The Catholic cross. Types and Symbols

In the human culture the cross has long been endowed with a sacred meaning. Many people consider it a symbol of the Christian faith, but this is far from the case. The Ancient Egyptian Ankh, the Assyrian and Babylonian symbols of the Sun God are all variants of the cross, which were inalienable attributes of the pagan beliefs of peoples throughout the world. Even the South American tribes of chibcha muisk, one of the most developed civilizations of the time, along with the Incas, Aztecs and Maya, used the cross in their rites, believing that it protects man from evil and personifies the forces of nature. In Christianity The same cross (Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox) is closely associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ.

Cross of Catholics and Protestants

The image of the cross in Christianity is somewhat variable, because it often changed its appearance over time. The following types of Christian cross are known : Celtic, sunny, Greek, Byzantine, Jerusalem, Orthodox, Latin, etc. By the way, the latter is currently used by representatives of two of the three main Christian currents (Protestantism and Catholicism). The Catholic cross differs from the Protestant by the presence of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that Protestants consider the cross a symbol of the shameful execution that the Savior had to take. After all, in those ancient times only criminals and thieves were sentenced to death through crucifixion. After his miraculous resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven, so the crucifixion with the living Savior is regarded by Protestants as blasphemy and disrespect for the son of God.

Differences from the Orthodox cross

In Catholicism and Orthodoxy, the image of the cross has much more differences. So, if the Catholic cross (pictured on the right) has a standard four-pointed form, then the Orthodox cross is six or eight-pointed, because it contains a foot and a title. Another difference is in the depiction of the very crucifixion of Christ. In Orthodoxy, the Savior is usually depicted triumphant over death. Widely spreading his arms, he embraces all those for whom he gave his life, as if to say that his death served a good purpose. In contrast, the Catholic cross with the crucifix is the martyr image of Christ. He serves as an eternal reminder to all believers of the death and previous torment that the Son of God suffered.

The Cross of St. Peter

The inverted Catholic cross in Western Christianity is by no means a sign of Satan, as third-rate horror stories like to convince us. It is often used in Catholic iconography and in the decoration of churches and is identified with one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. According to the assurances of the Roman Catholic Church, the apostle Peter, considering himself unworthy to die, as the Savior, preferred to be crucified upside down on an inverted cross. Hence, its name is the cross of Peter. In various photographs with the Pope, one can often see this Catholic cross, which from time to time causes unflattering accusations of the church in its connection with the Antichrist.