Codex of FaithsAn illustrated atlas of belief

Crosses

Cross

The cross, the central symbol of Christianity: what it means, how it became the sign of the faith, its many forms, from the Latin cross to the Orthodox and Celtic crosses, and how it is used today.

Also called Crucifix · Latin cross · Holy cross

In brief

  1. I.The cross recalls the death of Jesus by crucifixion, which Christians believe brought salvation.
  2. II.Early Christians hesitated to show it; it became the main Christian sign from the 4th century.
  3. III.A crucifix shows the body of Christ on the cross; a plain cross usually stresses the resurrection.
  4. IV.There are many forms: Latin, Greek, Orthodox, Celtic and others.

Chapter I

What it means

For Christians the cross is the sign of the death of Jesus and of what that death achieved: forgiveness of sins and reconciliation between God and humanity. Because they believe he rose again, it is also a sign of victory over death.

Paul wrote that the cross was “foolishness” to some and a “stumbling block” to others, since crucifixion was the most shameful Roman punishment. Turning an instrument of execution into a sign of hope is at the heart of its meaning.

Chapter II

Where it comes from

Early Christians traced the sign of the cross on their foreheads, but rarely showed it in art, perhaps because crucifixion was still in use. They preferred signs such as the fish and the anchor. After the emperor Constantine’s support for Christianity and the abolition of crucifixion in the 4th century, the cross became the faith’s public emblem. Images of Christ on the cross became common from the 5th and 6th centuries.

Regional forms grew: the Greek cross with equal arms, the Orthodox cross with a slanted footrest, the Celtic cross with its ring.

Chapter III

Where you see it today

The cross crowns churches, is worn on chains and appears on the flags of many countries, from the Nordic crosses to the cross of St George. Processions carry it, and many Christians make the sign of the cross in prayer.

Questions people ask

Why do some crosses show Jesus and others not?

A crucifix, common among Catholics and Orthodox, shows Christ’s suffering. Many Protestants prefer an empty cross, which recalls that he rose from the dead. Both are ancient.

What does the sign of the cross mean?

Tracing a cross over the body, forehead to chest and shoulder to shoulder, is a prayer and a blessing. Catholics go left to right, Orthodox Christians right to left.

Sources and further reading

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Cross”
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Crucifix”
  3. Robin M. Jensen, The Cross: History, Art, and Controversy (Harvard University Press, 2017)
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Religious symbolism and iconography”

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