"Save me, God!".
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The cross is the greatest shrine of the Orthodox. It is a clear sign that a person belongs to Orthodoxy. For the church it does not matter whether it is made of metal or wood, jewelry or an ordinary alloy.
The main thing for an Orthodox should be its form and correctness in relation to religion. It is necessary to remember important points when choosing a cross:
- The cross can be 4-, 6-, 8 final shapes.
- If you choose a cross for your baby, then there should be no sharp corners on it.
- The size, like the material of the cross, does not matter.
- The Church recommends choosing not decorative crosses, but ones with the inscription “Save and Preserve” on the reverse side.
- Crosses purchased in the church are already consecrated, but store-bought ones should be consecrated.
Basically, we receive the attribute at baptism, but it also happens when we lose the cross. What to do? You need to buy a new one and consecrate it. What to do if you find someone else's cross? There are many superstitions about this, saying that if you take someone else’s cross and wear it, then it is the same as if you take on someone else’s cross.
What to do if you find a cross?
Today, many people, even from the church environment, are paying attention to superstitions. Holidays and various religious attributes were influenced by superstitious ideas. In this regard, “important” questions are common: is it possible to wear someone else’s cross? What to do with a found cross? Will the sins or fate of another be passed on to the one who wears it?
To give correct answers to them, one must understand the truths of the Christian faith and its history.
Is it possible to wear someone else's cross?
“There is a well-known law of spiritual life: the less faith in God, the more superstitions there are. Without the will of God, nothing happens; there are no accidents in the world. And the will of God is not just what God wanted and did, but it is something that fully corresponds to the human spiritual state. God only as a Doctor sends us the best circumstances so that we come to our senses. For someone who believes in God, all these superstitions are nonsense, emptiness and nothing more. Faith in God is needed. And when a person forgets about God, he begins to believe all sorts of nonsense” (Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Alexey Ilyich Osipov).
What does the church think about this?
The Church categorically denies all these signs, citing that these are nothing more than pagan superstitions. The priests claim that it is possible and necessary to put on and wear one’s own or give someone else’s vestments. But only by adhering to certain rules.
It happens that even clergy themselves give their crosses to parishioners who need to strengthen their faith in order to share their own. The priests also approve of temporarily handing over their creed to a sick relative, so that he or she will be charged with positive energy and recover faster.
Anyone who finds someone else's Orthodox cross is advised to consecrate the item, because it is unclear whether the cross was cleaned before.
Archpriests deny all superstitions surrounding crosses, whether their own products or those of others. They consider it absurd that a found pendant can transmit misfortunes and misfortunes, because then one could easily throw off one’s sins by simply throwing away the cross. Or, by purchasing a product worn by a righteous person, you yourself can become a saint in a matter of minutes.
Church workers urge that people not be afraid to lift other people’s crosses - this is more of a good sign than a foreshadowing of something bad. It would be sinful to just pass by and not take it with you. The found shrine must be treated with respect and, if not taken for yourself, then taken to the nearest temple.
Priests call for the blessing of other people’s crosses not because the items can convey something negative, but only because they do not know whether a cleansing ritual has been performed on them before.
Symbols of Christianity
In the Roman Empire, dangerous criminals were subject to crucifixion. It was a shameful and painful execution. The Son of God, who went to his voluntary death to atone for the sins of mankind, was executed just like that. But the Resurrection of Christ from the dead turned the cross into a symbol of victory over death.
Under conditions of persecution of the first Christians, there was no possibility of directly writing the name of the Savior or His image. Thanks to this, symbolic motifs began to be used among believers. Encrypted texts (cryptograms) and images became widespread among fellow believers. For example, the acronym IHTIS (from Greek stands for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”). Roman catacombs from the 2nd and 3rd centuries have images of fish - in Greek the word “ἰχθύς” (IHTIS) means “fish”.
Christ could be symbolically depicted as a lamb:
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Gospel of John 1:29).
In early Christianity, the image of a cross was not used. His widespread veneration began in the 4th century. It was acquired through the efforts of Queen Helena, the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine. The custom of wearing a pectoral cross by believers dates back to the same time.
Second question: is it allowed to exchange a cross for another?
If you received another person's cross as a gift, you can wear them in turn with your own.
Amulet
item that brings good luck. The cross is also considered a talisman
You cannot change it if you don’t like it or, as it seems to you, does not protect you from misfortunes. You cannot wear icons, amulet, etc. instead. They can be worn, but only together with the main symbol of the layman’s faith.
Remember that a pectoral cross is a weapon of salvation, but not a talisman or a piece of jewelry. The Christian Church has an extremely negative attitude towards both.
Pseudo-Slavic amulets that have no relation to the Christian church
What is a pectoral cross?
A pectoral cross is worn by every Orthodox Christian during the Sacrament of Baptism. The priest places a white robe on the newly baptized person as a symbol of “truth and salvation.” A cross is placed on the chest, indicating readiness to follow the Lord:
“If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Gospel of Mark, 8:34).
This should remind us that life’s difficulties must be accepted without grumbling, relying on the will of God.
“Everyone needs his own Golgotha in order to die in the suffering of sin and be resurrected in the spirit. This, of course, does not mean that you need to torture yourself. We must accept all sorrows and illnesses with gratitude, and not with grumbling. If life beats you, it means that the Lord has not forgotten about you; it means you have become like red-hot iron under the blows of a hammer. If you dodge the blows, you will remain a shapeless piece of metal. And if you endure, you will be a marvelous work of God’s hands. So be patient..." (Archpriest Vasily Ermakov).
A pectoral cross can be metal, wood, bone or made of other materials. It usually does not exceed a few centimeters in size. It is worn on a string (gaitan) or chain on the chest. The cross is called a cross because it is worn directly on the body, and not on top of clothing. The Orthodox Church teaches that wearing a cross protects the soul and body of a Christian. The cross drives away evil spirits. Therefore, Orthodox Christians wear their pectoral cross throughout their lives without taking it off.
“A Christian without a cross is a warrior without weapons, and the enemy can easily defeat him” (schema-hegumen Savva Ostapenko, 1898-1980).
The attitude of clergy towards superstitions regarding the cross
Church ministers do not approve of various fortune-telling, predictions, mysticism, and beliefs. When asked whether someone else’s bad and difficult fate will be passed on along with someone else’s cross, they answer just a few words: “A cross is a cross. And even two crossed sticks are quite capable of helping a true believer resist evil and the devil’s machinations. There should be no place for superstitions in God’s bright world.”
This means that you can and should use the body crosses of your deceased relatives and honor them as a family heirloom. And a mother or father may well put their cross on their child by buying a new one and putting it on.
Wearing a cross donated by relatives is a godly deed, the main thing is that it is consecrated in the church. It is also quite possible to wear a cross bought at a pawnshop and consecrated by you in church; it will not bear any negativity and the fate of the previous owner.
The rite of the consecration of the cross
Since Old Testament times, there has been a tradition of consecrating man-made religious objects. The Tabernacle of the Covenant (Book of Exodus, 40:34) and the Temple of Solomon (Second Book of Chronicles, 7:1) were consecrated. The first Christians did not have an established rite for the consecration of the cross. It appeared initially in the Western Church (there is no information about the exact time). In Russian Orthodoxy, the rite of consecration of the cross can be traced back to the 17th century. It was then that it appeared in the Trebnik of Peter Mogila in 1646.
The consecration of the pectoral cross is performed by the priest during a special rite. Psalms are read, the troparion and kontakion to the Cross are sung, and secret priestly prayers are sung. When sprinkling the cross with holy water, the priest says:
“This sign of the cross is sanctified by the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, by sprinkling the holy water, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”
By consecrating the pectoral cross, God's blessing is invoked
“to drive away all opposing evil, and to heal mental and physical ailments” (prayer for the consecration of the cross).
Is it possible to give a cross to a loved one?
Popular wisdom interprets such a gift differently. The most common opinion is that it is impossible to accept a cross from someone else’s hands, since along with such a gift, misfortunes will also be passed on from another person. However, as mentioned above, the clergy do not agree with this opinion.
From the point of view of priests, giving a pectoral cross to a beloved man or woman is not forbidden, since such a gift is a wish for a loved one to receive God’s blessing . In addition, a wife can give her husband a cross as a sign of her love and affection. Such an item carries more meaning than just an accessory: this is how a wife wants to take care of her beloved husband, wants to entrust him to the protection of good forces.
Cross for a beloved man
For the same reason, you can present a gold cross as a gift to your beloved girl: when a lover gives another such a religious object, he shows how much he values this person and how seriously he takes their relationship. In addition, such a gift makes the spiritual connection between the bride and groom even stronger .
A cross presented by an adult to a younger person is a symbol of the transfer of his life experience and wisdom
Traditionally, the first symbol of faith in a person’s life is given to him by his godfather. Moreover, it is allowed to make such a gift again: the godfather can give the gift again if the first one was lost or broken. According to the Christian tradition, symbols of faith can be given not only to close people, but also to strangers, for example, at the sudden behest of the soul . Such a gift will not bring anything bad. However, you need to understand that not all people are believers, or some may not be a Christian at all, so such a gift may cause awkwardness. That is why it is better to give religious objects only to close people, so as not to put the person in an uncomfortable position.
Is it possible to wear someone else's cross?
A pectoral cross worn as an amulet or decoration is not capable of magically saving a person or protecting from evil. A prerequisite for this is the conscious confession of Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Himself protects people who believe in Him and trust in Him from various troubles and misfortunes.
“The cross does not do miracles in your life. Why? - the holy righteous John of Kronstadt (1829-1908) addresses the people and explains the reason: “Because of your unbelief.”
What to do if you find a cross? Is it possible to wear a found cross? Why not? The sins of others cannot be mechanically and automatically transferred to a person who has found someone else’s cross. According to Orthodox teaching, everyone will be responsible for bad deeds, words and thoughts, actions and inactions. Sin is not a microbe that spreads from objects through touching them. Sin comes from the person himself:
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Gospel of Matthew 15:19).
For Christians, it is important to “look” at the state of the heart, at the words spoken and deeds done, at the attitude towards others. If a pectoral cross is lost and found, the question of whether it is possible to wear someone else’s cross is unnecessary. It is enough to consecrate it in an Orthodox church.
Cross as a gift
The best gift for a believer is a cross. Therefore, you can safely give it: for christenings, name days, birthdays. Both new and found. The main thing is that he be consecrated in the church and gain his godly power. If there is no information about lighting, it is better to do it anyway. What if one of your relatives offers to wear their crucifix - is it possible to wear the cross of a relative or close friend? Yes, sure. After all, such gifts are not given to people whose fate is indifferent.
How to overcome prejudices
In the modern world, one can observe how faith in God is combined with superstitious signs and customs. Most often, the reason for this is a person’s special psychological state. Even Saint John Chrysostom (347-407) said that superstition is the fruit of an immature, childish perception of the world, calling the Hellenes children.
“Superstitious rituals in general are not about faith. They are about the immaturity of a person’s emotional sphere. Each such case reveals a frightened child in an adult, who still puts himself at the center of the world... And any reproaches in the style of “you’re a Christian, how can you believe in such nonsense” are unlikely to change anything. This requires a long and confidential conversation with a priest, perhaps more than one, or serious work with a psychologist” (Orthodox psychologist Alexander Tkachenko).
Therefore, in order to overcome faith in folk and other superstitions, one should pray to the Lord for spiritual enlightenment and study the Holy Scriptures. Then no one will worry whether it is possible to wear someone else’s cross. And the Creator, as a Loving Father, will fill hearts with true faith.
“All the evil in the world comes from the lack of divine enlightenment. When there is no divine enlightenment, a person is in darkness. Then one says, “Let’s go here,” the other says. “No, I know well, we’d better go here,” the third: “There,” the fourth: “Here.”
Everyone thinks that it is right to go where he thinks. In other words, everyone wants the best, but they are confused and cannot come to an understanding. If there was no confusion, then they would not argue: they would clearly see which path is better, and together they would go towards it...
At least in the Church, the majority do not have evil intentions, but lack divine enlightenment. They fight for good, but where do they end up in the end?.. Therefore, let us ask God to give us at least a little divine enlightenment, for otherwise we will stumble like the blind. The good God gives His divine enlightenment to those who have good will” (Reverend Paisius the Svyatogorets, 1924-1994).
Found gold pectoral cross
What to do? If you find a cross, then you should first take it to the nearest church and illuminate it. If you are afraid to keep it for yourself, give it to the priest. Let him decide what to do with such a find.
If you were given a found cross as a gift, then be sure to wear it! Remove only in exceptional cases. For example, when you need to clean or wipe a gold (silver) chain. If you notice that the cross that was given to you has turned black, take it off and forget about it. It is possible that the person who handed it to you does not like you or has a strong feeling of anger, hatred and envy towards you.
Prayers to the Cross
Troparion
Save, Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victories over the opposition and preserving Your life through Your Cross.
Kontakion
Ascend to the Cross by your will, to your namesake new residence, grant your bounty, O Christ God, make us glad with your power, giving us victories for comparison, benefit to those who have your arms living things of the world, invincible victory.
Greatness
We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your holy Cross, by which You saved us from the work of the enemy.
First prayer
Oh, all-honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, sanctified by the Blood of Christ our God and freed from eternal death by His death! You are the sign of victory against our enemies, visible and invisible: you are the one who will appear at the hour of the Last Judgment of Christ: I humbly bow to you, I honestly touch you and kindly kiss you, today Offering a prayer to Him crucified on you, that He may heal me by His power in you from all spiritual ailments and bodily, and will preserve from enemies visible and invisible, and will place the uncondemned one at His right hand in judgment.
Hey, the Life-Giving Holy Cross, the Savior is upon you, dying for people who died in sins, you gave up His spirit like a man, and poured out Blood and water, and these three, one, even more than all others need, brought salvation to us: to the glory of the fountain of living waters God the Father, Himself, from the blood of the Virgins incarnate God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, quickening the spirit of man: Whom Three in one Godhead grant and give thanks to me, baptized with water received by immaculate faith, in the communion of flesh and the Blood of the Lord with undoubted hope and in repentance with a contrite spirit and unfeigned love: below only in this deplorable life, like passing water, filled with battles and blood, and like a couple disappearing with a sigh, but also in the In the blessed future I will glorify the Lord, through the help of your strength, O blessed Cross, so that I may glorify my very faces vision, faith, possession, desire and pleasure, beloved, alone in the Trinity, glorified to the endless ages of ages. Amen.
How to prepare for baptism?
Since those early apostolic times, before being baptized, a person must learn the basics of the faith, which he accepts after undergoing certain training. First, you need to come to the temple, and at the end of the service approach the priest or the temple workers and find out for yourself all the requirements and nuances of preparing for baptism in this temple.
Usually it is necessary to go through a series of conversations for the catechumens. This is what in ancient times they called those who were going to enter the bosom of the church. This preparation period could last up to 3 years. Nowadays, a cycle of public conversations can consist of several (from one or two to 12) lessons.
During these classes, a person entering the church community will be told about the basics of Christian doctrine, basic dogmas, the very sacrament of baptism, and will receive answers to their questions. When preparing for the sacrament, you need to try not only with your mind, but also with your soul to prepare for the main first step of your Christian life. These days it is advisable to lead a more abstinent lifestyle. Watch less TV, if it is difficult to completely abstain from this, then exclude all entertainment programs, protect yourself from worldly vanity and empty talk.
For what reasons are crosses given?
Traditionally, it is believed that religious items can only be given on certain dates: usually major religious holidays. From this point of view, a symbol of faith can be given:
- for baptism;
- for any religious holiday;
- for an angel's day or name day.
The priests believe that such a religious item can be given without any special reason. So, for example, if you have returned from a trip to holy places, you can give an incense cross or other religious item to your loved ones.
Baptism cross
