Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Rosy Cross

The rose cross or rosy cross is a symbol largely associated with Christian Rosencreutz, alchemist and founder of the Rosicrucian Order. The Rose Cross is, as its name suggests, a cross with a white rose at its centre and symbolizes the teachings of a tradition formed within the Christian tenets.
It has several meanings, depending on the source. Some groups, such as the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, from a non-religious view, suggest that the rosy cross predates Christianity, where "the cross represents the human body and the rose represents the individual's unfolding consciousness."

Friday, November 20, 2009

St. Brigid's Cross

St. Brigid was abbess and patroness of Ireland, and founder of the first Irish monastery in Kildare, was born near Dundalk in 450 A.D.
This cross is found throughout Ireland. It is told that the cross was made by Brigid, daughter of a pagan king from reeds to be used as an instrument of conversion. However, Brigid's name is derived from Brigit, a Celtic Goddess of fire, poetry, and smithcraft, and today the cross is used to protect houses from fire. This is an example of the integration of religious traditions.
It is piously believed that this rush cross, which became her emblem, keeps evil and hunger from the homes in which it is displayed.
For centuries, it has been customary on the eve of her feast-day for the Irish to fashion a St. Brigid’s Cross of straw or rushes and place it inside the house, over the door.

Saint Andrew's Cross

Saint Andrew's cross is a cross shaped like the letter X.
It is called so because Saint Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is reputed to have been crucified on a cross of this shape.
The St. Andrew's Cross is not unique to the Confederate battle flag. The reason that the CSA put the St. Andrew's Cross on its flag is the Scottish heritage of the South.
The Scottish national flag has the St. Andrew's Cross in white on a field of blue.
It is also called the Saltire, the Boundary Cross and the crux decussata. Saint Andrew is believed to have suffered a martyr's death on such a cross, hence its name. The cross does not have to be at this particular angle to qualify as a saltire; the symbol X can also be considered a St. Andrew's Cross.

Cross Of St. James

The Cross of St. James is formed by a Fleurie Cross, where the lower part is pointed, making a Fitched Cross.
Such pointed crosses are said to have been carried in ancient times by Christian pilgrims, to thrust securely into firm ground.
They would then kneel before this upright cross for prayer. The Cross of St. James is also seen as a spear or sword blade (fitched) making this a warrior's cross.
It is most frequently depicted in red.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Cross And Crown

The Cross and Crown is a traditional Christian symbol, appears in many churches , that has aswell been used in heraldry.It is generally interpreted as symbolizing reward in heaven (the crown) coming after the trials in this life (the cross).
The attribute appears in the seal of the Church of Christ, Scientist, where it is surrounded by the words "Heal the Sick, Cleanse the Lepers, Raise the Dead, Cast Out Demons", from the Gospel of Matthew, 10:8. In this attribute the crown stands for victory over death.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Celtic Cross

A Celtic Cross (Irish cros Cheilteach, Welsh croes Celtaidd) is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding it.
The earlier Celtic cross has a ring that joins the arms for supporting the structure of the cross and at times the bottom would be rectangular to give a strong base to the structure.
Celtic-cross is generally used symbol of Christianity but the history of this symbol can be dated back beyond the existence of Christianity. The four arms in the cross signify the four elements namely earth, water, air and fire; the four directions east west north south and the essential four parts of a human body. Mind, heart and soul.
In Germany, the Celtic cross was adopted by a neo-Nazi party, so the government banned its public display.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Ankh Cross

The Ankh Cross represents life (immortality) and death, male and female, balance. It can aswell represent zest, joy of life, and energy. It's related closely to the looped cross that can mean fertility and life.

The gods are often seen holding an ankh to someone's lips this is considered to be an offering of "The Breath of Life". The breath you will need in afterlife.

Like a lot of religious or spiritual symbols, the Ankh Cross doesn't have a single meaning. The following extracts from books on symbols might help you get a feeling for it, though.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Latin Cross

The Latin cross (crux ordinaria) is a attribute of Christianity even admitting it was acclimated as a pagan symbol for millennia before the foundation of the Christian Church.

It is sometimes referred to as the Protestant cross because it is plain, without any corpus attached. It does not deny the suffering on the cross but focuses the mind on Christ's ressurection and is most common in Protestant churches. When the cross includes a corpus, it is usually referred to as a crucifix and emphasises Christ's suffering and sacrifize which gives meaning and sense to His resurrection.

The Latin cross is apparent on several flags; Recife (Brazil), Pernambuco (Brazil), and Tucuman (Argentina), for example. Heraldic versions, such as the Greek and Nordic crosses are apparent on many civic flags.

With or without a cross, it doesn't take long for patriots to take 'allegiance to the flag' literally and the flag becomes then a fetish.

The Latin Cross is carried by more people than any other religious symbol and is considered by many to be sacred. People sometimes go as far as to accomplish the cross an object of admiration or an figure in its own right.