The cross on which Jesus our Lord and Savior died for our sins is the most commonly recognized and most universally accepted symbol for Christianity the world over. It symbolizes God’s great sacrifice, an offer of salvation to all of humanity and the promise of the resurrection.
There are three different styles of crosses Jesus might have died upon. Scholars are not completely sure as to which style it was. The first style is the Tau cross. It is in the shape of a “T”. The second style is referred to as the Latin cross. This cross is the most popular representation of the cross today and most likely the form Jesus died upon. The final style is the Y-shaped cross. This cross is not as popular as the first two, but still an option.
Tradition tells us that the cross our Savior died upon was made of four different types of wood. The four types of wood where chosen by the Jews for their lasting properties, so that Jesus might hang on the cross forever. The footrest of the cross was made of cedar for its durability and resistance to rotting. Other woods used were the cypress, for its pleasant aroma that would offset the stench of death, the palm, a symbol of victory and olive wood for the inscription, a symbol of the peace that would follow after Jesus was dead.
During the early days of the church, the cross as a Christian symbol was rarely used. Believers did not want to think about their Savior’s death. It was, after all, the instrument upon which He died.
After 325 A.D. the cross rose in popularity as a symbol of the Christian faith. It was in that year that Constantine conquered the Roman Empire and made Christianity its main religion. The cross of Jesus was supposedly found by Constantine’s mother, Helena, on May 3, 328 A.D. Tradition tells us it was buried deep underground where it was found with the other two crosses. Jesus’ cross was easily separated from the others when a woman, who was sick touched one of the crosses and was instantly healed.
Crosses fall into two major categories: the Greek (equal length arms) or Latin (shorter cross bar raised above the center). All crosses are variants of these two forms and quite a few variations there are indeed. F. R. Webber estimates that there are 400 different forms of the cross, with 50 of them playing a prominent part in the decoration of our churches and parishes.
Crosses have been used in all sorts of ways. They have accompanied names on contracts to show the trustworthiness of the deal. Crosses have been used as basic floor plans for churches, on the walls of churches to keep evil spirits at bay and to mark the graves of those who claimed their promise of eternal life. The main reason for the large number of variations was the use of the cross in heraldry. Heraldry was the art of creating and displaying coats of arms during the Middle Ages.
THE CROSS ADORNED – A cross that is decorated with lilies or floral arrangements. This form of cross is very popular during Easter celebrations.
THE CROSS AIGUISΓE (EquisΓ©e) – A cross with square endings and triangular caps. It symbolizes the suffering (passion) of our Lord.
THE CROSS ALISΓE PATΓE – This is a variation of the Cross AlisΓ©e. The outside edges of the cross conform to a circular shape.
THE ANCHOR CROSS – 1. A cross in the form of an anchor. It symbolizes hope and stability in Jesus. The anchor cross is an ancient Christian symbol, dating back to the 2nd century. It was frequently used in the catacombs to decorate the tombs of the dead. Because it was illegal to practice Christianity in the Roman Empire, symbols used in the catacombs were frequently of common objects (anchor, shepherd, dove, etc.) that could hold double meanings. In this way the symbol would not look blatantly Christian, concealing its Christian meaning from all but the informed few.
THE CROSS ANKH (Crux Ansata) – A Latin or Tau cross with a loop extending from the
THE CROSS AVELLAINE – A decorative cross that derives it name from the husks of the plant nux avellana.
THE CROSS BARBΓE – A Greek style cross with designs like arrows on its tips. The arrows represent barbs found on fish hooks. The cross symbolizes being fishers of men.
THE CROSS BEZANT – A cross formed by either five (Greek form) or seven (Latin form) circles.
THE BORDERED CROSS (Fimbriated Cross, Edged Cross) – Any cross that has a border around it.
THE CROSS BOTTONNΓE (Cross BourbonΓ©e, Cross TrefflΓ©e) – A cross, either Latin or Greek form, with trefoils at the end of each arm. A strikingly beautiful form of the cross, it has been used frequently as decoration in churches. One popular use of this cross is on the cover of hymn books.
THE BOURDONΓE – A cross with three circles at each end.
THE CROSS BRETISSΓE – A cross with indents similar to embattlements found on forts. The difference with this cross versus the cross crenellΓ©e is that the ridges are staggered opposite each other. It symbolizes Christian warfare and the church militant.
THE CROSS CABLΓE – A decorative cross formed by twisted cables.
THE CANTERBURY CROSS – A cross made of four hammer- like arms extending from a central square.
THE CROSS CANTONNΓE – A cross with four smaller yet identical crosses surrounding it. An example is the Jerusalem cross.
THE CROSS CAPITAL (Cross Chapiteau) – A decorative cross formed from what look like the capitals found on architectural columns. It was used in heraldry.
THE CELTIC CROSS (Irish Cross, Cross of Iona) – 1. A very ancient form of the cross used by Christians in Great Britain, Ireland and surrounding areas. These crosses are often highly ornate with intricate carvings throughout. The carvings are usually of the crucifixion. The distinguishing element of the Celtic cross is the circle added to it. The circle represents eternity. 2. At one point during the Protestant movement, the Celtic cross was used as a substitute for the Latin cross to distance Protestants from the Roman Catholic Church. 3. The cross can be called the cross of Iona because it is there that missionaries first gained a foothold in the British Isles.