Many of us perceive the pectoral cross almost as part of our bodies. However, we do not always understand how and why people wear a cross on their chests. After all, the pectoral cross is not jewelry or a tribute to tradition.
Orthodox pectoral cross. What is it?
The cross should be regarded as the greatest Christian shrine, a visible witness to our redemption.
In the Temple on the feast of the Exaltation, during the service they shower with praise the tree of the Lord's Cross, he is the beauty of the Church, and the keeper of the whole Universe, and the glory of the angels, and the ulcer of demons.
The Orthodox cross is presented to the person who has been christened, and he became a Christian. A permanent place of wearing is at the heart, as a symbol of the image of the Cross of the Lord, a sign that he is an Orthodox Christian. It also reminds us that the pectoral cross of Christ is a powerful defense against fallen spirits, it has the power to heal a Christian and give him life, therefore he is called the Life-Giving.
It is considered a sin to wear a cross for fashion. The conscious wearing of it is a silent prayer that allows the cross to protect the wearer at any time, even if he does not ask for help or cannot cross himself.
When the infant is baptized, the priest puts on a cross on him, which from then on will become an inseparable companion of the Christian. It does not need to be removed when changing clothes or bathing.
Forms of crosses and material for their manufacture
There is a canonical form - four-, six- or eight-pointed crosses; with a semicircle underneath and other shapes. Each line is endowed with a deep symbolic meaning. In Russia, it is customary to wear eight-pointed pectoral crosses, on the back of which is traditionally written "Save and save."
There are no specific rules on material for the manufacture of Orthodox crosses. They use precious metals for decoration, because the Christian treats the cross as the most precious that he has, so he strives to decorate it with love. But at the same time, simple metal or wooden crosses are closest in spirit to the Cross of the Lord. There is also no fundamental difference on what it rests on - on a chain or braid, it is more important here that the cross is fixed firmly. The body cross should never be removed, even during sports activities. Orthodox laity wear it under their clothes, not showing off on purpose.
A bit of history
In the first centuries after the adoption of Christianity in Russia, crosses were worn “emphasized” on top of clothes, and not on the body, later only bishops and then priests had the right to wear a cross over clothes until the 18th century. The priest’s chest cross is called pectoral, which comes from the word “Persian”, meaning “breast” in Church Slavonic. Along with the pectoral cross, priests also wear a pectoral cross.
Russian people swore allegiance to the crosses and were considered cross twin cities, exchanging body crosses. During the construction of houses, bridges, churches, the cross was laid in the foundation of the building. There was an ancient custom of casting many small crosses, which were especially revered in Ancient Russia, from a broken bell. It was always considered apostasy to remove the cross from oneself or not to wear it. During the 2000 years of Christianity, many people suffered for their faith, for their unwillingness to renounce Christ and abandon the pectoral cross. This feat was repeated in our days.
There are many superstitions associated with the pectoral cross: lost the cross - to trouble; raised by someone lost - to trouble; the cross is not given, you can not wear a cross on a chain and the like. These superstitions are completely unfounded. You can buy a new cross, wear found or donated, pre-consecrated in the temple. The same crosses that are sold in the temple are sanctified in a special way.