Canonical dimensions and proportions of the Orthodox cross. Detailed justification. What to do with the cross after installing the monument

Any more or less observant person probably paid attention to the proportions of the Orthodox cross. And, indeed, with all the variety of types of Orthodox crosses, one cannot fail to notice that the geometry of each of them is strictly maintained, and the proportions are strictly observed. Is this the result of the fact that our ancestors knew about the rules for constructing geometric figures, or is some kind of Orthodox cross laid in the proportions? This question is not as common as it might seem at first glance: some people need to order a cross on the grave of a loved one, others want to order pectoral cross ik handmade. Not every jeweler or master who makes grave crosses understands such subtleties as the proportions of an Orthodox cross, so you should prepare yourself for an order.

Proportions of an eight-pointed Orthodox cross

In Russia, the most common eight-pointed cross, consisting of four crossbeams: one vertical and three transverse, or six-pointed, in which there are only two transverse lines. It is such crosses that can most often be seen on the domes and thrones of churches, on graves, on the chests of priests, in icon shops.

The proportions of the six- and eight-pointed Orthodox cross are usually strictly observed, based on the principle of the golden ratio. Thanks to this principle, you can achieve ideal ratio between the whole product and its parts. Golden ratio can be observed everywhere in the world around us, therefore it is sometimes called the Divine section. The proportions of the Orthodox cross can be calculated using a special formula of the golden ratio.

What are the dimensions of the Orthodox cross

The dimensions of the Orthodox cross can be any, the main thing is that they correspond to the purpose of the cross. People who wear an Orthodox cross on their chests, the dimensions of which exceed the priestly pectoral cross, look extremely ridiculous. The same applies to the grave crosses: you should not try to “outshine” everyone by erecting a huge cross on the grave, more reminiscent of a monument. The best thing we can do for the dead is to pray for them and give alms that we can. The dimensions of the Orthodox cross in no way facilitate the fate of people beyond the grave, just as a huge pectoral cross does not mean that its owner is devout.

The Holy Cross is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every truly believing person, at the sight of him, is involuntarily filled with thoughts about the dying throes of the Savior, accepted by him to deliver us from eternal death, which became the lot of people after the fall of Adam and Eve. The eight-pointed Orthodox cross carries a special spiritual and emotional load. Even if there is no image of the crucifix on it, it always appears to our inner gaze.

The weapon of death, which has become a symbol of life

The Christian cross is an image of the instrument of execution to which Jesus Christ was subjected to a forced sentence passed by the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. For the first time, this type of killing of criminals appeared among the ancient Phoenicians and already through their colonists - the Carthaginians - entered the Roman Empire, where it became widespread.

In the pre-Christian period, mainly robbers were sentenced to crucifixion, and then the followers of Jesus Christ accepted this martyrdom. This phenomenon was especially frequent during the reign of Emperor Nero. The very death of the Savior made this an instrument of shame and suffering a symbol of the victory of good over evil and the light of eternal life over the darkness of hell.

Eight-pointed cross - a symbol of Orthodoxy

The Christian tradition knows many different designs of the cross, from the most common crosshairs of straight lines to very complex geometric designs, complemented by a variety of symbols. The religious meaning in them is the same, but the external differences are very significant.

In the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, of Eastern Europe, as well as in Russia, for a long time, the symbol of the church is the eight-pointed, or, as they often say, the Orthodox cross. In addition, you can hear the expression "the cross of St. Lazarus", this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross, which will be discussed below. Sometimes the image of the crucified Savior is placed on it.

External features of the Orthodox cross

Its peculiarity lies in the fact that in addition to two horizontal cross-beams, of which the lower one is large and the upper one is small, there is also an inclined one, called the foot. It is small in size and is located at the bottom of the vertical segment, symbolizing the crossbar on which Christ's feet rested.

The direction of its inclination is always the same: if you look from the side of the crucified Christ, then the right end will be higher than the left. There is a certain symbolism in this. According to the Savior's words at the Last Judgment, the righteous will stand on his right hand, and the sinners on his left. It is the path of the righteous to the Kingdom of Heaven that the right end of the foot is pointed upward, and the left end is turned to the depths of hell.

According to the Gospel, a board was nailed over the head of the Savior, on which it was written by hand: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This inscription was made in three languages ​​- Aramaic, Latin and Greek. It is she who is symbolized by the upper small crossbar. It can be placed both in the interval between the large crosspiece and the upper end of the cross, and at its very top. This style allows you to reproduce with the greatest reliability appearance instruments of Christ's suffering. That is why the Orthodox cross is eight-pointed.

About the law of the golden section

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross in its classical form is built according to the law. It is customary to understand it as a harmonic proportion, one way or another underlying everything that was created by the Creator.

One of its examples is the human body. Through simple experience, you can see that if we divide the value of our height by the distance from the soles to the navel, and then divide the same value by the distance between the navel and the crown of the head, then the results will be the same and amount to 1.618. The same proportion is contained in the sizes of the phalanges of our fingers. This ratio of quantities, called the golden ratio, can be found literally at every step: from the structure sea ​​shell to the shape of an ordinary garden turnip.

The construction of proportions based on the law of the golden section is widely used in architecture, as well as in other fields of art. Taking it into account, many artists manage to achieve maximum harmony in their works. The same pattern was observed by composers working in the genre of classical music. When writing compositions in the style of rock and jazz, it was abandoned.

The law of the construction of the Orthodox cross

An eight-pointed Orthodox cross was built on the basis of the golden ratio. The meaning of its ends was explained above, now let's turn to the rules underlying the construction of this main thing.They were not established artificially, but poured out of the harmony of life itself and received their mathematical justification.

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross, drawn in full accordance with tradition, always fits into a rectangle, the aspect ratio of which corresponds to the golden ratio. To put it simply, dividing its height by its width, we get 1.618.

The cross of St. Lazarus (as mentioned above, this is another name for the eight-pointed Orthodox cross) in its construction has another feature associated with the proportions of our body. It is well known that the width of the span of a person's arms is equal to his height and a figure with arms spread out to the sides fits perfectly into a square. For this reason, the length of the middle crossbar, corresponding to the span of Christ's arms, is equal to the distance from it to the inclined foot, that is, to his height. These simple, at first glance, rules should be taken into account by every person who is faced with the question of how to draw an eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Calvary cross

There is also a special, purely monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross, a photo of which is presented in the article. It is called the "cross of Golgotha". This is the outline of the usual Orthodox cross, which was described above, placed above the symbolic image of Mount Calvary. It is usually presented in the form of steps, under which the bones and skull are placed. To the left and to the right of the cross, a cane with a sponge and a spear can be depicted.

Each of these items has a deep religious meaning. For example, skull and bones. According to Holy Tradition, the sacrificial blood of the Savior, shed by him on the cross, falling to the top of Calvary, seeped into its bowels, where the remains of our ancestor Adam rested, and washed away the curse of original sin from them. Thus, the image of the skull and bones emphasizes the connection between the sacrifice of Christ and the crime of Adam and Eve, as well as the New Testament with the Old.

The meaning of the image of the spear on the cross Calvary

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross on monastic vestments is always accompanied by images of a cane with a sponge and a spear. Those familiar with the text remember well the dramatic moment when one of the Roman soldiers named Longinus pierced the Savior's ribs with this weapon and blood and water flowed from the wound. This episode has different interpretations, but the most common of them is contained in the writings of the Christian theologian and philosopher of the 4th century Saint Augustine.

In them he writes that just as the Lord created his bride Eve from the rib of the sleeping Adam, so from the wound in the side of Jesus Christ inflicted by the spear of a soldier, his bride church was created. The blood and water spilled during this, according to St. Augustine, symbolize the holy sacraments - the Eucharist, where wine is transformed into the blood of the Lord, and Baptism, in which a person entering the bosom of the church is immersed in a font of water. The spear with which the wound was inflicted is one of the main relics of Christianity, and it is believed that it is currently kept in Vienna, in the Hofburg Castle.

The meaning of the image of a cane and a sponge

The images of a cane and a sponge are just as important. From the accounts of the holy evangelists it is known that the crucified Christ was twice offered a drink. In the first case, it was wine mixed with myrrh, that is, an intoxicating drink that allows you to dull pain and thereby prolong the execution.

The second time, when he heard the exclamation “Thirst!” From the cross, they brought him a sponge filled with vinegar and bile. This was, of course, a mockery of the tormented person and contributed to the approach of the end. In both cases, the executioners used a sponge planted on a cane, since without its help they could not reach the mouth of the crucified Jesus. Despite such a gloomy role assigned to them, these objects, like the spear, became one of the main Christian shrines, and their image can be seen next to the cross of Calvary.

Symbolic inscriptions on the monastic cross

Those who first see the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross often have questions related to the inscriptions inscribed on it. In particular, these are the IC and XC at the ends of the middle bar. These letters mean nothing more than an abbreviated name - Jesus Christ. In addition, the image of the cross is accompanied by two inscriptions located under the middle crossbar - the Slavic style of the words "Son of God" and the Greek NIKA, which means "winner".

On the small crossbar, symbolizing, as mentioned above, the tablet with the inscription made by Pontius Pilate, the Slavic abbreviation ІНЦІ is usually written, meaning the words “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews”, and above it - “The King of Glory”. It became a tradition to write the letter K near the image of the spear, and around the cane T. In addition, from about the 16th century, they began to write the letters ML on the left and RB on the right at the base of the cross. They are also an abbreviation, and mean the words "Place Forehead Crucified to Be".

In addition to the inscriptions listed, two letters G, standing to the left and right of the image of Golgotha, and which are the initial in its name, should be mentioned, as well as G and A - the Head of Adam, written on the sides of the skull, and the phrase "King of Glory", crowning the monastic eight-pointed Orthodox cross. The meaning inherent in them is fully consistent with the Gospel texts, however, the inscriptions themselves can vary and be replaced by others.

Immortality bestowed by faith

It is also important to understand why the name of the eight-pointed Orthodox cross is associated with the name of St. Lazarus? The answer to this question can be found on the pages of the Gospel of John, which describes the miracle of his resurrection from the dead, performed by Jesus Christ, on the fourth day after death. The symbolism in this case is quite obvious: just as Lazarus was brought back to life by the faith of his sisters Martha and Mary in the omnipotence of Jesus, so everyone who trusts in the Savior will be delivered from the hands of eternal death.

In the vain earthly life, people are not given to see the Son of God with their own eyes, but they are gifted with his religious symbols. One of them is an eight-pointed Orthodox cross, proportions, the general appearance and semantic load of which have become the topic of this article. He accompanies a believer throughout his life. From the holy font, where the sacrament of baptism opens the gates of the Church of Christ to him, up to the tombstone, an eight-pointed Orthodox cross overshadows him.

Wearable symbol of the Christian faith

The custom of wearing small crosses on the chest, made of the most various materials, appeared only at the beginning of the 4th century. Despite the fact that the main instrument of Christ's passions was the object of veneration among all his followers literally from the first years of the establishment of the Christian church on earth, at first it was customary to wear not crosses around the neck, but medallions with the image of the Savior.

There is also evidence that during the period of persecution that took place from the middle of the 1st to the beginning of the 4th century, there were voluntary martyrs who wanted to suffer for Christ and put the image of the cross on their foreheads. By this sign they were recognized, and then put to torture and death. After the establishment of Christianity as a state religion, the wearing of pectoral crosses became a custom, and in the same period they began to be installed on the roofs of temples.

Two types of pectoral crosses in Ancient Russia

In Russia, the symbols of the Christian faith appeared in 988, simultaneously with its baptism. It is curious to note that our ancestors inherited two species from the Byzantines. One of them was customarily worn on the chest, under clothing. Such crosses were called vests.

Along with them, the so-called encolpions appeared - also crosses, but somewhat larger and worn over clothing. They originate from the tradition of wearing reliquaries with relics, which were decorated with the image of a cross. Over time, the encolpions were transformed into priests and metropolitans.

The main symbol of humanism and philanthropy

Over the millennium that has passed since the time when the Dnieper banks were illuminated by the light of Christ's faith, the Orthodox tradition has largely undergone changes. Only its religious dogmas and basic elements of symbolism remained unshakable, the main of which is the eight-pointed Orthodox cross.

Gold and silver, copper or made of any other material, it keeps the believing person, protecting him from the forces of evil - visible and invisible. As a reminder of the sacrifice made by Christ for the salvation of people, the cross has become a symbol of the highest humanism and love for one's neighbor.

After the funeral, it is customary to place a wooden cross on the grave.

The symbol of Christ's crucifixion spiritualizes the burial place, and according to the instructions of the Church, it is the only possible type of monument, since with its life-giving power it helps the soul to calmly say goodbye to its worldly affairs and go to the heavenly abode.

There are many types of crosses that are somehow related to Christianity.

These are Egyptian, depicted in the form of the hieroglyph "life", and equilateral Greek, which is considered the first symbol of Christianity to appear in Russia, and various monogram forms (sun-shaped, Konstantinovsky, trident), and the four-pointed more familiar to us. In the Orthodox tradition, all forms of the cult symbol are revered, since each of them contains a deep spiritual meaning. But it is the eight-pointed cross that personifies the great sacrifice of Christ in the name of all mankind and is considered the closest to the authentic one on which Jesus was crucified. And it is precisely this form that is recommended to be installed on the grave.

Diagram of an eight-pointed cross

The eight-pointed Orthodox cross consists of four beams, each of which has a sacred meaning and takes its place.

Their location corresponds to the proportions of the human body, in other words, the rule of the "golden section". According to this rule, the coefficient of the most harmonious ratio of the two sides is 1.618.

If, for convenience, we take the base size of the cross for 1.618 meters, then the layout of its crossbars and their dimensions will look like this: the longest longitudinal crossbar has a size of 1.618 meters. The upper crossbar is the prototype of a tablet with the inscription: "This is Jesus, King of the Jews" nailed over the head of Christ. Its size is equal to the distance from the top of the cross to the center of the middle crossbar, in our case it is 0.382 meters. The distance between the two crossbars is 0.236 meters. The difference between the two previous dimensions is the distance from the upper end of the longitudinal bar to the center of the upper transverse bar - 0.146 meters.

The slanting bar is the foot. She represents the scales of righteousness. According to biblical legends, two robbers were crucified on Calvary on either side of Jesus. The edge of the foot, which is located on left hand from the Savior, indicates a robber who blasphemed and trampled on Christ and his followers. The robber crucified by right hand, repented and received forgiveness, which symbolizes the end of the oblique crossbar pointing up. From the ground to the bottom crossbar, the distance will be 0.5 meters.

The cross can be of any height, but its other dimensions must change in proportion to the height.

In addition, the method of its installation on the grave depends on the size of the wooden cross. Thus, massive, tall items will require additional strengthening measures so that the cross remains at the burial site for at least a year and is not blown down by a hurricane. One year after the funeral and the installation of the wooden crucifix, the soil has settled enough to erect a monument made of natural durable stone.

We make crosses, from a metal profile, followed by cladding with stainless steel 0.4 mm thick, coated with titanium nitride. The selection of profile sizes depends on the size of the cross. We also make crosses from stainless steel with subsequent polishing and titanium nitride coating. The proportions, size, pattern of completely lost crosses are restored either taking into account individual surviving elements, or on the basis of reliable graphic material (drawings, drawings, photographs). If such information is completely absent, then the newly made crosses are made taking into account the stylistic features of the temple, using as analogs the crosses of churches of the corresponding historical period with a similar structure of the compositional construction of facades.

Traditional Orthodox crosses - eight or six terminal, crosses with various decorations (turnips, knocked out plates, stars, lights). The lower crossbar (tsata) is either rectangular pointed or in the form of a crescent - symbolizing the cradle of Christ. There are also grooved crosses, i.e. inside the entire translucent section of the cross, there is a pattern with a varied pattern.

Cross "crown of thorns". The image of a cross with a crown of thorns has been used for many centuries among different peoples who converted to Christianity. God told the sinner Adam that “the earth is cursed for you. And the new sinless Adam - Jesus Christ - voluntarily took upon himself the sins of others, and death as a consequence of them, and the thorny sufferings leading to her along the thorny path. Christ's Apostles Matthew (27:29), Mark (15:17) and John (19: 2) narrate that "the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head," "and by His stripes we were healed" (Is 53: 5). Hence, it is clear why since then the wreath has symbolized victory and reward, starting with the books of the New Testament: "the crown of righteousness" (2 Tim. 4: 8), "the crown of glory" (1 Pet. 5: 4), "the crown of life" ( James 1:12 and Apoc. 2:10).

Cross "Shamrock"- symbol Life-giving Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The trefoil form of the cross on the domes of churches and bell towers is a favorite among Russian craftsmen. But the "branches" of the cross are decorated not only with leaves, they are often transformed with similar hearts or outlandish flowers. Which once again testifies to the incomprehensibility of the One in the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

The cross is an image sparkling with stars. The star is a symbol of spiritual wisdom and purity. It is a herald of a new day, a signal for the shepherds, a light that fights against darkness. This is the Cross of the Lord, which "shines like a star in heaven." And the most favorite among the masters was the following method: the ray radiance emanating from the middle cross was decorated with asterisks at the end.

Dome cross with a crescent. Almost all elements of temple symbolism, in different places of worship, are assimilated different meanings... “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun,” says the Revelation of John the Theologian, “the moon is under her feet” (Apoc. 12; 1), and patristic wisdom explains: this moon marks the font in which the Church, baptized in Christ, clothed in Him, in the Sun of righteousness. The crescent moon is also the cradle of Bethlehem, which received the Infant Christ of God; the crescent is the Eucharistic cup in which the Body of Christ is located; the crescent is a church ship, led by the Feedman Christ; the crescent moon is also the anchor of hope, the gift of Christ on the cross; the crescent moon is also an ancient serpent trampled under the Cross and placed as an enemy of God under the feet of Christ.

Vine Coiling around the Cross "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser" (John 15: 1). That is how Jesus Christ called himself, the Head of the Church planted by Him, the only source and guide of spiritual, holy life for all Orthodox believers, who are members of His body. A grapevine wrapped around the cross with bunches of berries is a symbol of the Living Christ. The main significance of the vine for Christians was in symbolic connection with the Sacrament of Communion.

The wooden cross on the grave is a worthy alternative to the usual regular gravestones and sculptural statues. This type of burial design has been used since ancient times. It is believed that it is the cross to be installed on the grave of a believing Christian. What material to choose this element of cemetery decoration from and what rules should be followed during installation?

Choosing wood

If you are faced with the need to arrange the last shelter for a loved one, you probably want the result of the work to look decent. The manufacture of wooden crosses for the grave is offered by many specialized workshops. Wood looks noble, however, choosing this material for the manufacture of elements and structures under open air, its special characteristics should be taken into account.

Only aspen is not afraid of water and does not rot. However, this breed is not used for the manufacture of Christian paraphernalia, as it is considered cursed. It was on the aspen that Judas hanged himself, and therefore the tree does not have the best reputation in Orthodox world... Oak is considered one of the most durable species; over the years it becomes stronger and acquires a noble dark shade. Beech, teak, ash products can last for about 30 years. If you wish, it is not at all difficult to find a wooden cross on a grave made of pine, its indisputable advantage is its low cost, but it will also lose its attractive appearance much faster than its more expensive counterparts.

Wood processing

Without special protection, wooden products outdoors can retain their attractive appearance for 5-7 years. Over the years, under the influence of precipitation and temperature changes, the tree rots, darkens, and cracks may appear. Wooden grave crosses are treated with special antiseptics and protective impregnations. However, there is no composition that can completely prevent wood decay. Even the most expensive and high-quality wooden grave cross will have to be replaced after a while. In the best case, this period will be 30 years.

Rules for the installation of grave crosses

Previously, all elements of the grave decoration were painted with paints. Today, the most popular are crosses made of natural wood, made with the preservation of its shade and texture. Such products can have a laconic shape or be decorated with carved elements. At the cemetery, you can see Christian symbols with additional upper crossbeams - these are old Russian wooden crosses on the grave. The photo of the deceased can also be attached to the grave crucifix, sometimes instead of it they are limited to a plate with the name and years of life or an icon.

Having installed a cross on the grave, do not forget to keep an eye on it. Remember that this is a sacred piece of decoration and should always look its own way. It is useful to treat wood with a protective compound once a year. The cross should stand straight and point with its tip straight to the sky. Over time, the crucifix may become askew, in which case it should be carefully straightened and secured in the correct position.

Good to know before placing a wooden cross on a grave

You can install an Orthodox symbol at the burial place of a believer. Separately, with a clergyman, one should discuss the issue of choosing such a monument for an unbaptized person or one who has committed a grave sin. It is not customary to put crosses on the graves of suicides, but today some priests agree to funeral services for those who passed away of their own free will, and bless the installation of Christian monuments on their graves.

What to choose: a traditional monument or a cross? It is a matter of personal taste and faith, but more and more graves are to be seen where both are installed. More often the cross is placed at the head of the deceased, and the monument is placed at the feet. Funeral crucifixes today are made not only of wood; if you wish, you can order an interesting version of metal or stone. However, wood products also amaze with a variety of forms and design options and look no less solemn.

The customer can independently choose the size of the wooden cross for the grave; the location of neighboring monuments and the surrounding of the grave as a whole should be taken into account. The standard height of the crucifixes is 180-200 centimeters, and the length of the crossbeams can vary significantly depending on the shape of the product.