How many different signs and superstitions are concentrated in our society! But we have long conquered the sky, created a global information space, and learned to treat many terrible diseases.
For now, let's leave aside religious issues (this is very shaky ground), let's turn to superstitions. Many people are sure that you should not wear someone else’s cross with a chain, because this can bring terrible misfortunes upon yourself. Let's figure out whether a shrine can cause harm in principle or whether it is a dense gimmick that has nothing to do with the dogmas of the Christian Church.
Where to put the found cross?
If you find a cross in some institution or, say, in the entrance of a house, then you can put it or hang it in a visible place, give it to the person on duty - suddenly the owner will be found. You can also write an announcement about your find.
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What is a cross?
Before you understand the meaning of wearing a cross, you need to find out what it is.
The cross is the instrument of Christ's death. The Savior became incarnate “from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.” This is a line from the Bible - a Christian dogma known to every churchgoer. Jesus Christ accepted death for the sins of the human race, shameful and terrible. He was crucified on the cross, as we know. Since then, it has been a symbol of the victory of love over evil and violence. In other words, death is defeated by sacrificial love. We will soon find out whether it is possible to wear two crosses on the body.
The Church's opinion on wearing several crosses
There is a widespread opinion among churchgoers that the more crosses a person wears, the more protection he has from evil spirits. But church ministers say that such a practice directly contradicts the rules of faith. At the same time, the opinions of priests regarding wearing two crosses around the neck at the same time vary. The Orthodox Church has not developed a consensus on this matter.
Some priests do not prohibit the simultaneous wearing of two symbols, but recommend putting each crucifix on a different chain.
A number of senior church officials state that each person can take with him any number of crosses. The purity and power of faith, which, as Christian dogmas say, protects people from unclean things, does not depend on this. That is, if you follow the logic of church ministers, what is more important is how sincere a person is in his prayers, and how he observes Orthodox values, dogmas, and rules. Worldly motives do not play a role in this case.
There is also a completely opposite opinion on this issue. Priests who hold a different point of view report that wearing two crucifixes on the body at the same time is contrary to Christian teaching. But these people also claim that this symbol cannot be used as a talisman or decoration. The cross performs only those “functions” mentioned above. And even the loss of a body symbol will not lead to unpleasant consequences.
Clergymen wear two crosses. This is due to established procedures and other reasons. For churchgoers, such a practice does not make sense. Church ministers adhere to a clear position: the presence of a dozen crucifixes will not make a person a saint if he does not comply with Christian laws (commandments); absence will not make you a sinner.
When is the cross worn?
You can often hear the question from neophytes: is it possible to wear two crosses around your neck? We will definitely tell you about this later. At the moment we are talking about when a person has the right to wear a cross.
In fact, as soon as we are born, we receive our spiritual cross and carry it throughout our lives. The material is hung around the neck after the servant of God has been baptized.
What about a dead person's cross?
It follows that a daughter can and should wear her mother’s cross. Thus, the daughter shows respect for her mother, undertakes to become her successor in faith, and takes a piece of her wisdom.
A wife can wear her husband's cross, for example, if he left or died. In the first case, the exchange of shrines, so often practiced by our ancestors, is relevant. It is believed that by exchanging symbols of faith, people become spiritual brothers and sisters, which goes beyond banal family ties.
There is nothing wrong with wearing the crucifix of a deceased loved one - by doing this you will definitely not share his sad fate and will not get closer to death. This is simply a memory of a deceased person, a wish for peace and tranquility of his spirit.
According to Christian tradition, the deceased is buried together with a pectoral cross. If for some reason this does not happen, you can wear the cross, give it to your children, keep it at home, or take it to church.
However, some priests hold an alternative point of view. They believe that if the deceased led a pious lifestyle, then his cross is filled with God's grace and can be worn without fear. And with a sinful lifestyle, he is charged with sinful passions. If you want to wear it, you need to re-consecrate the crucifix.
However, this point of view is not supported by the patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. They believe that the cross itself is pure, denying the very possibility of it being saturated with any energy other than God’s grace.
Priest's opinion
The opinion of the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church on this matter is clear: you can wear someone else’s cross! However, you need to understand that we are talking about an attribute of faith, and you need to wear it with appropriate feelings. The giver must realize that he is parting with what is most dear to him, but some people need God’s favor more.
A mother can hang her crucifix on her child before a difficult exam, a son can share spiritual strength with his father on the eve of a major operation, a wife can give a cross to her husband before a long and dangerous business trip.
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The priest’s answer cannot be any other, because there are many known cases when clergy gave their crosses to suffering people who did not have their own. This most often happens during the baptism of poor people who accept Christianity in adulthood.
No clergyman has the right to refuse a person to perform the sacrament of baptism, even if he does not have money even for a cross. What a pity that some servants of the Lord forget about this!
According to the canon, Orthodox clergy wear two crosses. One is placed on top of the clothes, as if belonging to the rank, the second is hidden near the body, like for ordinary parishioners.
So, you can wear another person’s cross - the church has nothing against it. But as to whether it needs to be consecrated, the opinions of the clergy differ.
Summing up
In Orthodoxy it is not customary to wear two crosses. It is acceptable to wear a cross together with a personal icon, an image of a guardian angel or an amulet.
As for losing him, it is absurd to expect trouble and create panic because of this. Buy another cross, consecrate it and put it on your neck - problem solved.
Is it possible to wear two crosses in turn? This action makes no sense; this was discussed above. The Church does not welcome such alternation.
Is it possible to wear someone else's cross?
Many people who consider themselves true Christians are afraid to wear a worn cross for the following reasons:
- It is forbidden to wear someone else's pectoral cross because by doing so you are taking upon yourself the trials that are destined for another person. And everyone must bear his own cross, like Christ walking to Calvary.
- Through a cross you can bring damage, serious illness and even death to a person. Allegedly, it is the cross that is very conducive to carrying out occult rituals.
- You cannot wear someone else’s gold cross because by doing so you are deprived of the protection of God and your guardian angel, and the shrine turns into an ordinary decoration.
All these are dense superstitions that have nothing to do with the Christian religion. With the cross, no tests are passed on: a person creates his own destiny, but with sincere faith - with the help of the Almighty.
A person is free in his actions, because the inevitability of fate is denied by the Christian religion, despite the recognition of the immutable laws of the universe. Blind fate does not exist, there is only a choice of path: a crossroads and again the omnipresent cross!
On the second point, the church’s position is even harsher. She does not recognize all kinds of occult sciences and mysticism in principle, and actively fights all kinds of superstitions and magical rituals. Do not believe in omens and false dreams, they will not come true, and all kinds of damage will crumble under the light of the true Faith. That is, no object can be a carrier of negative energy, and especially not a symbol of faith.
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And third: even if for some reason a person loses his pectoral cross, he will not lose the protection of God. A crucifix can even be given to a person who is in greatest need of protection. This is not a talisman in the pagan sense of the word, but an object overshadowed by God's grace, and therefore giving the guardianship of the Almighty. So if you wear someone else’s cross with due reverence, it will only be beneficial!
Priests' opinions
This is what the priests answer when asked whether it is possible to wear two crosses:
- Priest Sergius (Shalberov) opposes. Nothing will change in a person’s life by wearing two crosses. Will he become closer to God? Will he begin to live more piously and keep the Gospel commandments doubly? If yes, then let him wear it. But most often the answers to the questions are negative. The cross is not an amulet that protects against sins; it cannot be classified as jewelry. This is a shrine given to an Orthodox Christian at baptism; it should be treated accordingly.
- Father Dionisy (Svechnikov) has his own opinion on this matter. According to him, many people have a baptismal symbol of salvation. Superstitious people are sure that if it is removed or lost, it will be a big disaster. In fact, according to the priest, this is a stupid superstition that does not affect a person’s fate in any way. As for wearing two crosses, the priest declares the complexity of this issue; he does not condemn those who do this.
- Archpriest Andrei (Efanov) answers questions from readers of the Orthodox magazine “Thomas”. Is it possible to wear two crosses? According to him, this is not accepted and makes no sense. The second one is best stored on an icon shelf.
Priests do not encourage wearing two crosses at the same time. This conclusion is obvious from the above.
Which amulets are worn around the neck, which ones are worn on key chains?
It is not enough to simply buy and put on a talisman; it is important to know how to wear the amulet correctly, otherwise it will not “turn on” and will not work. Our distant ancestors could use almost any thing as amulets - from a working tool to a piece of furniture. Agree, it was inconvenient to carry, say, a table with you everywhere for good luck in business, so gradually the amulets underwent serious changes in size to make them more convenient to carry. Before choosing an amulet, decide what problem it should help you cope with:
- recover from illness;
- meet your love, or save your family;
- unlock your potential and realize yourself in your chosen field;
- attract good luck;
- protect children.
According to the method of wearing, amulets are divided into those that should be hidden from prying eyes, and those that are displayed to everyone.
- If the amulet performs a security function, it should be worn hidden around the neck on a cord or cord. When such an amulet looks terrifying, it should be shown to others, as if warning everyone that it is impossible to harm you.
- The “red thread” has been especially popular lately; it is worn on the wrist of the left hand (it is believed that the left side is more susceptible to negativity). The “Red Thread” protects against troubles, the evil eye, damage and other negative influences.
- Jewelry (earrings, rings, bracelets, etc.) protects against the effects of evil spells. This effect is achieved thanks to the material used (gold, silver, precious stones). Stones also play a special role in love amulets, for example, a charmed rose quartz pendant will help you meet your other half or preserve the love of your spouse.
- To attract good luck and increase financial well-being, they say herbal mixtures, which are placed in a bag and carried with you in a bag or wallet.
- The simplest spoken item can be a keychain , and if the corresponding Slavic symbol or rune is applied to it, this will greatly enhance its effect.
You want to have an amulet, but it’s difficult for you to choose; the ideal option would be jewelry with a stone corresponding to your zodiac sign. If you do not have the opportunity to carry the amulet with you, you should store it correctly. Under no circumstances should you use glass boxes or tie it with silk thread - this will break the interaction of the talisman with you. A wooden box is ideal for these purposes. By following simple rules on how to wear an amulet, you will save yourself from many troubles. Remember that any thing, even a completely random one, can be an amulet; the relationship between you is important. The main thing is to believe in its power, and then it will work for you!
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Once upon a time, Orthodox Christians carried an amulet containing the relics of one or another saint. Currently, incense is stored in it and worn along with the cross. Incense is a weapon against evil spirits; demons are afraid of it. Previously, a small bag served as an amulet; now it is a pendant made of two halves. The incense often depicts the Savior or the faces of saints. When putting it on, you should remember that the pendant will not replace the pectoral cross; you can wear them together. Priests agree on this issue:
- Incenses are blessed in churches and must be treated with care.
- You cannot treat a pendant as a shrine; first of all, it is a thing. The amulet itself does not protect against evil spirits.
- Among the neophytes there are those who prescribe magical properties to the product. This is a great sin, because consecrated incense and magic are different concepts and incompatible with each other.
Is it possible to wear two crosses and an amulet? It’s better to limit yourself to one, and put the second in the “red corner”.
