“Carry your cross” - the meaning and origin of phraseology

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Author: Maria Znobishcheva

Philologist, candidate of philological sciences, poet, member of the Union of Writers of Russia. Publication date:09/20/2021

Among the many expressions dating back to biblical texts, the idiom “carrying your cross” is perhaps the most widespread. The visible picture of the agony of the cross at least once in a lifetime becomes a consolation for everyone who is experiencing difficulties.

We often use this phraseology with or without reason, talking about hard work, a grumpy spouse or a harmful neighbor. What can we really call bearing the cross? Let's look for answers together!

Expression value

The phraseological phrase “carry your cross” means “to live, steadfastly, with humility enduring all the trials that are sent.” This is what they say about people who do not fall under the burden of adversity, but move forward, no matter how heavy the burden.

In everyday life, the expression “this is my cross”, which is close in meaning, can be heard from the lips of a wife who is not satisfied with her husband, or from a boss doomed to do most of the work without the support of the team. Such complaints look ridiculous next to the pictures of real disasters.

The call to bear one’s cross without losing heart most often comes from people of faith, or from those who grew up in line with the unspoken tradition of humility and piety that existed among the common people. To this they often add the proverb “The Lord endured and commanded us.”

There are many people around who bear their cross with dignity. These are seriously ill people or those who care for them, these are displaced people, victims of wars, disasters and social inequality - everyone from whom much has been taken away, without which it is difficult for an ordinary person to imagine their life.

If God sends you trials, it means you will pass them

When everything in a person’s life goes smoothly, smoothly and well, no one says that this is his path, but when illnesses, misunderstandings, losses come, everyone remembers what’s going on.

Sometimes it seems to a person that he cannot withstand all the trials that befall him. But Orthodoxy says that each person is given exactly as much as he is able to withstand.

I have repeatedly become convinced that if there are too many things to do, sorrows, and worries, God will either remove individual tasks from us or send people who will help us cope, calm us down, encourage us, and pray. The Gospel indicates the name of the man who helped carry the Savior’s Cross. It was Simon of Cyrene. In the most confusing situations, a person is helped to understand by parents, spouses, friends, and most importantly, God.

It’s easy to talk about sorrows and experiences when everything is joyful and rosy for you. But only those who have verified with their own experience that the loss of relatives, serious illnesses and problems at work are only trials, and not the end of life, can truly console and sympathize.

Superficial observation of people usually leads to subjective conclusions: it’s hard for me, but for others everything is so easy! Before you say once again that everything is presented to Nadka from the third entrance on a saucer with a blue border, and Kostya from the fourth floor, thanks to his parents, is provided for 200 years in the future, stop and think. How do you know what is going on in the souls of these people? Are they going through some kind of deep upheaval?

Origin of phraseology

The Holy Scriptures describe in detail how Christ, like many others sentenced to crucifixion, carried his own cross to Calvary. In the Gospel of Mark, the words of the Savior are conveyed as follows: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The agony of Christ on the cross became a cleansing sacrifice, an image of suffering through which one can approach the Kingdom of Heaven. To put it quite simply, only by suffering does a person become better.

Moving from allegories to the realities of the past, it remains to remember that carrying the crossbar of the cross by the criminal was considered a mandatory part of the execution. The condemned man dragged the fifty-kilogram burden all the way to the place of execution, where the yardarm was nailed to a pre-prepared pole.

As he walked, bent under the weight of the crossbar, the crowd looked at him and mocked him. It was necessary to endure not only physical, but also moral suffering - a fair, by the standards of ancient justice, punishment for the crime committed.

The executed person ceased to be a person in the eyes of others, and this was done so that it would be easier for others to accept the fact of his execution. Thus, bearing the cross was initially understood as fair retribution for what one had done, and the phrase “carry your cross” was read as “pay for what you have done.”

The crucifixion of Christ completely changed the meaning of the expression. The execution of an innocent person showed that each of us, who seemingly “did nothing wrong,” is worthy of punishment, because sin lies in human nature. Rising above the inner Adam, the “old man,” is the path of Christ, the path of accepting the burden and overcoming oneself.

Descending from heaven to earth, we can summarize the story like this: “You shouldn’t grumble about trials. They should be happy because they give us a chance to become better.”

The instrument of Christ's death and the salvation of mankind

Christ showed the first example of bearing the cross to humanity. After the incarnation, the most difficult trials awaited him: the hatred of the Pharisees, the betrayal of Judas and painful death. By the way, at that time crucifixion was considered the lowest and most shameful death.

It turns out that Christ, innocent of anything, voluntarily endured all the humiliation in order to save people from original sin. Therefore, the cross is often associated with an instrument of salvation and suffering at the same time, and without worthy enduring of sorrows, the Kingdom of Heaven remains inaccessible to many.

Other phraseological units

Promised land

A place where peace, prosperity, abundance, prosperity reigns.

Two of a Kind

People who are similar to each other in beliefs and tastes, while complementing each other.

Cast pearls before swine

Provide a certain service to someone who will definitely not appreciate it.

Easier than steamed turnips

Something very simple: a job or task.
All phraseological units

A book from the authors of this article!

Collection: “100 popular phraseological units of the Russian language”

More details

When is the time to take up your cross?

When you make a decision to die to yourself and live only for Christ and the Gospel. When you become detached from yourself forever. When you, by faith and through repentance, enter the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said this about himself:

But I do not want to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
(Galatians 6:14)

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“It’s easy for you to reason!”

— They say that the Lord does not send tests beyond human strength. Why then do some people fail to bear their cross, despair, grumble, and even commit suicide?

— A very difficult question. I often have to confess and give communion to the sick. Their suffering, indeed, sometimes seems unbearable. If I start talking about the meaning and value of the cross, such a person will most likely think to himself: “It’s easy for you to talk, you don’t suffer. Now you will give me communion and run on with your business - healthy and young. And I still don’t know how much I’ll suffer here.” And he will be right! Only the one who is currently suffering can talk about suffering; only his word can convince. That is, in essence, only Christ Himself can answer your question. And when I come to a sick person, I try to help him meet Christ. I am not saying on behalf of Christ that he must endure, but I am trying to ensure that he personally meets Christ and hears Him. Only human forces cannot help here; there is much more hope in God’s grace, which we receive in the Sacraments. And if, before communion, you read an edifying sermon to a seriously ill patient with a transparent hint of his lack of faith, there is a high probability that he will not receive communion with a contrite and humble heart. It's my fault! The suffering person does not need moralizing, but consolation and sympathy. Then there is hope that he will accept the sacrament with faith, and the grace of God will touch his heart, he himself will feel that the cross given to him by the Lord does not exceed his strength. My duty before communion is to listen to his confession and, no matter how much he grumbles, to lovingly tell him: “I understand how hard it is for you, but try, if you believe me, to personally meet Christ.”

A crafty sermon about the path without a cross.

Lately, a great many crafty workers have appeared, disguised as servants of Christ, who teach something completely different from what Christ taught, and promise something completely different from what Christ promised - namely, a comfortable and carefree Christianity, in which you can get by just fine without denying yourself. , their selfish desires and lusts, and without bearing their cross.

No one can claim that he was deceived into following Jesus. Jesus never tried to bribe people by promising them an easy way out. He did not promise people peace and prosperity. To tell a man that he must be prepared to bear his cross was to tell him that he must be prepared to be looked upon as a criminal, that he must be prepared to die.

Each one is given his own instrument of salvation - parable

There are many interesting parables about how each person needs to bear his own cross. Many people know the story of one husband who supposedly grumbled very much that God gave him trials beyond his strength. Then the Lord allowed him to take another item in return.

The man decided to take a closer look. I approached one - beautiful, tall, made of high-quality material. It sparkled in the sun like gold. But the object turned out to be so heavy that it was impossible to lift it, let alone carry it. The next one was more modest, not so big, but it shone like silver. The man picked it up and staggered. I realized that I couldn’t do it. I tried the third one - it was not so huge, it was made of copper. But it’s cold, slippery and still heavy...

I tried many others until I found a wooden object in the corner. Modest, neat, not provocative. Throw it over your shoulder - just what you need! He was delighted, and only then realized that this was... his instrument of salvation.

It is easy to think that the ways of rulers, people in power or businessmen are so serene and attractive. Their gold and silver crosses may be too heavy and bulky for us.

Two images of the cross

Since ancient times, the cross has been associated with the death penalty, and with one of its most cruel types. Crucifixion was not just a death sentence for a criminal, this execution was shameful, and only slaves were subject to it. Free citizens of Rome were never crucified. It was not just an execution, but a terrible desecration, humiliation and the most painful way of depriving a person of life. We must remember this today.

But we, believers, understand that the Lord Jesus Christ, by His personal will, chose death on the cross for the sake of our salvation. The Church reminds us of this in a special way during Holy Week, when the priest, after the service, says the dismissal: “The Lord comes for free passion, for our salvation...”, that is, He goes for free suffering. And in this free acceptance of the torment of the cross and death, the reproach of the cross and humiliation, lies the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ in relation to the human race, His redemptive feat. This is the love with which God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that the world could be saved by Him. Therefore, when we carry a cross on ourselves, when we decorate churches with crosses, when we put a cross on the grave of a Christian, when we sign ourselves with a cross, all this is evidence of incomprehensible Divine love.

By His cross, the Lord showed that His love always reaches the end, and that in His love for man the Savior is able to accept what is completely unusual for God - death. After all, God is life and He is alien to death. Death is as alien to God as darkness is alien to light. So the Lord takes human death upon Himself in order to give man His life. In this sense, the image of the cross is for us no longer an image of execution, not an image of an instrument of death, but an image of the gift of life that we receive thanks to God’s love for each of us.

What does it mean to “carry your cross” and is it necessary to suffer?

Any Orthodox person will call his own or others’ trials a cross, and will say without hesitation that the Lord does not give a cross to anyone beyond his strength. But many do not stand the test, and even among believers this often causes a feeling of protest. Why is this happening? What is the cross of life, is it necessarily associated with suffering? Archpriest Igor GAGARIN, rector of the Church of John the Baptist in the village of Ivanovskoye, Noginsk district, Moscow region, answers these questions to Neskuchny Garden.

The difference between the Christian and secular meanings of carrying the cross.

And you must agree, if you look at the words of Christ in this particular way, then their meaning is very different from the meaning that non-believers put into this expression. Yes, both believers and non-believers equally bear the cross of everyday problems. However, to take up your cross for Christ means to voluntarily take upon yourself additional difficulties and trials associated specifically with following Christ, associated with the Christian life.

Indeed, from the very moment we embarked on the path of following Christ, we, in fact, embarked on the path of war, for we had three strong, evil and cruel enemies - the devil, the world, and the flesh. And any war is a difficult, harsh and dangerous matter, where there is no place for idleness, prosperity and comfort.

Yes, the Lord is absolutely not against someone being successful, someone living in abundance, and someone even in abundance. However, this is not at all the main thing in Christianity. This is not the purpose of a Christian's life.

Our goal is to follow Christ, and above we have already examined two conditions, without which it is simply impossible to follow Him - to deny oneself and take up one’s cross. Let no one deceive you by saying that in Christianity there are some “workarounds” by which you can achieve the Kingdom of God without fulfilling these conditions.

Carry your cross

Carry your cross The original source is the Bible. The Gospel of John says that Jesus himself carried the cross on which he was to be crucified (chapter 19, v. 17): “And carrying His cross, He went out to a place called the Skull, in Hebrew Golgotha.” . Allegorically: patiently fulfill one’s duty, duties: courageously endure the blows of fate and its adversities.

Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. — M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.

See what “Carry your cross” is in other dictionaries:

Carry your cross

- wing. sl. Carry your cross. Heavy cross This is what they say about a difficult fate, heavy suffering of someone. This expression arose on the basis of the Gospel legend about Jesus, carrying the cross on which he was to be crucified (John 19, 17) ... Universal additional practical explanatory dictionary by I. Mostitsky

Book High patiently endure suffering, adversity, and come to terms with one’s sad fate. FSRY, 212; ZS 1996, 151; BMS 1998, 315 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

bear your cross

- Patiently endure suffering, trials, hard fate... Dictionary of many expressions

This is how they talk about a difficult fate, severe suffering of someone. This expression arose on the basis of the Gospel legend about Jesus carrying the cross on which he was to be crucified (John 19, 17). Dictionary of popular words. Plutex. 2004 ... Dictionary of popular words and expressions

Noun, m., used. often Morphology: (no) what? cross, what? cross, (I see) what? cross, what? cross, about what? about the cross; pl. What? crosses, (no) what? crosses, what? crosses, (I see) what? crosses, what? crosses, about what? about crosses 1. A cross is an object,... ... Dmitriev's Explanatory Dictionary

To withstand, endure, bear your cross Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Dictionary of synonyms

Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

CROSS, cross, man. 1. An object of Christian cult, which is a long vertical rod crossed at the upper end by a crossbar (according to the Gospel tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross made of two logs). Pectoral cross.... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary