Considering yourself an Orthodox Christian, it is important to have elementary basic knowledge in the field of Christian culture, and not follow the lead of common superstitions. And, unfortunately, there are a great many of them, even if we are talking about the main shrine - the cross. They begin with the interpretation of dreams, during which some manipulations with the pectoral cross occur, and end with indecision and fears if a cross lost by someone was found. Let’s try to figure out the question of whether it is possible to wear someone else’s cross and how the church recommends dealing with such an unexpected “foundling”.
The meaning of the cross in Orthodoxy
Jesus suffered martyrdom on the cross for the salvation of everyone living. Wearing the crucifix of Christ received at baptism around his neck, a believer declares his involvement in the suffering of the Lord, his selfless feat, which gives hope of resurrection. A pectoral cross is a silent prayer with which we turn to the Almighty for the salvation of our soul. A believer should wear a cross all his life, because it is clear proof of self-sacrifice in the name of love. Russian folk proverbs have survived to this day, symbolizing the attitude towards this shrine: “He who bears the cross is with Christ,” “We do not bear the cross, but he bears us.” The crucifixion talks about faith in the Lord and is a promise to live according to his commandments. The Almighty hears everyone who turns to him and opens his arms to him.
Fourth question: is it allowed to take pictures of yourself?
In ancient times, taking off a cross meant apostasy, so over many centuries a tradition has developed of wearing a cross constantly, without taking it off.
In Rus' they used a special wooden cross for washing in the bathhouse.
In the modern world, when Christians do not experience persecution, it is difficult to imagine circumstances that would force the removal of the cross. Wearing symbols of religion is the constitutional right of any person in the Russian Federation.
If from time to time there is a desire to remove it, wearing it causes inconvenience, you should replace the chain with a gaitan and contact the church.
In the army, wearing a cross is not prohibited, but you should also replace the chain with a safe gaitan.
"Soldier's Prayer"
If circumstances nevertheless forced you not to wear a cross for some time, hazardous work at work or specific medical procedures, try to turn to God in prayer as often as possible, even if it is short. And put on the cross as soon as possible.
Wearing rules
The figure of the Savior superimposed on the cross shows the human and divine hypostases, the triumph of victory over death. The symbol received its dogmatic validity in the 690s in Constantinople. Since then, the pectoral cross has been a sign of belonging to the Orthodox Christian faith, a silent witness to the “unspeakable.” There are several principles for wearing it:
- The crucifix is a cross, on one side of which there is an image of Jesus Christ, on the other - the words “Save and Preserve.”
- The cross can be made of any material: gold or silver, wood or stone, amber or pearls.
- The protective effect of the cross comes from the correct cross, consecrated in the church. It can be 4-, 6- and 8-pointed in shape.
- The crucifix is worn constantly, under clothing, with the prayer side facing the body.
- Treating the cross as an ornament or a fetish is unacceptable.
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.
Priests about other people's crosses
People are often interested in whether it is possible to wear someone else's cross. The priests’ answers fit into a few words: “The cross is the cross.” They treat the cross as a shrine, reverently. The prayer “May God rise again” conveys the attitude of a believer to the crucifixion as a living, spiritual being. The clergy do not approve of various kinds of superstitions, predictions, and fortune telling. When asked whether the bad energy and sins of the previous owner will be passed on to someone else’s cross, they remark: “What about virtue? Will it be transmitted too? The priest will advise you to treat the found cross with respect, carefully pick it up and take it for yourself, give it to someone who needs it, or take it to church. But under no circumstances should you step over it or leave it to be trampled underfoot.
What are the signs?
There are many prejudices and signs associated with body crosses:
- Darkening of the product. Most often this is due to poor quality of the metal. The product also changes color when it comes into contact with any substance, for example, mercury. Superstitious people believe that the darkening of silver is associated with damage or the evil eye cast on the owner of the jewelry. To get rid of negative energy, you need to clean the cross and dip it in holy water for a while.
- Finding someone else's pectoral cross means that the person lost the crucifix, but did not notice it. The product does not bode well for anyone who finds it. But wearing someone else’s pectoral cross is undesirable.
- A woman found a holy crucifix on the street - a favorable sign. For men, the event also does not bode well. But you can’t pick up the find. Even if the product is made of gold. The owner of the cross can thus get rid of sins and deliberately drop the cross. Thus, the person who finds and picks it up can receive the sins of others and bear retribution for them.
Important! If a cross is found in your own home, this is a negative sign. Probably someone is causing damage to the household. Sorcerers use crosses in their dark rituals. If you find an unknown cross in your house, it is recommended to take it to the temple and leave it there.
Is it possible to wear someone else's cross?
Despite the fact that it is easier to believe in folk signs, it is worth understanding the nuances. Is it possible to wear a found cross consciously and in church? On the one hand, if you like the “foundling,” you shouldn’t be afraid to wear it yourself. On the other hand, is there a good reason for this and is there some secret mystical purpose being pursued? The cross is not a talisman, so there is no strong or weak amulet among them. To pin your hopes or, on the contrary, fears on him is at least naive. You can simply take the crucifix to church as a donation. But it should be remembered that there is no harm in finding a cross, and wearing it does not promise any trouble.
Find your own cross
You were baptized as a child, but since then you haven’t seen your cross? Have you recently found a lost piece of jewelry? What does the sign say about this? Finding a golden cross that you have lost long ago means problems. Fate says that you will need to mobilize all your strength in order not to fall into depression and not get confused in yourself. Difficulties and problems will arise literally out of nowhere. You will have to work hard to somehow normalize your life and get back on track. And in order for you to be able to improve your life faster, it is recommended to go to church and re-consecrate your find. When such a ritual is carried out, it is best to put on the cross and never part with it again. Sacred jewelry will help you overcome many difficulties, and will also protect your person from the evil eye and damage.
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.
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).
Cross of the deceased
There is an interesting fact: in Ancient Rus', deceased people were interred, having first removed the cross from them. The Russians reasoned like this: “Why put a shrine in the ground?” Nowadays, on the contrary, they put on a cross, because grieving relatives want their loved one to appear before the Creator with a reverent shrine around their neck. Times change, and with them traditions. It happens that a family has a sacred relic, an ancient cross, passed down from generation to generation along the female or male line after the death of its owner. Sometimes fears and concerns arise about whether it is possible to wear the cross of a deceased person, even if it is so valuable. Just as in the case of a cross found or donated, these worries are groundless. Believers are not inclined to trust prejudices and beliefs. Therefore, when asked whether it is possible to wear someone else’s cross, they do not need a priest’s answer. In their bright world of God there is no place for dark superstitions.
Losing the cross
Unfortunately, no one is immune from the unpleasant situation of losing an expensive item.
When it comes to a body crucifix or a wedding ring, experiences are aggravated by superstitious fears. But there is no supernatural in such a loss, just as there is no omen. A popular belief says that at such a moment a person is at a crossroads, and the Lord will grant him a second chance. You can believe in such a “miracle of rebirth.” But it is better to think about the soul and its immortality, about how to bring it closer to God. Since the cross in itself, without faith, means nothing, it is more important to take care not about external manifestations, but about carrying Christ in your heart. If you analyze the situation, it will become clear that the chain or ribbon may be to blame for the loss, and they do not carry any symbolic meaning. Therefore, if such a loss occurs, you should go to church or visit a church shop and buy yourself a new cross. And to the question of whether it is possible to wear someone else’s cross if someone you know offers you one to replace the lost one, the answer is definitely positive. You can save and protect your soul with any life-giving cross, no matter who it previously belonged to. The cross is not a witchcraft amulet or a dead symbol, not a talisman or a jewelry trinket. It is important to worry not about whether you can wear someone else’s cross or whether you will have to carry someone else’s “cross” with him. It is much more important to treat it as a living, blessed weapon bestowed by the Lord. Wear a cross around your neck and faith in your heart.
The opinion of the priests
It is known that the Orthodox Church denies the superstitions with which ordinary people surround themselves in worldly life. The same applies to accepting as a gift and subsequent wearing of other people’s crosses. Orthodox priests believe that whether to wear crosses that previously belonged to someone or not is an individual choice of any person.
Important! Saint Basil the Great said that what he does not believe will not happen to a person. Priests often repeat these words to parishioners who doubt the power and truthfulness of this or that superstition.
What clergy focus the attention of parishioners on is that visiting the temple of God without a pectoral cross is not recommended. Also, you cannot sell or throw away the symbol of faith with a crucifixion received at christening. It contains sacred secrets and powers that will protect a person throughout his life.
Important! For those who have lost their cross, you can purchase a new one in a church or jewelry store and then consecrate it.
