The cross is one of the most prominent and recognizable symbols in spirituality and religion. It is most commonly associated with Christianity, but the cross as a spiritual symbol has origins far older than Christianity itself.
What does the cross symbolize in Christianity?
In Christianity, the cross is the most universal symbol of the Christian faith. It represents Christ’s victory over death through his crucifixion and resurrection. The vertical axis of the cross symbolizes the connection between God and humanity, while the horizontal axis represents community and the expansion of the gospel.
Some key meanings and associations of the cross in Christianity include:
- Crucifixion – The cross reminds Christians of Christ’s sacrificial death by crucifixion.
- Salvation – Christ’s death on the cross offers atonement for sin and the promise of salvation.
- Victory over death – The resurrection of Christ after dying on the cross represents triumph over death and evil.
- Redemption – Christ’s death provides redemption for humanity’s sins and failings.
- Forgiveness – Belief in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross grants Christians forgiveness of sins.
- Hope – The cross provides hope for life after death and eternal life through Christ.
- Sacrifice – Jesus willingly accepted crucifixion on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice.
- New life – The cross represents new spiritual life for Christians through Christ’s atonement.
The cross reminds Christians to follow Christ’s example of self-sacrifice for the sake of others. It is a ubiquitous symbol displayed in churches, worn as jewelry, placed along roadsides, and used in artwork and architecture.
What does the cross mean in Catholicism?
In Catholicism, the cross holds similar meaning to Protestant Christianity, representing Christ’s passion and death as well as the redemption of humanity. However, Catholics also emphasize the Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The sacrifice of the Mass recalls and makes present Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary.
Catholics make the Sign of the Cross over their bodies as a prayer and blessing. This action is accompanied by the words “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” reminding Catholics of the Trinitarian nature of God. Making the Sign of the Cross is a way for Catholics to focus on Christ and show reverence before praying or receiving a sacrament.
In addition, Catholic crucifixes depict Christ fixed on the cross, drawing attention to His sufferings. Catholic faith stresses the importance of human suffering joined to the passion of Christ. Saints and martyrs were prepared to imitate Christ’s sacrifice with their own suffering.
What does the cross mean in Orthodox Christianity?
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the cross has very similar theological meaning to Western Christianity. It represents Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, as well as the hope of eternal life.
However, whereas Western Christianity placed more emphasis on Christ’s death, Orthodoxy focuses more on the resurrection. The Orthodox tend to use the three-barred cross, which points upward to emphasize Christ’s resurrection and victory over death.
Orthodox also place greater stress on the fact that Christ was both fully human and fully divine when He was crucified. Icons depicting the crucifixion show Christ’s two natures simultaneously.
Pre-Christian history of the cross symbol
While today the cross is an unmistakably Christian symbol, it has origins reaching far earlier than the first century CE when Christianity began. Crosses and cross-shaped symbols have been used in nearly every culture throughout history.
Possible meanings and uses of pre-Christian crosses
- Simple T-shaped crosses were used to mark boundaries and property lines.
- The Egyptian ankh cross represented eternal life.
- Crosses with circle motifs signified the four seasons or the cyclical nature of the year.
- The Greek cross symbols balance and perfection (the four arms are equal length).
- In some cultures, crosses symbolized human forms with outstretched arms.
- Crosses could signify cardinal directions and their associated seasons and elements.
- Some crosses were fertility symbols alluding to human reproduction.
- The T-shaped Egyptian Tau cross symbolized life and/or resurrection.
- The X-shaped St. Andrew’s cross represented sacrifice.
Due to how ubiquitous and multi-purpose the cross symbol was across cultures, it was easily adopted by early Christians. By the third century CE, writings of Christian theologians describe the cross as a specifically Christian symbol for Christ’s crucifixion.
The cross in non-Christian religions
While the cross today is identified almost universally with Christianity, it also has spiritual significance in other religions:
Judaism
– The Star of David or Magen David is a six-pointed star formed by two overlapping triangles. This has long been a symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity, but gained prominence in kabbalistic tradition as symbolic of the six directions of space plus the center.
Hinduism
– The swastika cross symbolizes prosperity and good fortune in Hinduism, and is formed by crossing and linking four L shapes. The clockwise and counterclockwise variants represent the sun and night.
Celtic spirituality
– Celtic crosses often combine a traditional Christian cross with a ring tying all four arms together. This sacred circle represents the sun and the earth’s cycles. This cross motif synthesizes older Celtic spirituality with Christianity.
Ancient Egyptian religion
– The ankh cross was one of the most prominent symbols in Egyptian culture, representing life, fertility and eternal life. Egyptian gods were frequently depicted holding an ankh.
Neopaganism
– Some Neopagans utilize variations of the Celtic Cross in rituals and magic, replacing Christianity with modern Neopagan symbolism while preserving the ancient Celtic meanings.
Key cross symbols in Christianity
There are numerous specific cross symbol variants or styles that have special meanings in a Christian context:
| Cross Variant | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Latin Cross | The most common shape; a vertical with three shorter horizontal bars. Represents Christ’s crucifixion. |
| Greek Cross | Four arms of equal length intersecting at right angles. Emphasis on balance and perfection. |
| Celtic Cross | Combination of Christian cross and ancient sun/earth Celtic symbolism. |
| X-shaped St. Andrew’s Cross | Resembles the letter X. Represents the sacrifice of St. Andrew. |
| Egyptian Coptic Cross | Shape incorporates traditional Egyptian ankh symbolism into a Christian cross. |
| Papal/Pontifical Cross | Three horizontal bars. Carried in front of the pope or high church officials. |
| Cross Botonée | Triangular projections on each arm. Represents the Holy Trinity. |
| Jerusalem Cross | Large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses. Symbol of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. |
| Crucifix | Depicts Christ’s body fixed to the cross. Reminds Catholics of Christ’s sacrifice. |
The cross in heraldry and vexillology
Due to its great spiritual importance for Christianity, the cross is extremely widespread in heraldry and on flags:
- The Christian Flag designed in the early 20th century consists of a white Latin cross on a blue canton.
- The Red Cross emblem identifies humanitarian and medical services. It was based on the Swiss flag which has a white cross on red.
- The Norwegian flag features a Nordic Cross design, as do other nearby countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.
- The Union Jack incorporates three Christian cross motifs representing England, Scotland and Ireland.
- Bolivia’s flag shows the country’s mountains with a Latin cross atop them.
- The Confederate flag commonly displayed a blue Latin cross mimicking the actual Confederate national flag.
Virtually every European coat of arms and heraldic design integrates some form of Christian cross symbolism, demonstrating how deeply entrenched the cross is within Western culture.
Modern-day perceptions of the cross
In contemporary society outside of religious contexts, the cross can sometimes take on non-religious meanings:
- Memorial symbol – Crosses are often used to mark gravesites or as memorials for deceased loved ones.
- Death/mortality – The skull-and-crossbones motif represents danger and death.
- Mark of prohibition – A cross mark may indicate something that is banned or should not be done.
- Multiplication symbol – Children are taught to use an X shape as the multiplication sign.
- X marks the spot – The X cross shape can denote where something is hidden or buried.
Some groups and individuals have tried to co-opt cross symbols for controversial agendas, such as the burning cross imagery associated with the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan group.
Conclusion
The cross remains one of the most ancient and meaningful symbols for Christianity, representing Christ’s sacrifice for humankind’s sins. But it has an ancestral heritage reaching back millennia before Christianity to represent cosmic cycles and the four directions. Today the cross retains diverse spiritual resonance in many cultures, even as secular society also continues to incorporate the ancient cross shape in new ways.