Orthodox cross bar. Catholic cross Orthodox cross

Over the centuries-old history of Christianity, masters of church art have created many forms and varieties of the cross. Today, historians know more than thirty types of inscription christian cross. Each of the forms carries a deep, symbolic meaning, nothing random and arbitrary in Christian symbols It never happened. In Russian Orthodoxy, the following types were common, and now they are most common: eight-pointed, four-pointed, trefoil, petal, Moscow, cross vine Let's dwell on them in more detail.

eight pointed cross most fully corresponds to the actual, historical truth. The completed, eight-pointed form of the cross acquired after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on it. Historians of antiquity write about this: St. Justin the Philosopher, Tertullian and others. Before the crucifixion, when the Lord carried the cross to Golgotha ​​on His shoulders, the cross was four-pointed. The lower, oblique crossbar and the upper, short one, were made by soldiers immediately after the crucifixion.

The lower crossbar is a foot, which the soldiers attached to the cross, "when it became clear to what place the feet of Christ would reach." The upper crossbar is a tablet with an inscription, made by order of Pilate, as we know from the Gospel. The sequence of events was as follows: first, “they crucified Him” (John 19; 18), and after dividing the clothes by lot, at the command of Pilate, “they placed an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matt. 27 ; 37)

The eight-pointed form is still considered generally accepted in Orthodoxy. Crosses of just this form hang on the dome of Orthodox churches, are depicted on the covers of sacred books, on icons. Modern pectoral crosses are usually eight-pointed.

four-pointed cross is also historically reliable, and is referred to in the Gospel as "His Cross". It was the four-pointed cross that the Lord carried to Golgotha.

The four-pointed cross in Russia was called the Roman or Latin cross. The name corresponds to historical realities: the execution of the cross was introduced by the Romans, and the crucifixion of Christ took place on the territory of the Roman Empire. Accordingly, execution by crucifixion and the instrument of execution itself were considered Roman. In the West, to this day, the image of a four-pointed cross is the most common, but compared with others.

Saint Dmitry of Rostov, in the course of a polemic with the Old Believers about which cross is the truest, wrote: “And not according to the number of trees, not according to the number of ends, the Cross of Christ is revered by us, but according to Christ Himself, Whose holy blood was stained. ... any cross does not act by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and by the invocation of His most holy name.

Cross Vine known from antiquity. They decorated the tombstones of Christians, liturgical books and utensils. From the tree of the cross comes a branchy vine with beautiful, full-bodied racemes and patterned leaves. The symbolism of the cross is based on the words of the Savior: “I am the vine, and you are the branches; whoever abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit” (John 15; 5)

This form of the cross reminds Christians of the need to bear fruit during earthly life, and of the words of Christ "without me you cannot do anything."

A kind of quadrangular cross - petal-shaped cross. Its ends are made in the form of flower petals. This form was often used when painting church buildings, in the vestments of the priesthood, and decorating liturgical utensils. Petal crosses are found in the mosaic of the Kyiv church of Hagia Sophia, the mosaic dates back to the 9th century. Pectoral crosses, both in antiquity and in modern church, often made in the form of a petal cross.

shamrock cross It is a four-pointed or six-pointed cross, the ends of which are made in the form of a trefoil - three pointed leaves. Altar crosses of this form are common in Russia. The shamrock cross was included in the coats of arms of many cities of the Russian Empire.

It is known that in Russia pectoral crosses were made from gold or silver coins. Such a cross had an equilateral, quadrangular shape and rounded ends. He got the name "Moscow Cross", due to the fact that Moscow merchants often wore just such a cross.

You can buy pectoral silver crosses

You can buy baptismal golden crosses

in Catholic and Orthodox tradition the cross is a great shrine to the extent that it was on it that the Most Pure Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, endured torment and death for the salvation of the human race. In addition to the crosses crowning Orthodox churches and Catholic churches, there are also body crucifixes that believers wear on their chests.

There are several differences between pectoral Orthodox crosses and Catholic ones, which have been formed over the course of several centuries.

In ancient Christian Church In the first centuries, the shape of the cross was predominantly four-pointed (with one central horizontal bar). Such forms of the cross and its images were in the catacombs during the persecution of Christians by the Roman pagan authorities. The four-pointed form of the cross still remains in the Catholic tradition. The Orthodox cross is most often an eight-pointed crucifix, on which the upper crossbar is a tablet on which the inscription was nailed: "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews," and the lower beveled crossbar testifies to the repentance of the robber. Such a symbolic form of the Orthodox cross indicates the high spirituality of repentance, which makes a person worthy of the kingdom of heaven, as well as heart hardness and pride, which entails eternal death.

In addition, six-pointed forms of the cross can also be found in. In this type of crucifix, in addition to the main central horizontal, there is also a lower beveled crossbar (sometimes there are six-pointed crosses with an upper straight crossbar).

Other differences include images of the Savior on the cross. On Orthodox crucifixes, Jesus Christ is depicted as God who conquered death. Sometimes on the cross or icons of suffering on the Cross, Christ is depicted alive. Such an image of the Savior testifies to the Lord's victory over death and the salvation of mankind, speaks of the miracle of the resurrection that followed the bodily death of Christ.

Catholic crosses are more realistic. They depict Christ, who died after terrible agony. Often on Catholic crucifixes, the hands of the Savior sag under the weight of the body. Sometimes you can see that the fingers of the Lord are bent, as it were, into a fist, which is a plausible reflection of the consequences of nails driven into the hands (on Orthodox crosses, the palms of Christ are open). Often on Catholic crosses you can see the blood on the body of the Lord. All this focuses on the terrible torment and death that Christ endured for the salvation of man.

Other differences between Orthodox and Catholic crosses can be noted. So, on Orthodox crucifixes, Christ's feet are nailed with two nails, on Catholic ones - with one (although in some monastic Catholic orders until the 13th century there were crosses with four nails instead of three).

There are differences between Orthodox and Catholic crosses in the inscription on the top plate. "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews" on Catholic crosses with an abbreviation in the Latin manner - INRI. Orthodox crosses have an inscription - IHЦI. On Orthodox crosses on the halo of the Savior, the inscription of Greek letters denoting the word "Being":

Also on Orthodox crosses there are often inscriptions "NIKA" (denoting the victory of Jesus Christ), "King of Glory", "Son of God".

Among all Christians, only Orthodox and Catholics venerate crosses and icons. They decorate the domes of churches, their houses with crosses, they wear them around the neck.

The reason why a person wears pectoral cross, to each his own. Someone thus pays tribute to fashion, for someone the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry, for someone it brings good luck and is used as a talisman. But there are also those for whom the pectoral cross worn at baptism is indeed a symbol of their infinite faith.

Today, shops and church shops offer a wide variety of crosses. various shapes. However, very often, not only parents who are going to baptize a child, but also sales assistants cannot explain where the Orthodox cross is and where the Catholic one is, although it is actually very simple to distinguish them.In the Catholic tradition - a quadrangular cross, with three nails. In Orthodoxy, there are four-pointed, six-pointed and eight-pointed crosses, with four nails for hands and feet.

cross shape

four-pointed cross

So, in the West, the most common is four-pointed cross. Starting from the III century, when such crosses first appeared in the Roman catacombs, the entire Orthodox East still uses this form of the cross as equal to all others.

For Orthodoxy, the shape of the cross does not really matter, much more attention is paid to what is depicted on it, however, eight-pointed and six-pointed crosses have received the greatest popularity.

Eight-pointed Orthodox cross most corresponds to the historically reliable form of the cross on which Christ was already crucified.The Orthodox cross, which is most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches, contains, in addition to a large horizontal bar, two more. The top symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ with the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"(INCI, or INRI in Latin). The lower slanting crossbar - a prop for the feet of Jesus Christ symbolizes the "righteous measure", weighing the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left side, symbolizing that the repentant robber, crucified on the right side of Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the robber, crucified on the left side, by his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and ended up in hell. The letters IC XC are a Christogram symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes that "when Christ the Lord on His shoulders wore the cross, then the cross was still four-pointed; because there was still no title or foot on it. There was no foot, because Christ on the cross and the soldiers had not yet been raised, not knowing where the legs would reach Christ's, did not attach a footstool, having finished it already at Calvary". Also, there was no title on the cross before the crucifixion of Christ, because, as the Gospel reports, first they “crucified Him” (John 19:18), and then only “Pilate wrote an inscription and placed it on the cross” (John 19:19 ). It was at first that the warriors “who crucified Him” (Mt. 27:35) divided “His clothes” by lot, and only then “They put an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”(Matthew 27:37).

The eight-pointed cross has long been considered the most powerful protective agent from various kinds of evil spirits, as well as visible and invisible evil.

six pointed cross

Widespread among Orthodox believers, especially during Ancient Russia, also had six-pointed cross. It also has an inclined crossbar: the lower end symbolizes unrepentant sin, and the upper end symbolizes liberation by repentance.

However, not in the shape of the cross or the number of ends lies all its power. The cross is famous for the power of Christ crucified on it, and all its symbolism and miraculousness lies in this.

The variety of forms of the cross has always been recognized by the Church as quite natural. In the words of the Monk Theodore the Studite - "a cross of every form is a true cross" andhas unearthly beauty and life-giving power.

“There is no significant difference between Latin, Catholic, Byzantine, and Orthodox crosses, as well as between any other crosses used in the service of Christians. In essence, all crosses are the same, the differences are only in form., - says the Serbian Patriarch Irinej.

crucifixion

In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, special significance is attached not to the shape of the cross, but to the image of Jesus Christ on it.

Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant, and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear.

Yes, we know that Christ died on the cross. But we also know that He later resurrected, and that He suffered voluntarily out of love for people: to teach us to take care of the immortal soul; so that we too can be resurrected and live forever. In the Orthodox Crucifixion, this Paschal joy is always present. Therefore, on the Orthodox cross, Christ does not die, but freely stretches out his hands, the palms of Jesus are open, as if he wants to embrace all of humanity, giving them his love and opening the way to eternal life. He is not a dead body, but God, and his whole image speaks of this.

The Orthodox cross above the main horizontal bar has another, smaller one, which symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ indicating the offense. Because Pontius Pilate did not find how to describe the guilt of Christ, the words appeared on the tablet "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" in three languages: Greek, Latin and Aramaic. In Latin in Catholicism, this inscription looks like INRI, and in Orthodoxy - IHCI(or ІНHI, “Jesus of the Nazarene, King of the Jews”). The lower oblique crossbar symbolizes a leg support. It also symbolizes two thieves crucified to the left and right of Christ. One of them repented of his sins before his death, for which he was awarded the Kingdom of Heaven. The other, before his death, blasphemed and reviled his executioners and Christ.

Above the middle crossbar are the inscriptions: "IC" "XS"- the name of Jesus Christ; and below it: "NIKA" — Winner.

Greek letters were necessarily written on the cross-shaped halo of the Savior UN, meaning - "Truly Existing", because "God said to Moses: I am who I am"(Ex. 3:14), thereby revealing His name, expressing the self-existence, eternity and immutability of the being of God.

In addition, the nails with which the Lord was nailed to the cross were kept in Orthodox Byzantium. And it was precisely known that there were four of them, not three. Therefore, on Orthodox crosses, the feet of Christ are nailed with two nails, each separately. The image of Christ with crossed feet, nailed with one nail, first appeared as an innovation in the West in the second half of the 13th century.

In the Catholic Crucifixion, the image of Christ has naturalistic features. Catholics depict Christ as dead, sometimes with streams of blood on his face, from wounds on his arms, legs and ribs ( stigmata). It manifests all human suffering, the torment that Jesus had to experience. His arms sag under the weight of his body. The image of Christ on the Catholic cross is plausible, but this image dead man, while there is no hint of the triumph of victory over death. The crucifixion in Orthodoxy just symbolizes this triumph. In addition, the feet of the Savior are nailed with one nail.

The Significance of the Savior's Death on the Cross

The emergence of the Christian cross is associated with the martyrdom of Jesus Christ, which he accepted on the cross at the forced verdict of Pontius Pilate. Crucifixion was a common form of execution in Ancient Rome, borrowed from the Carthaginians - the descendants of the Phoenician colonists (it is believed that the crucifix was first used in Phoenicia). Usually thieves were sentenced to death on the cross; many early Christians, persecuted since the time of Nero, were also executed in this manner.

Before the sufferings of Christ, the cross was an instrument of shame and terrible punishment. After His suffering, he became a symbol of the victory of good over evil, life over death, a reminder of God's infinite love, an object of joy. The incarnated Son of God sanctified the cross with His blood and made it a vehicle of His grace, a source of sanctification for believers.

From the Orthodox dogma of the Cross (or Atonement), the idea undoubtedly follows that the death of the Lord is the ransom of all, the calling of all peoples. Only the cross, unlike other executions, made it possible for Jesus Christ to die with outstretched arms calling "to all the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 45:22).

Reading the Gospels, we are convinced that the feat of the Cross of the God-man is the central event in His earthly life. By His sufferings on the Cross, He washed away our sins, covered our debt to God, or, in the language of Scripture, "redeemed" us (ransomed us). In Golgotha ​​lies the incomprehensible mystery of the infinite truth and love of God.

The Son of God voluntarily took upon Himself the guilt of all people and suffered for it a shameful and most painful death on the cross; then on the third day he rose again as the conqueror of hell and death.

Why was such a terrible Sacrifice needed to cleanse the sins of mankind, and was it possible to save people in another, less painful way?

The Christian doctrine of the death of the God-man on the cross is often a "stumbling block" for people with already established religious and philosophical concepts. Both many Jews and people of the Greek culture of apostolic times seemed contradictory to the assertion that the almighty and eternal God descended to earth in the form of a mortal man, voluntarily suffered beatings, spitting and shameful death, that this feat could bring spiritual benefit to mankind. "It's impossible!"- objected one; "It is not necessary!" others argued.

The Holy Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians says: “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in the wisdom of the word, so as not to abolish the cross of Christ. For the word of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Where is the wise man, where is the scribe, where is the questioner of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into foolishness? and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, for the Jews a stumbling block, and for the Greeks foolishness, for the very called ones, Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power and God's wisdom"(1 Corinthians 1:17-24).

In other words, the apostle explained that what in Christianity was perceived by some as temptation and madness, is in fact the work of the greatest Divine wisdom and omnipotence. The truth of the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior is the foundation for many other Christian truths, for example, about the sanctification of believers, about the sacraments, about the meaning of suffering, about virtues, about achievement, about the goal of life, about the coming judgment and resurrection of the dead and others.

At the same time, the redemptive death of Christ, being an event inexplicable in terms of earthly logic and even "seductive for those who perish," has a regenerating power that the believing heart feels and strives for. Renewed and warmed by this spiritual power, both the last slaves and the most powerful kings bowed with trepidation before Golgotha; both dark ignoramuses and the greatest scientists. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles personal experience became convinced of the great spiritual blessings brought to them by the atoning death and resurrection of the Savior, and they shared this experience with their disciples.

(The mystery of the redemption of mankind is closely connected with a number of important religious and psychological factors. Therefore, in order to understand the mystery of the redemption, it is necessary:

a) to understand what actually is the sinful damage of a person and the weakening of his will to resist evil;

b) it is necessary to understand how the devil's will, thanks to sin, got the opportunity to influence and even captivate the human will;

c) one must understand the mysterious power of love, its ability to positively influence a person and ennoble him. At the same time, if love reveals itself most of all in sacrificial service to one's neighbor, then there is no doubt that giving one's life for him is the highest manifestation of love;

d) one must rise from understanding the power of human love to understanding the power of Divine love and how it penetrates the soul of a believer and transforms his inner world;

e) in addition, in the atoning death of the Savior there is a side that goes beyond the limits of the human world, namely: On the cross there was a battle between God and the proud Dennitsa, in which God, hiding under the guise of weak flesh, emerged victorious. The details of this spiritual battle and Divine victory remain a mystery to us. Even Angels, according to ap. Peter, do not fully understand the mystery of redemption (1 Pet. 1:12). She is a sealed book that only the Lamb of God could open (Rev. 5:1-7)).

In Orthodox asceticism, there is such a thing as bearing one's cross, that is, the patient fulfillment of Christian commandments throughout the life of a Christian. All difficulties, both external and internal, are called "cross." Each bears his life's cross. The Lord said this about the need for personal achievement: "Whoever does not take up his cross (turns away from the feat) and follows Me (calls himself a Christian), he is not worthy of Me"(Matthew 10:38).

“The cross is the guardian of the whole universe. The Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the power of kings, the Cross is the faithful affirmation, the Cross is the glory of the angel, the Cross is the plague of the demon,- claims absolute Truth luminaries of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.

The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious crusaders and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians drawn into this heinous deed, it is all the more impossible to be silent, for, according to the words of St. Basil the Great, “God is given up in silence”!

Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox cross

Thus, there are the following differences between the Catholic cross and the Orthodox:

1. most often has an eight-pointed or six-pointed shape. - four-pointed.


2. Words on a plate on the crosses are the same, only written on different languages: latin INRI(in the case of a Catholic cross) and Slavic-Russian IHCI(on an Orthodox cross).


3. Another fundamental position is the position of the feet on the Crucifixion and the number of nails. The feet of Jesus Christ are located together on the Catholic Crucifix, and each is nailed separately on the Orthodox cross.


4. different is image of the Savior on the cross. The Orthodox cross depicts God, who opened the way to eternal life, and the Catholic cross depicts a man in torment.

EIGHT-POINTED CROSS - the most common in Russia.

Above the middle vertical crossbar there is a short, long and below them oblique crossbar, the upper end of which faces north, the lower end south. The upper small crossbar symbolizes a plate with an inscription made by order of Pilate in three languages: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", the lower crossbar is the footstool on which Jesus' feet rested, depicted in reverse perspective. The shape of the Orthodox cross most of all corresponds to the one on which Jesus was crucified, so for everyone it is not only a sign, but also an image of the Cross of Christ ...

The eight ends of the cross symbolize the eight main periods in the history of mankind, where the eighth is the life of the next century, the Kingdom of Heaven. The end, which is directed upwards, symbolizes the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, opened by Christ. The slanting crossbar, to which, according to the legend, the feet of Christ were nailed, indicates that with his coming into the earthly life of people, the balance of being in the power of sin was upset for everyone without exception. This is the beginning of spiritual rebirth everywhere and everywhere, the path of man from the realm of darkness to the realm of heavenly light. It is this movement from earth to heaven that denotes the oblique crossbar of the eight-pointed cross.

When the crucifixion of Christ is depicted on the cross, the cross marks the full image of the Crucifixion of the Savior and contains the fullness of the Power of the Cross. Therefore, in Russia, an eight-pointed pectoral cross has always been considered the most reliable protection from all evil, both visible and invisible.

SIX-POINTED CROSS.

This is also one of the oldest Russian crosses. For example, the worship cross, erected in 1161 by the Monk Eurosinia, Princess of Polotsk, was six-pointed, with an inclined lower crossbar. Why is it slanted here, in this version of the cross? The meaning is symbolic and deep.

The cross in the life of every person serves as a measure, as if by weights of his inner state, soul and conscience. So it was at the time of the real crucifixion of Jesus on the cross - between two thieves. In the liturgical text of the 9th hour of the service to the Cross, there are words that "between two thieves the measure of righteousness will be found." We know that during the execution one of the robbers blasphemed Jesus, the second, on the contrary, said that he himself suffered the execution justly, for his sins, and Christ was executed innocently.

We know that Jesus, in response to this sincere repentance, told the thief that his sins were removed from him, that "today" he would be with the Lord in paradise. And in the six-pointed cross, the inclined bar with its lower end symbolizes the terrible burden of unrepentant sin, which drags the first of the robbers into darkness, the second, directed upward, is liberation by repentance, through which the path to the Kingdom of Heaven lies.

AT Orthodox culture an eight-pointed grave cross is usually installed on the grave, the same cross is made on the coffin lid. Often it is supplemented with the crucifixion of Christ.

The ankh is a symbol known as the Egyptian cross, looped cross, crux ansata, "handled cross". Ankh is a symbol of immortality. Combines the cross (symbol of life) and the circle (symbol of eternity). Its form can be interpreted as rising Sun, as a unity of opposites, as a male and female principle.
Ankh symbolizes the union of Osiris and Isis, the union of earth and sky. The sign was used in hieroglyphs, it was part of the words "welfare" and "happiness".
The symbol was applied to amulets in order to prolong life on earth, they were buried with it, guaranteeing their life in another world. The key that opens the gate of death looks like an ankh. In addition, amulets with the image of ankh helped with infertility.
Ankh - magic symbol wisdom. It can be found in many images of deities and priests from the time of the Egyptian pharaohs.
It was believed that this symbol could save from floods, so it was depicted on the walls of the canals.
Later, the ankh was used by sorceresses for divination, divination, and healing.

CELTIC CROSS

A Celtic cross, sometimes called a Jonah cross or a round cross. The circle symbolizes both the sun and eternity. This cross, which appeared in Ireland prior to the 8th century, is possibly derived from "Chi-Rho", a Greek monogram of the first two letters of Christ's name. Often this cross is decorated with carvings, animals and biblical scenes, such as the fall of man or the sacrifice of Isaac.

LATIN CROSS

The Latin cross is the most common Christian religious symbol in Western world. According to tradition, it is believed that Christ was removed from this cross, hence its other name - the cross of the Crucifixion. Usually the cross is an unfinished tree, but sometimes it is covered with gold, which symbolizes glory, or with red spots (the blood of Christ) on green (the Tree of Life).
This form, so similar to a man with outstretched arms, symbolized God in Greece and China long before the advent of Christianity. The cross rising from the heart symbolized kindness among the Egyptians.

CROSS BOTTONNY

A cross with clover leaves, called the "bottonny cross" in heraldry. The clover leaf is a symbol of the Trinity, and the cross expresses the same idea. It is also used to refer to the resurrection of Christ.

PETER'S CROSS

The cross of St. Peter from the 4th century is one of the symbols of St. Peter, who is believed to have been crucified upside down in 65 AD. during the reign of Emperor Nero in Rome.
Some Catholics use this cross as a symbol of humility, humility and unworthiness in comparison with Christ.
The inverted cross is sometimes associated with Satanists who use it.

RUSSIAN CROSS

Russian cross, also called "Eastern" or "Cross of St. Lazarus", a symbol Orthodox Church in the eastern mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia. The upper of the three transverse bars is called the "titulus", where the name was written, as in the "Patriarchal Cross". The bottom bar symbolizes the footrest.

CROSS OF PEACE

The Peace Cross is a symbol designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958 for the emerging Nuclear Disarmament Movement. For this symbol, Holtom was inspired by the semaphore alphabet. He made a cross out of her symbols for "N" (nuclear, nuclear) and "D" (disarmament, disarmament), and placed them in a circle, which symbolized a global agreement. This symbol attracted public attention after the first protest march from London to the Berkshire Nuclear Research Center on April 4, 1958. Soon this cross became one of the most common signs of the 60s, symbolizing both peace and anarchy.

SWASTIKA

The swastika is one of the most ancient and, since the 20th century, the most controversial symbols.
The name comes from the Sanskrit words "su" ("good") and "asti" ("being"). The symbol is ubiquitous and most often associated with the Sun. The swastika is the sun wheel.
The swastika is a symbol of rotation around a fixed center. The rotation from which life arises. In China, the swastika (Lei Wen) once symbolized the cardinal directions, and then acquired the value of ten thousand (the number of infinity). Sometimes the swastika was called the "seal of the heart of the Buddha."
It was believed that the swastika brings happiness, but only when its ends are bent clockwise. If the ends are bent counterclockwise, then the swastika is called sauswastika and has a negative effect.
The swastika is one of the early symbols of Christ. In addition, the swastika was a symbol of many gods: Zeus, Helios, Hera, Artemis, Thor, Agni, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and many others.
In the Masonic tradition, the swastika is a symbol of evil and misfortune.
In the twentieth century, the swastika acquired a new meaning, the swastika or Hakenkreuz ("hooked cross") became a symbol of Nazism. Since August 1920, the swastika began to be used on Nazi banners, cockades, and armbands. In 1945, all forms of the swastika were banned by the Allied occupation authorities.

CROSS OF KONSTANTINE

The Cross of Constantine is a monogram known as "Chi-Rho", in the form consisting of X ( Greek letter"chi") and R ("ro"), the first two letters of the name of Christ in Greek.
The legend says that it was this cross that Emperor Constantine saw in the sky on the way to Rome to his co-ruler and at the same time opponent Maxentius. Along with the cross, he saw the inscription In hoc vinces - "with this you will win." According to another legend, he saw the cross in a dream the night before the battle, while the emperor heard a voice: In hoc signo vinces (with this sign you will win). Both legends claim that it was this prediction that converted Constantine to Christianity. He made the monogram his emblem, placing it on his labarum, the imperial standard, in place of the eagle. The ensuing victory at the Milvian Bridge near Rome on 27 October 312 made him sole emperor. After an edict was issued allowing the practice of the Christian religion in the empire, believers were no longer persecuted, and this monogram, which Christians used secretly until then, became the first generally accepted symbol of Christianity, and also became widely known as a sign of victory and salvation.