The Christian cross, with or without a figure of Jesus Christ included, is the main religious symbol of Christianity. A cross with a figure of Christ affixed to it is termed a crucifix and the figure is often referred to as the corpus (Latin for “body”).
Christian crosses are widely displayed in churches, on top of church buildings, in cemeteries, on bibles, in heraldry, in personal jewellery, on hilltops … and elsewhere as an attestation or other symbol of Christianity.
Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran depictions of the cross are often crucifixes, in order to emphasise that it is Jesus that is important, rather than the cross in isolation.
There are 15 basic variations of the Christian cross. Here they are in order of appearance in our image gallery:
Latin (or Roman) Cross ✝
Cross with a longer descending arm, representing the cross of Jesus's crucifixion
Greek Cross ✚
With arms of equal length, this cross is older than the Latin version, and like the Latin version, is one of the most widespread Christian forms, in common use by the 4th century.
Byzantine Cross
Upright cross with outwardly widening ends. It is often seen in relics from the late antique and early medieval Byzantine Empire (until circa 800) and was adopted by other Christian cultures of the time, such as the Franks and Goths.
Patriarchal Cross ☨
A double cross, with the two crossbars near the top. The upper one is shorter, representing the plaque nailed to Jesus' cross.
Double Cross ☨☨
The cross of the eight-point cross-stone ceremony. The double cross is similar to the Greek word "XI" (the capital letter of the word Christ). It's a symbol of revival.
Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine consists of one vertical and two horizontal bars. Used to symbolise the movement known as 🇫🇷 “Free France” in World War II.
Papal Cross
A cross with three bars near the top. The bars are of unequal length, each one shorter than the one below.
Sacred Heart
A depiction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, featuring flames, a crown of thorns, and a Latin Cross.
Cross of Salem
Also known as a pontifical cross because it is carried before the Pope. Is similar to a patriarchal cross, but with an additional crossbar below the main crossbar, equal in length to the upper crossbar.
Monogrammatic Cross or Staurogram or Tau-Rho Cross
The staurogram (⳨), also monogrammatic cross or tau-rho, is a ligature composed of a superposition of the Greek letters tau (Τ) and rho (Ρ).
Chi Rho/Chrismon/Labarum
The Chi Rho (/ˈkaɪ ˈroʊ/; also known as chrismon) is one of the earliest forms of christogram, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi and rho (ΧΡ)—of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christos) in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi.
Stepped Cross
A cross resting on a base with several steps (usually three), also called a graded or a Calvary cross. This symbol first appears on coinage from the time of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610–641). The three steps represent Faith, Hope and Charity, and are sometimes marked Fides (top), Spes (middle) and Caritas (bottom), the Latin forms of these words.
Jerusalem Cross
Also known as the Crusader's Cross. A large cross with a smaller cross in each of its angles. It was used as a symbol of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Ringed Cross
A cross featuring a ring or nimbus. This type has several variants, including the cruciform halo and the Celtic cross. A cruciform halo is used to represent the persons of the Holy Trinity, especially Jesus, and it was used especially in medieval art.
Forked Cross
A cross in the form of the letter Y that gained popularity in the late 13th or early 14th century in the German Rhineland. Also known as a crucifixus dolorosus, furca, ypsilon cross, Y-cross, robber’s cross or thief’s cross. [Ed: That’s a lot of names for one cross.]
Story Idea: Nigel Marsh
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References
wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_cross_variants
lordsguidance.com/blogs/christian-symbols/christian-cross-the-meaning
Images
1. Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Groom, Texas. Erected in 1995. 60m tall.
2. Latin (or Roman) Cross
3. Greek Cross
4. Byzantine Cross
5. Patriarchal Cross
6. Double Cross
7. Cross of Lorraine
8. Papal Cross
9. Sacred Heart
10. Cross of Salem
11. Monogrammatic Cross or Staurogram or Tau-Rho Cross
12. Chi Rho/Chrismon/Labarum
13. Stepped Cross
14. Jerusalem Cross
15. Ringed Cross
16. Forked Cross
