Byzantine Cross Symbols/What do thet mean?

[Diakonos]

I would like to know the meaning of the symbols on a Byzantine Cross that I saw. Each end of the cross had a letter symbol on it.



a "P" on the left



a "A" on the top



a "X" on the Bottom



It also had a dove in the middle with a vine-like design hanging underneath it. I couldn’t make out the symbol on the bottom, but I attached this link to show you what I’m talking about.

http://www.geocities.com/Tlamanalli/Woodcarving/Woodcarve2.htm

Can anyone tell me the meaning of these symbols?



Peace and Blessings,

[The Prokeimenon!]

I think "PAX" means "Peace" in Latin.

The dove would be The Holy Spirit, and the vine might refer to Christ, who said "I am the True vine" - or it could just be a pretty decoration, I'm not sure :)

I don't think that that cross is actually Byzantine. It is very nice, though.

The crosses on the left look more Byzantine, with "IC XC NI KA" which means "Jesus Christ Conquers", or, as our Baptist friends might say, "Victory in Jesus" :)

Moses

[Rick of Wessex]

Wow, that Celtic wooden cross on the last picture is simply beautiful!!

Rick

[Diakonos]

I think "PAX" means "Peace" in Latin.

The dove would be The Holy Spirit, and the vine might refer to Christ, who said "I am the True vine" - or it could just be a pretty decoration, I'm not sure :)

I don't think that that cross is actually Byzantine. It is very nice, though.

The crosses on the left look more Byzantine, with "IC XC NI KA" which means "Jesus Christ Conquers", or, as our Baptist friends might say, "Victory in Jesus" :)

MosesThank's for the insight.

Wow, that Celtic wooden cross on the last picture is simply beautiful!!

RickFor what it's worth, the cross on the last picture is Ethiopian. ;)

I welcome other responses. :)

[Rick of Wessex]

Hi, Diakonos.

For what it's worth, the cross on the last picture is Ethiopian. ;)

The last picture has four crosses. The topmost cross is Celtic. The other three are indeed Ethiopian.

In XC,
Rick

[The Prokeimenon!]

My Patron Saint is an Ethiopian :) (or- was an Ethiopian. He's a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom now :))

Moses

[Diakonos]

My Patron Saint is an Ethiopian :) (or- was an Ethiopian. He's a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom now :))

Moses
Cool. Who is your Patron Saint? Tell me about Him or Her.

[Father Rick]

Pax is latin for 'Peace' as was previously said...

however, that is not a vine-- it is an olive branch (also a symbol of peace) and the dove is a symbol of both the Holy Spirit and peace...

[The Prokeimenon!]

Cool. Who is your Patron Saint? Tell me about Him or Her.


Gladly :) He is St. Moses the Ethiopian, or St Moses the Black. He was a bandit, robber, murderer, drunk, and plunderer. He led a band of 70 (I think) bandits who were well known throughout the land for their cruelty. He was very tall and strong and an intimidating presence.

One day he entered a monastary to rob it, and he found the abbott was not afraid of him. The abbott was a weak old man, but was not in the least fringhtened of Moses. This had such a profound impact on Moses that he converted at that point and joined the Monastery.

After years of struggle he became abbott of the monastery and was put in charge of 70 monks (just as he had been in charge of 70 bandits.) One day a monk came to him and said that there were bandits coming to rob the monestary, and tried to persuade St Moses to leave. But he insisted that because he had lived by the sword, it was fitting for him to die by the sword and he would stay and welcome the bandits. St Moses and seven monks stayed in the monastary. The bandits came and killed them, and reported seeing crowns decending from heaven upon their heads.

I typed that from memory, so I hope the details are correct. Here's a link or two:

an Icon by our own Iconographer (http://www.comeandseeicons.com/mgo13.htm)

from the Prologue from Ochrid. Go to this page and choose August 28th. (http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)

from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=181)

a very cool little book, written (I think) for young teens (http://www.reginaorthodoxpress.com/stmoetilbyje.html)

Holy St. Moses, pray for us! :prayer:

Moses

[Diakonos]

Gladly :) He is St. Moses the Ethiopian, or St Moses the Black. He was a bandit, robber, murderer, drunk, and plunderer. He led a band of 70 (I think) bandits who were well known throughout the land for their cruelty. He was very tall and strong and an intimidating presence.

One day he entered a monastary to rob it, and he found the abbott was not afraid of him. The abbott was a weak old man, but was not in the least fringhtened of Moses. This had such a profound impact on Moses that he converted at that point and joined the Monastery.

After years of struggle he became abbott of the monastery and was put in charge of 70 monks (just as he had been in charge of 70 bandits.) One day a monk came to him and said that there were bandits coming to rob the monestary, and tried to persuade St Moses to leave. But he insisted that because he had lived by the sword, it was fitting for him to die by the sword and he would stay and welcome the bandits. St Moses and seven monks stayed in the monastary. The bandits came and killed them, and reported seeing crowns decending from heaven upon their heads.

I typed that from memory, so I hope the details are correct. Here's a link or two:

an Icon by our own Iconographer (http://www.comeandseeicons.com/mgo13.htm)

from the Prologue from Ochrid. Go to this page and choose August 28th. (http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)

from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=181)

a very cool little book, written (I think) for young teens (http://www.reginaorthodoxpress.com/stmoetilbyje.html)

Holy St. Moses, pray for us! :prayer:

Moses
Wow!