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[[Image:St Tikhons Cross.jpg|right|frame|A wooden cross at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]]]]The '''cross''' is the fundamental symbol for [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Christian]]s, seen as the instrument of the world's [[salvation]] by the crucified [[Christ]].{{stub}}
==Emblem of victory==
When Orthodox think of the crucified Christ, they think not only of his suffering and desolation; they think of him as Christ the Victor, Christ the King, reigning in triumph from the ''Tree''. As heard in the first exorcism before Baptism: ''On the Tree he triumphed over the powers which opposed him, when the sun was darkened and the earth was shaken, when the graves were opened and the bodies of the saints arose. By death he destroyed death, and brought to naught him who had the power of death.
The cross is the central symbol for Christians, not only as the instrument of the world's salvation by the crucified Christ, but also as the constant witness that one cannot be Christians unless they live with the cross as the very content of their lives in this world. ''If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me'' ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 8:34).
The Holy Cross is a [[Symbolism|symbol]] of the New Testament, victory over death, and the intersection of the heavenly and the earthly.
===Sign of the cross===
For these reasons Christians place upon themselves the [[sign of the cross]]. The Orthodox place their first two fingers and thumb together to form a sign of the Triune God and cross themselves from the head to the breast and from shoulder to shoulder, right to left. This shows that the cross is the inspiration, power and indeed the very content of Christians life; and that one’s one's mind, heart and strength must be given to the love of God and man.
===Baptismal cross===
Through [[Baptism]] we receive a full forgiveness of all sin, whether original or actual; we ''put on Christ'', becoming members of his body the Church. To be reminded of their Baptism, Orthodox Christians usually wear a small Cross, hung round the neck on a chain.
==Veneration of the cross==
===Third Sunday of Lent===
The Third Sunday of [[Lenten Triodion|Lent]] is that of the [[Sunday of the Holy Cross|
Veneration of the Cross]]. The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the Lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ's redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. ''He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me'' ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 10:38). For in the Cross of Christ Crucified lies both ''the power of God and the [[Holy Wisdom|wisdom ]] of God'' for those being saved ([[I Corinthians]] 1:24).
==Crosses==
Sometimes the style of a church building’s building's main cross can reveal the makeup of the parish.
===Triple bar cross===
[[Image:OrthodoxCross.jpg|right|75px]]
It is often called a "Russian" cross, but it actually predates the [[Church of Russia|Christianization of Russia]] in 988 AD, although generally, the bottom bar is horizontal rather than angled. Very early depictions of the crucifixion, even those originating in [[Church of Alexandria|Egypt]], generally portray the triple bar cross.
In certain parts of Central and Eastern Europe, the triple bar cross with a slanted footrest may indicate that a given church is an Orthodox one, while a triple bar cross with a horizontal footrest indicates that a given church is a [[Eastern Rite Catholic|Byzantine Rite]], or Greek Catholic, one. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode Unicode], this cross is U+2626 (<font size="+3">☦</font>). ==External links==*[http://www.saintvladimir.com/article.php?id=52 The Cross] ([[OCA]])*[http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=25&SID=3 The Russian Orthodox Cross] (OCA)*[http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/index.html The Cross]
[[Category:Arts]]
[[Category:Church_LifeChurch Life]] [[el:Σταυρός]][[ro:Cruce]]