How an oblique crossbar appeared on an Orthodox cross, and what it means

  • Nov 13, 2021
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The traditional Orthodox cross has a beveled crossbar at the bottom. We are all accustomed to this for a long time and take it for granted, but what it means is not known to everyone. In reality, the detail has a very specific meaning.
The traditional Orthodox cross has a beveled crossbar at the bottom. We are all accustomed to this for a long time and take it for granted, but what it means is not known to everyone. In reality, the detail has a very specific meaning.
The traditional Orthodox cross has a beveled crossbar at the bottom. We are all accustomed to this for a long time and take it for granted, but what it means is not known to everyone. In reality, the detail has a very specific meaning.

1. The history of the appearance of a cross of this type

The eight-pointed cross with a crossbar arose in the sixth century with the light hand of the Byzantines / Photo: madeheart.com
The eight-pointed cross with a crossbar arose in the sixth century with the light hand of the Byzantines / Photo: madeheart.com
The eight-pointed cross with a crossbar arose in the sixth century with the light hand of the Byzantines / Photo: madeheart.com

On Russian 6-point and 8-point (Orthodox) crosses there is always a beveled lintel. The second option arose in the sixth century with the light hand of the Byzantines. Initially, they painted it on icons and frescoes famous all over the world. Over time, it was this type of cross that became the distinction of Christianity in Russia.

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The six-pointed cross with a similar crosspiece arose on the initiative of Patriarch Nikon, who decided to replace the eight-pointed cross with it / Photo: madeheart.com
The six-pointed cross with a similar crosspiece arose on the initiative of Patriarch Nikon, who decided to replace the eight-pointed cross with it / Photo: madeheart.com

The 6-pointed cross with a similar crosspiece arose on the initiative of Patriarch Nikon, who decided to replace the previous cross with it - the 8-pointed one. It is usually present on a number of temples and on coats of arms, as one of the decorative elements, but not too often.

This lintel is a symbol of the foot, for the feet of Christ at the time of his crucifixion / Photo: publicdomainpictures.net
This lintel is a symbol of the foot, for the feet of Christ at the time of his crucifixion / Photo: publicdomainpictures.net

This lintel is a symbol of the foot, for the feet of Christ at the moment of his crucifixion. The upper crossbar bears the inscription "IНЦI", which stands for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

2. Why beveled

The position of the ends of the crossbar goes back to the plot from the Gospel, in which the robbers Dismas and Gestas were crucified along with Jesus / Photo: aria-art.ru
The position of the ends of the crossbar goes back to the plot from the Gospel, in which the robbers Dismas and Gestas were crucified along with Jesus / Photo: aria-art.ru

The role was played not only by the religious meaning, but also by the symbolic one. There are no witnesses of how this detail looked in the case of Jesus, therefore it is symbolic. The right side of the bar is facing upwards, and the left, respectively, downwards. This position of the ends goes back to the plot from the Gospel, in which Dismas and Gestas, robbers, were crucified together with Jesus. The first was called Prudent, and the second - Insane.

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It is believed that the crossbar symbolizes the scales that measure the spiritual strength of people: hell or heaven / Photo: gurovnikolay.blogspot.com
It is believed that the crossbar symbolizes the scales that measure the spiritual strength of people: hell or heaven / Photo: gurovnikolay.blogspot.com

It is believed that the one condemning Jesus was on the left, and the one asking not to forget about him in paradise was on the right. As a result, the right one is a symbol that the robber will go to heaven, and the second, accordingly, indicates hell. Consequently, the beveled crossbar is a kind of scales that measure the spiritual strength of people, their development in a given direction.

It will be no less interesting and useful to find out why are onion domes on Russian churches and when they appeared.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/010621/59206/

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