Blessing cross

Blessing cross

[
Sergius of Radonezh (right, holding Gospel Book) using a blessing cross to bless Grand Prince Saint Dmitri Donskoi in his battle to overthrow the Tartars in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380).]

A Blessing Cross is a hand cross held by a priest or bishop in Eastern Christianity when he gives a benediction. It is often made of precious metal and may be adorned with enamelwork, and precious or semi-precious gemstones. It may also have other icons on it, such as the Theotokos (Mother of God), John the Baptist, the Four Evangelists or Prophets.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, the hand cross is kept on the Holy Table (altar) and used at certain moments during the liturgy, most noticeably at the dismissal when he holds it in his right hand as he gives the final blessing. After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) all of the faithful come forward to kiss the cross. The blessing cross used by these churches often has an icon of the Crucifixion of Jesus on it, together with the letters IC XC NIKA (meaning, "Jesus Christ Conquers"). Blessing crosses may also be two-sided, having an icon of the Crucifixion on one side and an icon of the Resurrection on the other. The side with the Resurrection would be held out towards the people on Sundays and throughout the afterfeast of Pascha (Easter).

The blessing cross is also used in the blessing of holy water, when the priest will dip the cross in the water, making the sign of the cross with it three times. At Pascha (Easter), the blessing cross may be conneted to the Paschal troitza carried by the priest at the services during Bright Week.

In the Greek practice, deacons will carry blessing crosses during the Liturgical Entrances.

In the Oriental Orthodox Churches the blessing cross tends to not have an icon on it, and the clergy will often carry it for a majority of the service. In some traditions, the priest will have the blessing cross with him all the time, even when he is outside the church. In Ethiopia, blessing crosses are often made out of brass.

ee also

*Pectoral cross


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Blessing — A blessing, (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one s hopes.Etymology and Germanic paganismThe modern English language term bless likely derives from the 1225 term blessen , which… …   Wikipedia

  • Cross — (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise}, {Crux}.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross and pile — Cross Cross (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross botton'e — Cross Cross (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross bottony — Cross Cross (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross estoil'e — Cross Cross (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross of Calvary — Cross Cross (kr[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf. {Crucial}, {Crusade}, {Cruise},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Blessing — Bless Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blessed}or {Blest}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blessing}.] [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl?d blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See {Blood}.] 1. To make or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cross of Justin II — The Cross of Justin II or Crux Vaticana (Latin for Vatican Cross ) in the Treasury of Saint Peter s in St Peter s Basilica, is a processional cross and also a reliquary of the True Cross, one of the oldest surviving, if not the oldest.[1] It is a …   Wikipedia

  • Cross of Dozulé — The Cross of Love (based on Cross of Dozulé replica). The Glorious Cross of Dozulé is a postulated illuminated Catholic cross coloured white and blue, 738m tall with arms 123m long, which means with an exact proportion of a ratio of 3 between the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”