Whichever religion you belong to, the image of a cross signifies Christianity. You will find many crosses in churches and Christian places of worship.

Also, you can find decorative wall crosses on the walls of private homes and jewelry with religious crosses, such as necklaces or earrings.

To Christians, the cross represents Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, which was saving the world from sin.

Origins and Uses of the Cross

In the early days of Christianity, it was not safe to hang decorative wall crosses in the house or wear a cross around your neck. Many Christians were singled out and persecuted for being Christian, so they were forced to adopt other symbols to avoid this happening.

The Ichthys was one of the most popular symbols used in early Christianity. The Ichthys is the symbol of a fish and a lot of people believe it derives from when Christ asked the apostles to be "fishers of men". Another symbol was the anchor, signifying hope.

The cross became an accepted symbol of the Christian religion when Constantine declared Christianity to be the official Roman religion in the third century. People did not have to hide their beliefs any longer and they could wear crosses or hang decorative wall crosses in their houses if they wanted to, because the religion had been legitimized by the leader of the empire.

Different Types of Crosses

From decorative wall crosses to religious cross jewelry, there are various types of crosses used, often depending on geography.

Celtic Cross - This is a cross with a circle around the cross bar. The circle today represents the love of God but used to signify the sun or moon.

Calvary Cross - This cross, which includes three graded steps, represents the hill of Calvary, where Christ was crucified.

Papal Cross - This cross is used only by the Pope because it is the official Papal symbol. It has three bars, which stand for the realms of the Pope's authority - the world, heaven and the church.

St Andrew's Cross - St Andrew, according to belief, was martyred on a cross in the shape of an X, which is why this cross is shaped the same way.

Greek Cross - This ancient cross signifies the human world at a crossroad with the divine world. It has arms of equal length.

Latin Cross - This cross has a short horizontal bar in the middle of a longer vertical bar. This is the cross that usually comes to mind when you think of crosses. Orthodox and Catholic churches include the body of Christ on this cross and call it a crucifix. Protestants leave the cross blank to signify the resurrection.

Russian Orthodox Cross - This cross has three cross bars. One represents the sign which was put over Christ's head. The lower one represents St Andrew's cross.

St Peter Cross - This is an inverted Latin Cross and how St Peter was crucified.

These are some of the better-known cross formations.

The Meaning of the Cross

Whereas each different type of cross has its own special meaning, the general message of the cross has always been the same. The cross is the symbol of Christianity throughout the world and it stands for faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Whether you choose to wear a cross as jewelry or use decorative wall crosses, the cross is a symbol of steadfast faith in everlasting life.

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