Why can t you wear a cross with a crucifix?

If you ask any person, even those far from religion, what symbol comes to mind when they hear the word “Christianity,” he will answer: “cross.” But if you ask a question about the difference between intra-confessional movements, he will probably experience serious difficulties. What can I say: few people who call themselves Orthodox will be able to identify a cross that corresponds to the church structure. Well, not all Christians come to church as devout believers and versed in the nuances of theology – many are baptized only following fashion. However, each of us has freedom of conscience and is free to choose our own path to God. And we will help you take a small step towards him and tell you about the rules for choosing a pectoral cross. The most important thing: the correct Orthodox cross must be consecrated in the church and personify faith in the feat of Jesus. Everything else is small nuances, of little significance to a true believer!

What an Orthodox cross should look like

So, an Orthodox pectoral cross should look like. Wait, it shouldn’t do anything: it’s a material symbol of faith that can take different forms. Yes, there are some canons, but they are so vague and conditional that it is almost impossible to make a mistake when choosing an Orthodox creed!

Church ministers are increasingly refusing to consecrate crosses due to non-compliance with the canons. The most advanced priests even consecrate crosses with Latin inscriptions and other signs of Catholic origin.

Contrary to popular misconception, the Orthodox Church recognizes crosses in a variety of shapes:

• Four-pointed. These simple crosses, consisting of just two crossed crossbars, are often called Latin crosses. Many people clearly consider them Catholic. This is incorrect: the Orthodox Church is not so categorical on this issue, especially since the baptist of Rus’, Prince Vladimir, owned exactly such a cross. And one more thing: you can wear an Orthodox cross without a crucifix, inscriptions and other symbolic elements. Just a smooth four-pointed cross is enough!

• Six-pointed. In such crosses, another bar is added – an inclined lower one. There are different interpretations of its meaning: according to various sources, it symbolizes the internal balance of a person, his path to spirituality, or the scales on which human sins and blessings are weighed.
• Eight-pointed. These are canonical Orthodox crosses. Compared to six-pointed ones, they have an additional upper bar of shorter length than the main transverse one. It is called a title and serves as a symbol of a tablet that was once nailed over the head of the crucified Lord. According to the Orthodox tradition, the letters IHCI are inscribed on it, which, when deciphered from the Church Slavonic abbreviation, gives the phrase “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Since the time of Ivan the Terrible, this cross has been decorating the domes of churches, it is placed on the graves of parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church, and is used in state symbols.

The eight-pointed cross is one of the oldest symbols of the Christian religion. It was widely used back in VI, when there were no Catholics, Orthodox, Uniates, Protestants and others like them, but there were simply Christians, united in the faith.

The canonical Orthodox cross with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is visually somewhat different from the Catholic one. Let’s go over the main differences:

• Figure of Christ. In the Orthodox tradition, the crucifix is ​​more optimistic and life-affirming. Christ is depicted as already risen, with open arms and a spiritual look. The Catholic Savior is as if caught in the stage of agony or already dead: he hangs helplessly on the cross, clearly suffering.
• Nuances. On Catholic crucifixes there is often a crown of thorns on the head of Christ; in Orthodoxy it is usually absent. And the most important thing, on which many theological copies were broken – the feet of Christ. In the Orthodox tradition, the Savior receives a nail per foot (four in total), according to the Catholic tradition – one nail for both feet. Sometimes Orthodox priests refuse to consecrate crosses, guided by this very sign. Does the fact that Jesus is nailed with three nails make him no longer the Savior of mankind?
• Inscriptions. We have already talked about one inscription (it flaunts on the title, that is, the upper crossbar, or simply at the top of the cross) – Church Slavonic IHCI or Russian INCI. On the Catholic cross, a similar abbreviation is written in Latin INRI. On both crosses there may be all sorts of additional symbols and decorative elements, but only on the Orthodox cross on the reverse side is written: “Save and Preserve.”

There are many less common varieties of the Christian symbol. For example, the monastic cross-Golgotha, complemented by steps, a skull and other symbols, crosses with wedge-shaped petals topped with lilies or drops.

How to choose a pectoral Orthodox cross

Often parents (blood or godparents) find it difficult to choose a symbol for the sacrament of baptism. The main rule applies here: the baptismal cross should be comfortable and safe for the child.

Here are the basic principles of selection:

• Deeply religious Orthodox Christians wear a cross with a crucifix, but as we found out, this is not necessary. For a child, it is better to choose a cross without protruding elements: with an engraved crucifix or without it at all.
• The cross should have rounded ends so that the baby’s delicate skin is not scratched. For the same reason, it is better to abandon any inserts and additional decor.
• A Christian cross can be made of any material, but for kids it is better to choose silver options. This metal is not too expensive, and also has a pronounced antiseptic effect.

If you want to choose the right Orthodox cross on the neck for a deeply religious adult, take the canonical eight-pointed one. Crucifixion in this case is mandatory.

Since children are usually baptized at a very tender age, it is better to stop at the smallest cross and hang it not on a chain, but on a gaitan cord. In the first year of life, a child does not have to wear a cross: the mother can wear it in parallel with her own. The second option is to hang a symbol of faith near the baby’s crib.

Types of materials

Contrary to popular belief, the Orthodox Church does not have specific requirements for the material of the cross. It can be carved from wood (which is not very practical) or stone, cast from simple metal or jewelry alloy.

The spiritual content of a symbol of faith does not depend in any way on the material from which it is made. True, most people prefer to choose crosses made of precious materials: they are not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also practical (durable, practically do not cause allergic reactions).

The Church considers pride and love of money to be mortal sins. Therefore, even if you choose a very expensive platinum cross with diamonds, you need to wear it under clothes.

What does the skull on the cross mean?

It would seem that before us is a symbol of salvation and the triumph of life, so why is a skull and crossbones sometimes depicted below on a cross? This cannot be some kind of mystical symbol, because the Christian Church has a negative attitude towards occult knowledge.

Some people associate this image with a reminder of the frailty of earthly life. But there is a better version. According to legend, it was on Golgotha, where Christ suffered martyrdom, that the remains of the first man, Adam, rest. And the blood of the Savior washed the land of the Place of Execution, at the same time washing away the sins of human ancestors.

What does the inscription NIKA on the cross mean?

Any educated person will say that “Nika” translated from Greek means “victory.” That, by the way, was the name of the ancient Greek goddess of victory, a close relative of the ancient Roman Victoria. So why is the name of a pagan goddess often emblazoned on Orthodox crosses?

So, the word NIKA on the cross means “victory”. According to historical chronicles, crosses with the initials of the Savior and the word “Nike” were installed in Byzantium by Emperor Constantine. This was done in honor of the victory over the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and marked the triumph of the new faith. Now this inscription is interpreted more simply: the Savior atoned for human sins and conquered death itself.

The main thing in an Orthodox cross is not its shape or market value, but its spiritual content. And they are endowed with symbols of faith exclusively by the people who wear and venerate them!

The cross is a symbol of faith for a third of the population of our planet. Christianity is one of the three most popular religions in the world, so a cross with a crucifix can safely be called one of the most sought-after religious decorations. Perhaps this is why there are so many myths, misconceptions and disputes around it. We have already raised the topic of religious jewelry several times in our blog, and today we will talk more specifically about whether it is necessary or possible to wear a cross with a crucifix.

Cross with crucifix as a symbol of faith

Let’s start from the beginning. The cross and crucifix is ​​a canonical symbol in Christianity. The cross depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Man, the Almighty, the Lord.

It is believed that until the end of the 7th century the Crucifixion was not a motif for depictions on crosses. The situation was changed by the Council of Trullo (another name is the fifth-sixth council), which took place in 692. For the first time, the use of the iconography of Christ in the image of a lamb was prohibited, which was typical even before the early Christianity of the Roman Empire. The Council of Trulla marked the beginning of iconography as we know it.

They began to portray Jesus Christ according to human nature. True, crosses and crucifixes were still far away.

In antiquity there was a tradition of wearing bullae (seal or vial). It was a family heirloom, a small vessel depicting the patron of the family or a representative of the pantheon. The vessel usually contained either medicines that could be useful to a warrior, or amulets. Only men and representatives of a noble family could wear bullas.

During the birth of Christianity, the tradition of wearing bullae changed and encolpions appeared. These were vessels in which part of the prosphora or relics of saints was placed. In the West, the tradition appeared back in the 5th century, and our ancestors began wearing encolpions in the 10th century with the spread of Christianity. This can be called a transitional stage from paganism to Christianity in the matter of religious attributes.

People began to wear crosses everywhere only in the 14th century. Until this point, there were rare cases among the laity. The clergy began wearing pectoral crosses much earlier. In this regard, let us clarify our first misconception – believers should wear a cross with a crucifix under their clothes. There is a superstition that no one should see your faith attribute, but it is not related to signs. Only people who serve God wear a cross with a crucifix over their clothes. For example, a priest or a monk. A Christian should wear a cross with a crucifix under his clothes or, if this is difficult to do, with the crucifix inside.

Symbolism of the cross and crucifix

The crucifix is ​​a religious symbol that serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus. This is a symbol of salvation and eternal life, as well as the sinfulness of the human soul. The path of the Christian is constant redemption, so a person needs to repent regularly in order to be saved. A cross with a crucifix is ​​called a strong amulet that can protect against bad thoughts, evil intentions, illnesses and troubles. However, such a superstition contradicts Christian dogmas, since it turns a symbol of faith into an amulet, which is characteristic of paganism. It would be more correct to say that a cross with a crucifix reminds a person that he is not alone, that the Lord loves and protects him.

Why can’t you wear a cross with a crucifix?

In most Christian teachings, a cross with a crucifix is ​​a traditional decoration. However, in Protestantism it is not customary to wear a cross with a crucifix. Moreover, conservative Baptists prohibit the wearing of this attribute. This is due to their interpretation of the Crucifixion and Christ’s sacrifice.

Protestants do not use the cross either during worship or in everyday life. Neither body, nor altar. According to representatives of the Protestant movement, the Crucifixion symbolizes murder, the cross is an instrument of execution like a guillotine. Baptists believe that praising the cross is offensive to God.

Protestants, although not so radical, do not welcome the use of the cross. In their opinion, worshiping the cross is similar to idolatry, and according to the Bible, you should not create idols for yourself. Another important point is that Protestants are very sensitive to the Holy Scripture, which does not indicate that a cross with or without a crucifix is ​​not an attribute of faith or an artifact of Christianity. This is true.

Is it possible to wear a cross with a crucifix?

Orthodox Christians for the most part choose crosses with crucifixes, since they are a symbol of sacrifice and faith. If you are an Orthodox Christian, then there is no reason to refuse this. Every believer can wear a pectoral cross with a crucifix. The only exception is if the church you go to denies the importance of a crucifix. For example, Protestant churches are in the majority. At the same time, for example, the Anglican Church often turns to crosses in services and everyday life, and they are also representatives of Protestantism. If you are a Protestant, it is better to find out from the ministers of your church.

Also, wearing a pectoral cross with a crucifix is ​​not worth it if you do not believe in it as an attribute of faith. There is nothing wrong with this, but such decoration is a certain marker of Christianity. If a Christian sees a cross with a crucifix on you and finds out that you do not believe in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this may offend him or even offend the feelings of believers. However, in this case, you can wear a cross with stones without a crucifix, since this is already a decoration without a semantic load.

Is it necessary to wear a cross with a crucifix?

When a person accepts Christianity, he undergoes the rite of Baptism. During it, a cross is put on a person for the first time. Often the sacrament of Baptism is performed on children in infancy, so godparents buy a cross with a crucifix. We recommend that you first discuss the purchase of an important article of faith with your parents and church representatives. Crosses with crucifixes are not always recommended for children, since the child has delicate skin, and the decor can scratch it.

If an adult accepts Christianity, then he chooses the religious decoration himself. The church does not give any recommendations about what it should be, so a person has more options to choose from. If you like the crucifix cross, buy it. If you like laconic options without any decoration, order this one.

A Christian must wear a cross at all times, with the exception of force majeure cases or situations that do not involve wearing precious items (for example, fluorography). Try not to believe in superstitions about crosses. It’s okay if the accessory is broken or lost. Just buy a new one and consecrate it in the church. However, if you find jewelry somewhere, it is better not to wear it and take it to a church where they know what to do with it.