Question for Orthodox....

[Aymn27]

I could probably research this and find out, but I'm being lazy...:)

Why does the cross you guys use have the two "extra" cross members? and why is the bottom one slanted?

Thanks in advance.

Aaron

[Macarius]

The bar on the top is where it was written "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." The bottom bar is where Christ's feet were - it slants to reveal that the cross can take us two directions (like the two thieves, one on one side who ascended to paradise that very day, the other on his other side... who... well... didn't ascend to paradise...). The cross is a dividing point in our pursuit of God, and so the three-bar cross is a meditation on Christ's Lordship and the way the cross can affect us.

Hope that helps!
Macarius

[Aymn27]

The bar on the top is where it was written "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." The bottom bar is where Christ's feet were - it slants to reveal that the cross can take us two directions (like the two thieves, one on one side who ascended to paradise that very day, the other on his other side... who... well... didn't ascend to paradise...). The cross is a dividing point in our pursuit of God, and so the three-bar cross is a meditation on Christ's Lordship and the way the cross can affect us.

Hope that helps!
Macarius
awesome! thanks brother!

[EmperorConstantine]

.

[Yeznik]

One of the reasons the bottom bar is slanted is because it shows Christ's humanity when the Roman soldiers broke Christ's legs.

They did this sometime after the faith had spread around when one of the heresies of the day was that Christ is not human.

Christ's legs were not broken, a spear was used to make sure He was dead.

[EmperorConstantine]

Maybe I heard incorrectly.:sorry:

[Yeznik]

I had heard once that the soldiers broke His legs...

Maybe I heard incorrectly.:sorry:

No worries, :).

Exodus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Exodus 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. Numbers 9:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.


Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

[Knowledge3]

One of the reasons the bottom bar is slanted is because it shows Christ's humanity when the Roman soldiers broke Christ's legs.


Correction:

Psalm 34:20

[Oblio]

The Three Bar Cross (http://www.churchofthenativity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=159&Itemid=52)

Note that there are 4 pages.

[WarriorAngel]

The Catholic crucifix is similar in that we have the sign above and footbar below. I love the crucifix we have.....But I find the EO cross lovely. :)

Thanks Oblio.

[Sunrunner]

The Eastern Orthodox cross is my favorite Christian symbol.

[Secundulus]

Correction:

Psalm 34:20

John 19:31-37