Orthodox cross

The Orthodox, Byzantine^[1][2][3] or more generally Russian (Orthodox) Cross^[1][4][5][6] is a variation of the Christian cross, commonly found in Eastern Orthodox Churches. The cross has three horizontal crossbeams—the top represents the plate inscribed with INRI, and the bottom, a footrest. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, the lower beam is slanted: the side to Christ's right is usually higher. According to Russian Orthodox tradition, when Saint Andrew was preaching in southern Russia, he used a similarly designed life-sized cross and tilted the footrest to show that those on Christ's right would ascend to Heaven, while those on Christ's left would descend to Hell. Consequently, in the Russian Orthodox Church this cross is sometimes called the Cross of Saint Andrew.^{[citation needed]} In the Greek Orthodox Church, the footrest remains straight, as in earlier representations.

Russian variations

Calvary Cross

In Russia, the top crossbeam can be absent; however, in the Russian North it can be attached on top of the vertical beam.^[7]

A variation is a monastic "Calvary Cross", in which the cross is situated atop the hill of Calvary, its slopes symbolized by steps. To the viewer's left is the Holy Lance, with which Jesus was wounded in his side, and to the right, a cane with a wine-saturated sponge. Under Calvary are Adam's skull and bones;^[2] the right-arm bone is usually above the left one, and believers fold their arms across their chests in this way during Orthodox communion. Around the cross are abbreviations in Church Slavonic. This type of cross is usually embroidered on a schema-monk's robe.

Between 1577–1625, the Russian Orthodox Cross was depicted between the heads of a double-headed eagle in the coat of arms of Russia. It was drawn on military banners until the end of the 17th century.^[8]

Gallery

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  Coat of arms of Russia from the seal of Ivan IV (the Terrible), 1577

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  Coat of arms of Russia from the seal of Fyodor I, 1589

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  A rider with the banner from an icon Blessed Be the Host of the King of Heaven (Church Militant), 1550s

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  A 17th century miniature of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380). A warrior bears a red banner with a cross

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  A copper cross typical for Old believers

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  A cross of a Russian Orthodox priest

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  A modern memorial to St. Cyril and Methodius in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

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  Coat of arms of Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire, 1878

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  Russian depiction in which the INRI plank is on top of the vertical beam

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  Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery, the resting place of many eminent Russian émigrés.

References

External links

• "Explanation of the Three-Bar Cross". Church of the Nativity: Russian Orthodox Old Rite. http://www.churchofthenativity.net/orthodoxy/three-bar-cross/. Retrieved October 20, 2011. 

• V. Rev. John Shandra. "The Skull on the "Russian" Orthodox Cross". http://frjohnshandra.pravsvit.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:the-skull-on-the-qrussianq-orthodox-cross&catid=38:general. Retrieved October 20, 2011. 

• (Russian) Kuznetsov, V. P. [Кузнецов В. П.] (1997). History of the development of the cross's forms. Short course of Orthodox staurography. История развития формы креста. Краткий курс православной ставрографии. Moscow.