The cross, known as "Crux" in Latin (meaning "fork"), was originally an instrument of torture used by the ancient Roman Empire to execute slaves, criminals, and prisoners of war. It is usually made by crossing two pieces of wood, most often in the shape of a "cross", hence the Chinese translation "shí zì jià" (cross).
When a person was crucified, their hands were nailed to the ends of the horizontal beam, and their feet were overlapped and nailed to the bottom of the vertical beam. According to Christian legend, Jesus was framed by Jewish priests and sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and was crucified in this manner.
Since then, Christians have adopted the cross as a symbol of their faith, and this ancient Roman instrument of torture has thus become a symbol of the "Gospel". Christianity holds that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross to atone for the sins of the world, giving people the hope of salvation. Therefore, the cross in Christianity carries symbolic meanings such as "faith", "salvation", "Christ", and "Gospel".
Catholics and Protestant Christians mostly use the Latin cross ("十"), which is tall and vertical. The Eastern Orthodox Church commonly uses the Greek cross ("十"), where the horizontal and vertical beams are of equal length.
Early Christians used the Tau cross ("┳"); the St. Andrew's Cross, shaped like the Roman numeral "X", was frequently used in the Middle Ages. There is also the Jerusalem Cross, with a small cross at each of the four corners surrounding the central cross, symbolizing the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the four corners of the earth; the Celtic Cross, which has a circle "O" at the intersection symbolizing eternal life, is often seen on the covers of hymnals. In addition to these common crosses, there are many other styles, each with its own symbolic meaning—such as the Lily Cross, Bud Cross, and Easter Cross.
The cross is an overall symbol of Christianity, yet different Christian denominations use different crosses. For example, Protestants use a simple plain cross, symbolizing the death of Jesus Christ. Catholics use an image of Jesus nailed to the cross, symbolizing his self-sacrifice. Some Catholic denominations use a cross with a skull at the bottom, symbolizing Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull" where Jesus was crucified.
The Meaning of Cross Colors
- Red (Redemption): Represents the precious blood of Jesus Christ and the redemption achieved on the cross. Everyone is redeemed through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.
- Yellow (Glory): Symbolizes that Jesus Christ is the glorious King and the ruler of heaven and earth, and in him lies the way to eternal life. It signifies that saints manifest the glory of Christ and shine for the Lord; the tall yellow cross allows people far away to see the beauty of Christ, be inspired to come to the church, and receive Christ's salvation.
- White (Holiness): Represents that those redeemed live a holy life before the Lord's cross, and those who are sanctified grow and bear witness in the Lord's grace.
The Origin and Various Forms of the Cross
Celtic Cross
The basic concept of the Celtic Cross originates from the Nordic symbol system, with a circle "O" in the center representing eternal life. Legend has it that King Arthur used this cross, and Celtic Crosses are often erected directly by the roadside as a symbol of churches and cemeteries.
In Irish, the Celtic Cross is called "cros Cheilteach". In early times, it usually referred to a stone monument called a "high cross" standing on a cubic base, where the circle served as a tool to strengthen the connection between the cross's arms. Early high crosses had a broad, plain front carved with many animal patterns; later, their surfaces were inscribed with poetic inscriptions.
Coptic Cross
(▲ Ankh) (▲ Coptic Cross) (▲ New Coptic Cross)
The New Coptic Cross derives from the ancient Egyptian Ankh, the symbol of life. After St. Mark introduced Christianity to Egypt, early Egyptian Christians began using this symbol. Later, Egyptian Christians adopted another variation of the Coptic Cross as their emblem—the New Coptic Cross, which is still used today by Egyptian Christians and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
Latin Cross
The Latin Cross is regarded as the "standard" cross. Most Catholics and Protestant Christians use this Latin-style cross. The Roman Catholic Church believes this was the cross on which Christ was crucified, so the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is in this cross shape.
With a long vertical beam and a short horizontal beam, it is also known as the Crucifixion Cross, representing the site of Jesus' crucifixion. Early Christians considered the cross a terrifying symbol, so they used the fish symbol (Ichthys) instead; later, the cross gradually became the symbol of Christianity.
Variations of the Latin Cross include adding a three-lobed tip at the top, representing the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in Christianity. There are many other such minor variations.
(▲ Bud Cross)
Among them, the Bud Cross has a clover-shaped bud at each of the four ends, with the three leaves representing the Trinity. The Bud Cross may have originated from the Druid Cross; the difference is that the three leaves on the Druid Cross symbolize the earth, sea, and sky respectively.
St. Andrew's Cross
Since St. Andrew was ultimately executed on this X-shaped cross, the X-shaped cross later became his symbol, representing perseverance in hardship and unwavering faith. Today, this cross symbol appears on the national flags of Scotland and Jamaica.
Inverted Cross (Modification of Latin Cross, or Peter's Cross)
Also known as St. Peter's Cross, it is an inverted Latin Cross. The Inverted Cross is a symbol of "the fall of God".
According to legend, when St. Peter was executed, he was also crucified. However, out of reverence for Christ, he refused to be crucified in the same upright manner as Christ, so he chose to be nailed upside down (head down, feet up). The Inverted Cross is a mirror image of Christ's cross and was therefore considered the closest to God. However, this meaning changed after the Middle Ages: the cross represents Christ's love and is a symbol of God and holiness; when inverted, it came to represent the fall of God, directly symbolizing the devil and evil. Thus, many Satanists and dark religions have adopted the Inverted Cross, expressing the same meaning: "Devil, no redemption!" It has become a symbol of Satan worship.
Tau Cross (St. Anthony's Cross)
Also known as the T-shaped Cross, although it resembles the English letter "T", it originated from the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which was later adopted into Greek. The Tau Cross was a standard cross shape used by the Romans to represent Jesus' crucifixion, symbolizing redemption and peace.
Another legend attributes it to St. Anthony (c. 251–356 AD), a hermit in religious tradition who is said to be the founder of the communal monastic system. After his parents' death, he gave all his property to the poor, retreated to a cemetery to live in seclusion, and practiced asceticism diligently. He formulated his own monastic rules and practiced celibacy from the age of 20, enduring various temptations from the devil without wavering in his faith.
Chi Rho Cross (The Chiro Cross)
Composed of the Greek letters "Χ" (Chi) and "Ρ" (Rho), which are the first two letters of "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" (Christos, meaning "Christ"). The Chi Rho Cross is pronounced "chi rho" in English. This symbol was also used by the Roman Emperor Constantine on his military standards and was associated with Cronus, the god of the ancient Greek world.
Greek Cross
With horizontal and vertical beams of equal length, the Greek Cross has been widely used since the 4th century. It symbolizes the spread of the Gospel to all parts of the world.
Russian Orthodox Cross
The Russian Orthodox Cross has a short horizontal beam at the bottom: the upward-slanting part represents the direction of heaven, while the downward-slanting part represents the direction of hell. It symbolizes the balance between salvation and damnation.
Julian Cross
A symbol of troubadours, it consists of four Latin Crosses connected diagonally, with each end representing the ten corners of the world. It is also known as the Missionary's Cross.
Papal Cross
Exclusively used by the Pope, its three horizontal beams represent the three sources of the Pope's authority: heaven, earth, and the Church. The Pope wears this cross during papal processions.
Lorraine Cross
Composed of one vertical beam and two horizontal beams, legend has it that all three beams are of equal length. During the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc, the French national heroine, used this symbol, which later became a symbol of Free France.
(▲ The classic Lorraine Problem in mathematical research)
Camargue Cross
Originating from the Camargue region in southern France, it consists of three parts: a cross, an anchor, and a heart, representing loyalty, hope, and love. This cross is also a symbol of local fishermen in Camargue.
(▲ Anchor Cross, a variation of the Camargue Cross)
According to tradition, St. Clement tied an anchor to a rope and threw it into the sea, and the Anchor Cross thus became his symbol. The anchor symbolizes that faith enables Christians to bravely face and overcome the storms of life.
St. Brigid's Cross
Existing even before the advent of Christianity, the St. Brigid's Cross is a symbol of St. Brigid, whose image may have originated from a Celtic goddess. On Candlemas, people weave wheat straw into this cross shape, symbolizing prosperity and protection.
Baptismal Cross
A repeated structure of the ancient Greek Cross, it is mostly used in baptism by immersion. The number "8" (implied by its structure) symbolizes rebirth and also represents the 8-day period from God's entry into Palestine to his crucifixion and resurrection.
Maltese Cross
Also known as the 燕尾 Cross (Swallowtail Cross), the standard Maltese Cross is composed of four arrow-shaped arms. It is the emblem of the famous Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, a military organization founded in 1099 during the early period of the Crusades (AD 1096–1291). In 1119, during the Second Crusade, the Knights Templar, who occupied Jerusalem, also adopted this emblem. Thus, the Maltese Cross became a symbol of military prowess and courage, and was directly used as the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Black Robes Order: Also known as the Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, Cavaliers of Malta, and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Wikipedia), founded in 1099. Its original emblem was an octagonal cross on a black background; from the mid-13th century onwards, it generally used an octagonal cross on a red background, which became known as the "Maltese Cross" after the order.
White Robes Order: Founded in 1119, originally named the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. After the Second Crusade (1147–1149), they embroidered a red cross on their left shoulders, initially an equilateral Greek Cross.
Claddagh Cross
Originating from Ireland, it is characterized by two hands holding a heart crowned with a crown, representing love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). Its motto is: "With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love." In terms of basic shape, this cross is not much different from the Latin Cross; it is classified separately probably because, although similar in form, it is ultimately a variation of the Latin Cross.
Cross of Calvary (or Graded Cross)
Also known as the Stepped Cross, its three steps represent Golgotha, the hill where Jesus was crucified, as well as faith, hope, and charity respectively.
Jerusalem Cross (Cross-Jerusalem-Potent-Heraldry)
Shaped like "╋", with a small cross at each of the four corners surrounding the central cross. The Jerusalem Cross was created during the Crusades and was once used as the symbol of the Crusaders. A small cross is placed in each of the four quadrants of the main cross: the central large cross represents Jesus Christ, the four small crosses symbolize the spread of the four Gospels of the New Testament to the four directions of the earth, and the five crosses in total represent the five wounds Jesus suffered during his crucifixion.
Triumphant Cross With Orb
Also known as the Imperial Cross, in Christian countries, where the divine right of kings was recognized, this cross shape represents Christ's rule over the entire world. Naturally, this shape only appears in national churches or places related to the Pope.
It resembles the Saturn symbol favored by punk icon Vivienne Westwood, but without the outer ring—however, it has nothing to do with Saturn and can only be seen in places associated with the Pope and supreme royal power.