordinary decoration, this ritual is, of course, not necessary. And if you consider yourself to be a true believer and it is important for you to observe all the canons and traditions, be sure to take your purchase to the priest and ask him to consecrate the cross. By the way, you can also take a chain along with it for a sacred action, although this is not necessary.

According to tradition, only after this procedure can one enter the temple and attend various sacraments. Of course, no one will check you, but the responsibility still falls on you.

And one more argument in favor of consecrating the body covering – it is believed that only after the ceremony is the cross endowed with a special meaning and the ability to protect its owner from evil forces.

A priest can refuse consecration if the cross does not correspond to Orthodox canons, but belongs to the Catholic faith. But if you carefully read our article, you will no longer make such a mistake.

How to wear a cross correctly

The sacred attribute requires compliance with several simple rules:

• a cross is not worn over clothing, no matter how beautiful it is;
• they do not exchange it with other people – the clergy are categorically against such an exchange;
• the cross should not be removed, it should be with you under any circumstances. Exceptions are medical operations or sports, when the vest may get lost;
• The symbol of faith can only be worn by baptized people, and unbaptized people and those who profess other faiths are prohibited from wearing it.

What to do if the cross is lost or broken

The priests say that there is nothing terrible about the loss. If you lose it, you can simply buy a new cross that corresponds to the canons and your preferences, take it to church and consecrate it.

If the consecrated cross is broken, under no circumstances should you throw it away – this will show disrespect for God and the Christian faith. But you can take the sacred attribute to the nearest church or place it at home next to the icons.

Artyom Kostin August 13, 2019

Many symbols change their meaning over time. Sometimes it’s just the opposite. This is what happened with the Iron Cross – it was once an extremely honorable military award, and then for a long time it was associated exclusively with the crimes of Nazi Germany. And if it weren’t for the biker subculture, they would soon have completely forgotten about the Iron Cross. But this did not happen. Jewelry with crosses of a similar shape is popular among courageous lovers of speed and motorcycles, as well as among lovers of accessories with a brutal design. But many of them have no idea about the history of the symbol and its meaning. It’s time to correct this unfortunate misunderstanding.

Equilateral crosses in European symbolism

Europeans have used symbolism including various crosses for a long time. And at the same time I had to strain my imagination – it was impossible to use a classic cross – after all, this is the prerogative of the church, and I really wanted to somehow stand out among other religious associations. That is why a large number of similar crosses appeared, which many still confuse. So it’s worth dwelling on this point separately.

• Bolnisi cross. A common Georgian religious symbol, dating back almost to the 5th century AD. An equilateral white cross with concave flaring ends, enclosed in a circle.
• Maltese cross. The official symbol of the Order of Hospitallers, formed in 1099. A white equilateral cross with V-shaped cutouts at the flared ends.
• Teutonic cross. Or “Black Cross”. The official symbol of the Teutonic Order, formed in 1190. It is characterized by an elongated lower part of the cross, concave expanding ends, and also a silver edging.
• Templar cross. Or, as it is also called, palmate. The official symbol of the Knights Templar, founded in 1119. There were several versions, one of which included flared ends with a straight end. However, other options were more often used – with straight ends, or with expanding but convex ends. Both black and red were used.

And, of course, the Iron Cross, which was originally discussed. It is very similar to the Templar cross mentioned above, but has nothing to do with them.

History of the Iron Cross as an award

According to the legend about the creation of this symbol, the King of Prussia, Frederick William III, was inspired by the Teutonic cross. Because Prussia has always been proud of its historical connection with the Teutonic Order. And in 1813, the Iron Cross became an official military award, which was awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the process of liberating the country from Napoleon’s troops.

In the subsequent war of 1871, Prussia defeated French forces, united with Germany and formed the German Empire, which adopted many of the highest Prussian military awards, including the Iron Cross.

Then there was the First World War, in which the Iron Crosses were also actively awarded to distinguished fighters. But in much greater numbers than in previous wars. The award became famous and widespread. Even the still unknown corporal Adolf Hitler received one such Iron Cross, First Class.

He revived the practice of issuing Iron Crosses in 1939. Only I slightly corrected the design of the order – I added a swastika in the center and changed the color of the order ribbon from black and white to black, white and red.

It is also worth noting that it was not only Prussia and Nazi Germany that used the recognizable shape of the Iron Cross as a military decoration. In the Russian Empire, the Order of St. George the Victorious had almost the same shape, only with a small circle in the center, and in Great Britain – the Victoria Cross.

Further history of the Iron Cross

The Iron Cross, along with the black equilateral straight cross (Schwarzkreuz), also served as an identification mark for German military equipment, dating back to the First World War. He painted on airplanes, tanks, and motorcycles, of which there were many in the army. But if the Allied soldiers could not take military equipment with them as a personal trophy, then with motorcycles everything was much simpler. So American veterans returned home with relatively new DKW RT125, BMW R75 and R71 motorcycles from which the swastika, but not other identifying symbols, had been removed.

Since the Iron Cross was a military award given to distinguished Wehrmacht soldiers, receiving it as a trophy became one of the proofs of personal courage and military skill for Allied soldiers. And wearing such a “trophy award” seriously raised the fighter’s reputation in the eyes of his fellow fighters.

So, upon returning to the USA, World War II veterans began to actively ride around on captured motorcycles and “show off” captured Iron Crosses. It was precisely these courageous defenders of the “American Dream” that young people wanted to emulate. Therefore, the Iron Cross quickly became a common biker symbol. Which, for even greater brutality, began to be supplemented with images of skulls. However, this even had a practical purpose – the fact is that as part of the denazification program, swastikas were removed from the original iron crosses. And the resulting scratches and damage had to be painted over and covered with something – why not with an image of a skull.

Of course, there were those who wore it as a sign of sympathy for Nazi ideology and Adolf Hitler personally, but there were few of them among the bikers. But yes, some biker groups actively declared their extreme right-wing worldview, as a sign of which they wore recognizable symbols, including jewelry in the shape of an iron cross. Which, however, does not automatically turn anyone wearing an iron cross into a Nazi.

This is how the iron cross took its place of honor within the framework of classic biker symbols. Jackets, helmets, and custom choppers are decorated with his images. And, of course, they are worn both in the form of rings and on chains.