The pectoral cross is not just an ornament, but a symbol of faith in the Almighty, a distinctive sign that a person belongs to a religious class. If there is no certain knowledge in the use of such paraphernalia, then the question arises of how to wear a cross so that this does not contradict church beliefs. Proper wearing of such a product will guarantee that a person will be under the constant protection of the Lord. This is especially important for young children and people susceptible to negative influence from the outside.
According to the clergy, the pectoral cross should become a constant companion of a believer. It is put on during the rite of baptism on a newborn and is not removed until death. By the way, the deceased is also buried with his Orthodox shrine which he wore during his lifetime.
As you know, the history of the origin of the cross with the image of Jesus Christ is rooted in the distant past. The Savior gave his life for all mankind and washed away the sins of everyone living on earth with his blood. Wearing such a symbol on the body is evidence that a person remembers what sacrifices God makes for people and for what Christ suffered.
There is an interesting story by Archpriest Igor Fomin that there was one custom in the Roman Empire. On the necks of the slaves they wore peculiar collars with their names, similar to those worn by dogs. The first Christians at that time, in contradiction to such humiliation, wore pectoral crosses, saying that they had their own ruler who gave his life for them. It was to him that they swore to serve all their lives.
Another argument in favor of wearing an Orthodox cross is spiritual protection. Some do not think that faith in God alone may not be enough. There are several testimonies that the cross is a material protection from evil forces and a symbol of a person's belonging to the Christian world.
For example, in old days If a girl married a non-Christian, she was required to remove her cross. This was explained by the fact that by such an act she renounces Christ and does not have the right to wear a pectoral cross. There are also references to the fact that people were deprived of spiritual protection after they took off the cross. They became demon-possessed, and when they were approached with a cross, they began to tremble, scream, slander, and beat against the wall.
External features and selection criteria
There are quite a few options for the decoration of Orthodox pectoral crosses. They can be with sharp and rounded ends, with straight and heeled crossbars, with a rhombus or square located in the middle. On many products you can find a floral ornament.
The Crucifixion of Christ also differs in types. Make a church symbol:
- eight-pointed;
- seven-pointed;
- in the form of a crown of thorns.
The eight-pointed cross is considered the most popular. The seven-pointed product is often used for divine images created in the 15th century. The crown of thorns is made in the form of a cross with a prickly crown, denoting the sufferings and torments of Christ.
Pectoral crosses for men and women differ in appearance. The latter are made more rounded and smoothed, without sharp corners, which are found on male versions of products.
When choosing an Orthodox symbol, you need to follow certain rules. It should not contain anything that can defile God, and the presence of symbols of other religions or pagan signs is also unacceptable. On a correctly made cross, the Savior should, as it were, lie on top of the crucifix itself, without sagging of the body and throwing back the head.
Not last role plays the material from which the Christian symbol is made. It may be gold, identifying truth. Crosses made of wood are popular, symbolizing the Tree of Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Silver is considered the personification of chastity and purity.
How to wear a pectoral cross?
Modern products look very stylish, and the question arises whether it is possible to wear a cross as an ornament or is it just a Christian symbolism. As indicated in the very name of the cross, it must be worn directly on the body, i.e. under clothing and away from strangers. This statement is certainly correct, considering that many people have evil eye and can harm a person through a church product. Today, modern fashion dictates its own rules and there are many people who wear a pectoral cross on a bracelet, attached to earrings. The Church categorically does not welcome such an attitude towards the shrine.
The cross should always and everywhere accompany its owner. The only exception is situations due to which it can be damaged. For example, while visiting the pool or bath, it is better to remove the cross. Prolonged exposure to water or temperature changes will lead to cracking of wooden things and tarnishing of metal ones.
How to wear a cross with other jewelry and clothes? It matches with any outfit. It can be a small item on a thin chain for women or a more massive item on a leather cord for men. For children under 5 years old, it is better to hang a cross on a woven cord so that the baby does not lose it. If there is a desire to wear a Christian symbol with other products, then this is not prohibited. Moreover, you can even wear two crosses at the same time.
In addition to church symbols, there are crosses that perform a decorative role. They do not have the image of Christ and the inscription "Save and Save". There are no rules for wearing such jewelry. Just do not compare such trinkets with a real creed, and even more so take them seriously.
Signs associated with the pectoral cross
A pectoral cross for any believer is the most strong amulet. Many signs are associated with him, which are partly only superstitions, but there is some truth in some.
- Wearing someone else's cross will lead to poaching the fate of its previous owner. This is a myth invented by grandmothers who do not know about the true purpose of the pectoral cross. This is, first of all, a shrine and therefore cannot harm a person in principle.
- You can not pick up a cross lost by someone from the ground. This statement is true, because such things are often damaged and, by raising it, you can incur trouble.
- Darkened cross - Bad sign. This means that a magical influence was exerted on a person, and he became a victim of the evil eye and corruption.
- If the chain on the cross is torn by itself, without any mechanical impact, this means that trouble is coming. In this case, it is recommended to reconsider your views on life, repent of mistakes and ask for forgiveness from those people who have been hurt.
Whether to believe in these signs is a personal matter for everyone, but they were invented for a reason. Better to play it safe and listen to them than to solve problems later.
Cross lighting
The consecration of the pectoral cross is a mandatory procedure. Thus, the creed is gaining strength and will protect a person throughout his life. life path. Do it like this:
- in any church, you need to talk to the priest and ask him to dedicate the cross;
- You may be present during the ceremony. At this time, you can pray, clear your thoughts of the bad, ask God for forgiveness and everything that is needed in this period of life;
- the priest will sprinkle the cross with holy water, read the corresponding psalm, after which the ceremony can be considered completed.
Leaving the church, you need to thank the clergyman for the assistance provided and, if possible, leave a donation.
Pectoral cross - why is it worn on the body and is it possible to remove the cross from oneself?
PEARL CROSS
Of all world religions, Christianity occupies a special position in Russia. According to statistics, at least two-thirds of Russians received the Sacrament of Baptism. In this Sacrament, among other actions, a pectoral cross is placed on the neck of a person. About where the tradition of wearing pectoral crosses came from, why they wear it on the body and whether it is possible to remove the cross from oneself - this and other things will be discussed in our article.
A bit of history
The custom, along with Baptism, to put on a pectoral cross around the neck of the newly baptized did not appear immediately. However, the cross as an instrument of salvation has been the subject of the greatest honor among Christians since the very foundation 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 to confess their faith to others. From the acts of the 7th Ecumenical Council(act 4) we know that the holy martyrs Orestes (suffered c.304 g .) and Procopius (martyred in 303 g .) wore a cross on their chest. Pontius, the life writer of the Hieromartyr Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258 g.), and others. Christians wore the image of the cross on the body, most often on the forehead and on the chest. If some Christians wore a cross under their clothes because of fear of persecution or out of a reverent desire to avoid ridicule of the shrine by the pagans, then there were others who wanted to confess Christ, their faith. Such a bold and resolute confession prompted to make the image of the cross on the forehead as in the most conspicuous place on the human body. Today, very few external sources have survived that would report on this pious tradition of wearing the cross, because in the first three centuries it belonged to the area of disciplinae arcanae, that is, to the circle of those Christian beliefs and rituals that were kept secret from the pagans. After the weakening and subsequent cessation of the persecution of Christians, the wearing of the cross became a widespread custom. At the same time for all Christian churches crosses began to be erected. In Rus', this custom was adopted precisely with the baptism of the Slavs in 988. On Russian soil, crosses were worn not on the body, but over clothing, "as clear indicators of Christian baptism." They were called encolpions - from the Greek word "chest". Encolpions at first had the form of a four-sided box, empty inside; on their outer side, an image of the monogram of the name of Jesus Christ was placed, and later - a cross of various shapes. This box contained relics.
The meaning of the cross
What does the pectoral cross symbolize and why is it necessary to wear it? 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 that through pain and suffering, death and Resurrection, the Son of God accomplishes salvation or healing. human nature from mortality, passion and perishability 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 blessing. This complicity consists not so much in theoretically recognizing that Christ once, more than two thousand years ago, in Jerusalem suffered physically and morally, but in accepting: I, just like the Lord, am ready daily to bring sacrifice yourself - through the struggle with your passions, through the forgiveness and non-judgment of your neighbors, through building your life according to the Gospel commandments of the Savior - as a sign of love and gratitude to Him.
A huge honor
For an Orthodox Christian, wearing a cross is a great honor and responsibility. Conscious neglect and blasphemous attitude to the cross in the Russian people has always been understood as an act of apostasy. 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. Orthodox Church believes that according to the faith of a person through the cross of Christ, the power of God is manifested (acts) in an invisible way. 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. Resurrection of the dead, healing from ailments, protection from evil force- all these and other good deeds to this day through the cross show the love of God to man.
worthless superstitions
But, despite the life-giving power of the cross, many people trust (follow) various superstitions associated with the cross. Here is an example of one of them: “To see a pectoral cross in a dream is an alarming sign, and if you dreamed that you had lost a cross, be prepared for troubles that will not slow down to fall on you,” dream interpreters say unanimously. But the most common superstition associated with the Crucifixion tells us that if we find somewhere a cross lost by someone, then we cannot take it, because by doing so we take on other people's sins. However, when it comes to finding lost money, no one remembers the sins of others, especially the pain of others. And to the “serious question” that worries many about what it means when a cross is lost, I want to just as seriously answer what it means that the chain or rope on which this cross hung broke. The presence in a person of a superstitious, that is, a vain, empty attitude towards the cross testifies to little faith and even distrust of Christ, and, therefore, of His redemptive sacrificial feat accomplished on the Cross. In this case, hope and love for God and trust in God's Providence are replaced by distrust and fear of the unknown.
Questionable Targets
For what purpose are pectoral crosses worn today and are they worn at all? Here are the answers to this question that were posted on one of the Internet forums:. I wear it as a talisman; . because it's beautiful and probably just helps; . I wear a cross, but not as a symbol of faith, but as a gift from a person close to me; . I wear it because, they say, it brings happiness; . I don’t wear it, because I consider it idolatry, there is no indication of this custom in the Bible; . I don’t wear a cross for two reasons: my neck itches terribly from all these chains, and the second is that, of course, I am a believer, but not to the same extent ... This is precisely the unchurched people with a pagan, and even consumerist attitude to faith and religion . But among this type of people there is a part that does not accept the wearing of a cross at all, motivating it as follows: “God is in my soul anyway”; “In the Bible, God does not command to wear a cross”; “The cross is a symbol of death, a shameful instrument of execution,” etc. What a person will not come up with as an excuse for his elementary ignorance in the field Christian culture! Thus, most unchurched people do not have a Christian understanding of what a cross is and why it should be worn on the body. The Church says that the cross is a shrine on which the salvation of people was accomplished, testifying to God's love for us. Upon receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, a person begins to be called a Christian, which means that one who is ready to testify to God's fidelity through carrying his life's cross and following His commandments with his whole life. This is what the image of the cross on our chest constantly reminds us of. Orthodox Christians are called, looking at the cross, to treat it with great reverence and responsibility. Such a reverent attitude towards the cross and remembering it as a shrine often keeps a person from committing a bad deed. No wonder in Rus' a person who committed a crime was told: "There is no cross on you." This phrase does not carry the literal, physical meaning of the absence of a cross on the body, but speaks of a lack of remembrance, a serious Christian attitude to the cross and the Christian faith. 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. A reverent attitude towards the pectoral cross encourages the believer not to remove the cross from the body without serious need. The fact that in Rus' special bathing crosses were made of wood, so as not to get burned by a metal cross, suggests that people did not want to remove the crosses even for a short time (during washing). No wonder the Russian people said: "He who has a cross is with Christ." But there are situations when certain circumstances require it - for example, operations on the body. In such cases, one should not neglect the doctor's demand, it is enough to make the sign of the cross over oneself and rely on the will of God. The question is, to wear or not to wear crosses infants, causes fear in many people, because a child can allegedly choke with a rope or chain on which the Crucifixion is located. But there is not yet a single such accident known when a child would strangle himself with his own hands or inflict wounds on himself with a cross. These are just vain fears or superstitious prejudices of adults. The only advice to parents is that children should not be put on too long a rope or chain around their neck. Conclusion The cross is not just a memory of the day of baptism and not a relic that should be kept, not a talisman and not a gift, but a shrine through which God gives a believing person who leads a correct spiritual life His grace, comfort and support. It is no coincidence that the Russian people put together a wise proverb: "We do not wear the cross, but it wears us." Being a visible shrine, the pectoral cross is called upon to testify to our faith in Christ, our readiness to sacrificially love and forgive people and live according to the Gospel commandments. And God grant us, looking at our cross, to remember the words of the Lord more often and act according to His call: “If anyone wants to follow Me, deny yourself and take up your cross, and follow Me” (Mt 16:24).
Deacon Konstantin Kiosev
What does the cross on the human body mean? This is a symbol of salvation. As we know from history, death on the cross in ancient Rome was the most shameful. Killers, thieves, rapists accepted such a death - those people whom society despised. There was a "noble" death - either by hanging or by beheading with a sword. As a rule, people of the upper class were subjected to this execution. And people of the lower class who committed crimes were crucified on the cross.
Everything changed after Christ, our Savior, having atoned for human sins, ascended the Cross and, together with Himself, raised the sins of all mankind to the Cross. From that moment on, the cross becomes a symbol of the salvation of every Orthodox Christian. Wearing this banner, each Christian carries his personal cross, which the Lord gave him during the sacrament of Baptism. Our pectoral cross is the banner of our victory over sin. What is the right way to use this flag?
Myth number 1. The pectoral cross should not be removed under any circumstances.
The cross really cannot be removed. He protects the person. He must always be with us. By bearing the cross, we confess Christ. But there are times when, for example, in a hospital during treatment, it is desirable to remove the cross. This does not mean that it should be removed altogether. You can put it on your hand or put it in your pocket. When I was operated on, the doctors told me to remove the cross. But I put it on my hand.
The cross should always be either on a person or next to him. When a person is with a cross, he is with the power of God. But, on the other hand, it is not necessary to treat the cross as some kind of talisman or amulet. The cross is not a talisman. This is the banner of our salvation.
Myth number 2. The cross can only be made of silver or tin. The golden cross offends Christ - by this a person shows his love for wealth - and deprives a person of the help of heavenly powers.
It does not matter what metal the cross is made of - silver, gold, tin or wood. The main thing is that a person should treat him as a sign of his salvation. Very often, for a person, the cross is not a symbol of salvation, but a kind of decoration, along with rings, bracelets, chains. Of course, such an attitude offends Christ. If he flaunts his cross as a symbol of his wealth - this is an insult to God.
The cross does not need to be flaunted, worn over clothing. The cross should be on your chest. And what metal it is made of is purely personal preference. Even if it is made of gold, I don't see any violations here.
Myth number 3. In no case should you show your cross to others, otherwise the person will be available to the action of dark forces.
If a person leads a Christian way of life, repents of his sins, takes communion, does good deeds, the demon will not approach him. Faith without works is dead. You can believe as much as you like, wear at least five crosses, but if you do nothing in the name of your faith, this faith is dead.
It does not matter where you wear the cross, it is important whether you confess Christianity with your life, with your actions, or for you Christianity is like a kind of screen, a beautiful ritual.
Indeed, you should not wear a cross for show. But not because evil forces will approach you, but because the cross is not an ornament.
Myth #4: Several crosses are better than one.
You can often see that people put on themselves a cross, an icon, and an amulet. There is a bracelet with icons on one hand, a bracelet with a cross on the other, a bandage with a prayer on the belt ... But this is direct paganism. It seems to a person that the more he puts on something, the more protection he will have. So the pagans thought - the more I sacrifice to the gods, put on amulets, the better the gods will protect me.
An Orthodox Christian understands that a pectoral cross is enough. You don't need to "strengthen" it. As the advanced youth say now, there is no need to “upgrade”. One pectoral cross is enough. And two, three crosses are absolutely useless. After all, then it turns out that a person does not believe in the power of his cross.
In the first centuries of Christianity, the cross was worn on the chest only inside the medallion. This was due to the inability to openly confess their faith. Often, instead of a cross, a Lamb was depicted on the inside of the medallion. For example, St. Gregory the Great, the Pope of Rome, in the 6th century sent two flat medallions with a crucifix to be worn on the chest to Queen Theodelinda of Lombardy.
However, in the acts of the VII Ecumenical Council, which took place in the 18th century (act 4), it is said that the martyr Procopius (died in 303), who suffered under Diocletian, wore a cross around his neck, half gold, half silver. The same is known about the Christian warrior martyr Orestes (died in 304).
St. John Chrysostom speaks of the pectoral cross given to infants in the sacrament of Baptism in the 4th century. Rebuking unreasonable women who placed amulets on baptized babies, he wrote: “You should not put anything on babies except the saving cross.”
Crosses have always been customary for Christians to wear under clothing. Only clerics or princes wore them over it.
Myth number 5. To lose a pectoral cross is unfortunately (another option is fortunately, since a lost cross takes on all the sins of its owner).
We all live in an active world. People work, hurry on business, go in for sports. It may happen that a person loses a pectoral cross. Nothing wrong with that. The cross is not a talisman or amulet. You need to come to the temple and buy another one in the icon shop. You can not attach any importance to this - that I lost the cross, my sins left with it, or new ones came - no, this is a delusion. Put on a new one and wear it with faith and prayer.
Myth No. 6. You can’t lift someone else’s pectoral cross, and even more so wear it; changing a pectoral cross is a change of fate.
When I was not yet a priest, I used to find pectoral crosses. I just took them to the temple. They know very well what to do with them. If you have found a cross, in no case should you pass by so that the shrine is not trampled underfoot. You need to pick it up and bring it to the temple where you go, give it to the priest or to the icon shop.
And the superstition that I found the cross and took on someone's sins or changed fate - this is from the field of magic. Christianity generally denies the concept of fate. Man builds his own life. Man is an absolutely free creation of God. He is free to choose whether to go left or right, to do evil or good.
Speaking of fate, we are talking about some kind of predestination in our lives. This is mistake. There is no predestination. There are gifts that the Lord gave to every person at his birth. One draws well, the other writes well, the third is an excellent mathematician. This gift depends only on you - either you will develop it, or you will bury it in the ground. This is your destiny.
We recently read a parable about talents in the Gospel - someone multiplied them, and someone buried them in the ground. Those people who multiply their talents have happy life, and those who bury - unfortunate. But it does not depend on God, but on the person himself.
When we say “life didn’t work out” or “fate didn’t work out,” then first of all we need to look at the actions of this person, how he disposed of the gifts that the Lord gave him. And the pectoral cross has absolutely nothing to do with this. This is the banner of our salvation. Only you yourself, your deeds and deeds, have any relation to your destiny.
If you put on one cross today, and another tomorrow, and something in your life went wrong, then the cross has nothing to do with it. Look for a problem in your life. Analyze your actions and deeds and draw conclusions.
Myth number 7. Dropping your pectoral cross is also unfortunate. Especially if it happened in a cemetery. In this case, you cannot raise your cross: it already belongs to the spirits of the dead.
Nothing wrong with that. Cross yourself, kiss your cross and put it on again. The same in the cemetery. It is not worth attaching some sacred meaning to the cemetery land or the place itself. The spirits of the dead are with God, in His mansions, they are not in the cemetery. Here is one of the popular superstitions, of which there are a great many.
From the early centuries, different forms of Orthodox crosses appeared, each of which had its own spiritual meaning.
Eight-pointed cross
It most closely matches the historically reliable form of the cross on which Christ was crucified. The upper crossbar means the inscription "Jesus Christ the King of the Jews", which was made by Pontius Pilate, and the lower one - the foot.
Cross "Maltese", or "St. George"
This form of the cross was officially adopted by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in Malta. The George Cross became the highest award for soldiers. Often crosses of this form are also found as underwear.
Drop-shaped cross
The "drops" at the ends symbolize the blood of Jesus. Such a cross was first drawn on the first leaf of a Greek Gospel dating from the 2nd century. It also symbolizes the struggle for faith to the end.
Cross four-pointed
The Orthodox Church, calling this cross "Latin", does not reject it, also recognizing it as the true form of the cross, equal to others. Starting from the 3rd century, this simplest image of the cross appears in the Roman catacombs.
Saint Nina's Cross
According to legend, a cross woven from vine branches was presented to Holy Mother of God Enlightener of Georgia, sending her to preach. The relic is kept in Sioni, cathedral the city of Tbilisi. Reduced copies of the shrine are very popular in Georgia.
Myth number 8. Only parents, godparents or a priest can give a pectoral cross, as this is a very personal thing.
There are no barriers for anyone to do so. If your child was given a cross, come to the temple, consecrate it, and let the child wear it. A believer will gladly accept the cross for his child or grandson, granddaughter.
Myth number 9. If the pectoral cross has darkened, it is currently actively fighting against the dark forces.
If the cross has darkened, it means that it has oxidized. When silver or gold oxidizes, it darkens. This happens from time to time. There is no need to give any meaning to this. The cross itself does not lead any struggle. The struggle is waged by the person who wears this cross: with himself, with his passions. The cross helps a person with its power. And if it darkens, it means that the metal has oxidized. sin or dark forces are not shown as darkness on your cross. I advise everyone to study the laws of chemistry.
Myth No. 10. If the chain on the cross breaks or the cross itself breaks, trouble is coming. It is God thus warning about them.
You don't have to pay attention to such things. We are not pagans. It happens that an icon has fallen in the car, and some time later a wheel has broken through or something else has happened. A person thinks: behold, the Lord warned me. And in fact, you don’t have to drive on bald tires.
Your chain broke or the eyelet of the cross broke - it's okay. Go to the jeweler, let him solder. The chain, which constantly hangs around the neck, frays. This is a scientifically explainable phenomenon. There is no need to attach any occult significance to this.
If you constantly give everything a mystical meaning, you can slide into the occult. I see such people every day, and I feel sorry for them. Instead of coming to the temple to pray, confess, they look around: then my chain fell, then something else happened to me ... Instead of praying to God, communicating with Him, they constantly watch for “signs”. And the devil simply laughs at such people - he sends them more and more new moments to which they will pay attention.
If you are afraid to accept, come to the temple, confess, take communion, listen to the sermon of a priest or bishop. And don't be afraid of anything.
Cross with crucifix
One of the first images of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that has come down to us refers only to the 5th century. This is a crucifix on the door of the church of St. Sabina in Rome. However, for a long time - until the 9th century inclusive - the Savior was depicted in a long robe, as if standing in front of a cross, not only resurrected, but also triumphant. Only in the 10th century did images of the actual crucifixion appear.
Cross "crown of thorns"
The image of a cross with a crown of thorns has been used for many centuries by various peoples who have adopted Christianity. The crown of Christ depicted on it symbolizes victory and reward: “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8), “crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4), “crown of life” (James 1:12 and Apoc 2:10).
Old-printed cross "wicker"
Byzantine weaving was borrowed by the Slavs and became part of them church art. Most often, images of "wicker" crosses are found in Bulgarian old printed books.
Schema Cross, or "Golgotha"
Since the 11th century, under the lower oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross, a symbolic image of the head of Adam appears, buried, according to legend, on Golgotha, where Christ was later crucified. Near the image of Golgotha, the letters "M.L.R.B." - the place of the frontal was crucified, "G.G." - Mount Golgotha, "G.A." - Head of Adam. The letters "K" and "T" are signatures for a copy of a warrior and a cane with a sponge.
The inscriptions are placed above the middle crossbar: "IC" "XC" - the name of Jesus Christ, "NIKA" - the Winner, on the title or near it: "SN" "BZHIY" - the Son of God - or "I.N.Ts.I" - Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews, at the very top: "ЦРЪ" "SLAVY" - the King of Glory.
Myth No. 11. A pectoral cross that has broken should be thrown into the river or buried.
A broken pectoral cross should be taken to the temple. In every church there are a lot of such things that people bring. These things are just kept. Old icons, whose faces have already been erased, broken crosses. They are kept in a holy place.
In our Intercession Church Zaitsevo, upstairs, in the choirs, there is a sacristy, and there is a specially designated place where such icons, crosses, which people brought to the temple with the words “Father, we don’t know what to do with them,” are stored. Zaitsevo is an old village, and many people had such things at home. It is imperative to bring such shrines to the temple so that they are not trampled on or someone throws them away.
If the cross is made of precious metal, gold or silver, the owner can take it to a jewelry workshop and ask to be melted down into another cross. But you can not smelt some other product from it. It would be wrong to sell it.
In no case should a shrine be thrown anywhere - into a river or lake, or buried. You can't treat a cross like that. Even if the temple is far away, the person who wears the cross still visits it.
The cross is the banner of our salvation. We do not bury our banners. The banner, which becomes unusable, is handed over to the museum, where it is kept with honors. If your cross is broken or it is already old - take it to the temple, where it will be kept with honors.
Myth No. 12. If you exchange crosses, people will become closer to each other spiritually.
It is not true. Indeed, there is such a custom among the people: they exchange crosses and after that consider themselves godbrothers. When someone wanted to express gratitude to another person or become closer to him, he performed such a symbolic act as a sign of his friendship.
In my understanding, this is nothing more than a good, kind custom. Of course, it is not worth attaching mystical significance to this. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, in a spiritual sense, and brothers and sisters even in a physical sense. We are all descended from Adam and Eve, and each person is a brother to another.
Interviewed by Maria Tsyrlina
The cross is an indicator of belonging to the Christian faith. From our article you will find out whether it is possible to wear someone else's cross and why it cannot be worn over clothes.
The pectoral cross is the most important attribute of any Christian, therefore it is worth choosing it wisely. If you need to choose a suitable cross, then you can find it in the Saints store. There are crosses of various shapes and materials.
The cross, according to the clergy, should always be on a believer. But there are also prohibitions associated with it. Some of them are nothing more than superstitions, which a believer should not even think about. These include, for example, darkening of the cross. But this is far from the only question that a believer may have about his cross.
Cannot be worn on a chain
There are absolutely no restrictions on the chain. Here, rather, the question of convenience and habit is more important. If a person wants to wear a pectoral cross on a chain, then he can do it, such actions are not forbidden by the church. The most important principle to follow in this case is that the cross does not get lost and does not fly off the neck. Both lace and chain are acceptable. Superstitious people, however, assure that, according to all signs, the cross is not lost just like that.
Cannot be worn over clothing
This is an absolutely true statement. The cross is a symbol of faith and protection. By not wearing a cross outside, a person shows the sincerity of faith, without making it ostentatious. Also, all the warmth and blessing that the priest gives to the pectoral cross during the consecration, in this case, is transferred only to you.
Can't give
You can always give a cross. Of course, it's great if parents or godparents take care of it, as one of the christening gifts. But this does not mean that the other person cannot give you a cross. There is also such a tradition when two people exchange pectoral crosses, becoming brothers or sisters in Christ. Usually this is done by close people.
Cannot be picked up if found
A superstition that has absolutely no basis. Let us also recall that superstitions are completely not recognized by the church and are considered incompatible with Christian faith. There are people who believe that by raising the found cross, one can take on the problems of the person who lost or left it. The cross, since it is a shrine, must at least be brought to the temple. Or keep it for yourself and store it in a red corner in the house.
You can not wear someone else's cross
If you got a cross from a parent or someone you know, you can wear it. The church does not establish any prohibition here. Especially if you don't have a cross. Many people believe that things are endowed with the energy of their owner and it can be transferred to a new owner. They may also argue that by giving away a cross, a person gives away a piece of his Destiny. Only such beliefs have nothing to do with the Christian faith and belong to the occult worldview.
You can not wear a cross with a crucifix
Another superstition that you should not pay attention to. There are people who say that a cross with a crucifix will bring a hard life on a person. This is not true at all, just people's speculation. Such a cross symbolizes the salvation and sacrifice of Christ, there is nothing wrong with it. But you need to wear it correctly: the crucifix should not be turned towards you, but outward.
Cannot be worn consecrated cross
The cross is best to consecrate. But as such, there is no ban on wearing an unconsecrated pectoral cross. It is believed that evil spirits bypass even two crossed sticks. Nevertheless, a believer should still consecrate his creed.
You can choose any cross that you like: gold, silver, copper or wood. The material is not very important. It is important to consecrate it and not wear jewelry bought in a jewelry store as a cross. It must be understood that the church orthodox cross, which symbolizes faith in God, is different from beautiful, but purely decorative crosses. They do not carry a spiritual load and are not related to faith.
There are also many signs and beliefs associated with the cross. To believe in them or not is up to you. All the best, and don't forget to press the buttons and
22.07.2016 06:16
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pectoral cross- a small cross, symbolically displaying, on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified (sometimes with the image of the Crucified, sometimes without such an image), intended for permanent wear Orthodox Christian as a sign of his and fidelity to Christ, belonging to the Orthodox, serving as a means of protection.
The cross is the greatest Christian shrine, a visible evidence of our redemption. In the service on the Feast of the Exaltation, he sings of the tree of the Cross of the Lord with many praises: "- the guardian of the whole universe, beauty, power of kings, the faithful affirmation, glory and plague."
The pectoral cross is handed over to a baptized person who becomes a Christian for constant wear in the most important place (near the heart) as an image of the Cross of the Lord, an external sign of the Orthodox. This is also done as a reminder that the Cross of Christ is a weapon against fallen spirits, having the power to heal and give life. That is why the Cross of the Lord is called Life-Giving!
He is evidence that a person is a Christian (a follower of Christ and a member of His Church). That is why the sin is for those who wear a cross for fashion, not being a member of the Church. The conscious wearing of a pectoral cross is a wordless prayer that allows this cross to manifest the true power of the Prototype - the Cross of Christ, which always protects the wearer, even if he does not ask for help, or does not have the opportunity to cross himself.
The cross is consecrated only once. You need to re-consecrate it only in exceptional conditions (if it was badly damaged and rebuilt, or fell into your hands, but you don’t know if it was consecrated before).
There is a superstition that when consecrated, the pectoral cross acquires magical protective properties. but 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 is required from a person, and it is this that makes it possible for the grace of God to have a salutary effect on us, healing from passions and sins.
Sometimes one hears the opinion that, they say, the consecration of pectoral crosses is a late tradition and this has not happened before. It can be answered that the Gospel, as a book, also once did not exist and there was no Liturgy in its present form. But this does not mean at all that the Church cannot develop forms of worship and church piety. Is it contrary to Christian doctrine to call God's grace on the creation of human hands?
Can two crosses be worn?
The main question is why, for what purpose? If you were given another one, then it is quite possible to reverently keep one of them in a holy corner next to the icons, and wear one all the time. If you bought another, then wear it ...
A Christian is buried with a pectoral cross, so it is not inherited. As for wearing a second pectoral cross somehow left over from a deceased relative, wearing it as a sign of memory of the deceased indicates a misunderstanding of the essence of wearing a cross, which testifies to the Sacrifice of God, and not family relationships.
The pectoral cross is not an ornament or an amulet, but one of the visible evidence of belonging to the Church of Christ, a means of grace-filled protection and a reminder of the commandment of the Savior: If anyone wants to follow Me, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Me ... ().
