Collection: Orthodox Crosses

Buy Crosses Orthodox in FJewellery online

The pectoral cross is not a traditional precious accessory in its usual sense. No matter how beautiful it is and no matter how noble metal it is made - firstly it's a visible symbol of the true Christian faith. The Orthodox cross has a very ancient and sacred tradition; therefore, such products can look very diverse depending on the place and time of their manufacture. In the FJewellery store, we present an extensive collection of such jewels of various types and in various price categories, so that each of our clients can find here the very valuable thing that will be close to him in spirit. Explore the assortment of our website right now, and you will find the unique gifts for yourself and your closest people! Welcome!

Varieties and their symbolism

According to contemporary traditions, the most common are four-, six- and eight-pointed Christian crosses. Each of them has its own special meaning, which is embedded in their shape, designs, decor. At different times and for various denominations, their own principles and canons for creating such crosses were relevant. We will talk about the models most in demand today.

  1. Latin four-pointed. This form is one of the most ancient, and it appeared in Rome, from where it got its distribution. The jewelry is an intersection of two crossbars, where the horizontal one is not located in the centre, but 2/3 of the height from the vertical one. Many believe that this type is not considered truly Orthodox, although not a single canon of the Orthodox Church forbids this, and most clergy approve of such a choice. In the end, the point is not in the style and luxury of the cross, but in what meaning it has for the owner and how strongly it reflects his faith. There is one interesting and mysterious story about the Latin cross. It's believed that Prince Vladimir, after his christening, took the cross from Korsun (the ancient name of Chersonese), where he accepted the Christian faith and preserved it as a special symbol. Historians say that today this four-pointed cross is kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral in the famous Ukrainian capital - the city of Kyiv.
  2. Six-pointed. One of the most common forms among most ancient amulets, suitable for everyone. In this jewellery, the base has an inclined crossbar, which is interpreted by the priests in different ways. Some argue that this symbol on the pendant depicts the path from sin to spirituality, while others say that this is a sign of the inner self-awareness of a person who is constantly looking for a balance between conscience and sin.
  3. Eight-pointed. Such a charm is considered the most canonical from the point of view of Orthodox foundations and is used in most churches. Such products are also called traditional russian orthodox crosses, but there are also less common names, such as: the great Byzantine cross or St. Lazarus. All this is about the same talisman, which has eight faces and special engravings. On top of it is an additional small crossbar, on which the initials are traditionally engraved - ic xc, which means the name of the son of God who died for human sins, namely Jesus Christ. It's believed that this upper tablet on a real cross was added by order of the well-known Roman procurator Pilate. There is also a diagonal bottom bar. On any images, it's always directed from bottom to top, from left to right.

It was this orthodox three bar cross that was officially recognized by the Order, called St. John of Jerusalem back in the distant VIII century, and then these symbols were sewn onto the red cloaks of knights and monks' cassocks. Later it was called Maltese, and it was always present in most religious pictures and icons of those times. In 1807, it was on its basis that the St. George Cross was approved, and as a pectoral amulet, it became very popular among military personnel.

Does metal matter?

Since ancient times, reverence and love for the cross has manifested itself in the diversity and richness of its decorations. Pectoral religious crosses have always been distinguished by diversity, both in form and in the choice of material from which they were made. These were:

  • silver,
  • bronze,
  • copper,
  • amber,
  • gold,
  • wood,
  • bone.

Today, such sacred crosses are made from various precious alloys with different purity, and each of them has its own significant pros and cons. Consider the most basic options.

  1. Platinum is the best metal for pectoral accessories, as it has high wear resistance and better performance, which means it will last for many decades. The only negative is the price, which is extremely high.
  2. Gold is the most common noble mineral, and it's not inferior in its characteristics to platinum, but it has a much more affordable and pleasant cost. Also, a large palette of shades plays in its favor.
  3. Silver - this is what the church recognises as the most canonical material for pectoral religious jewellery, and besides, it's quite cheap, which makes it affordable for many. If you ask a priest a question, then you will be advised to buy orthodox cross from just such a sterling alloy.

How to wear a cross?

It's difficult to give specific recommendations here, because for everyone it has a personal meaning and everyone chooses their own way of manifesting faith. Someone selects for themselves a chain made of the same metal as the cross, while others prefer to wear it on a jewellery tourniquet or a simple cord. Also, not everyone likes to flaunt it and often hide it under their clothes, and some don't like to wear a cross on neck and therefore attach it to a pin or even a bracelet.

Often, men and women wear it differently. So, for him, this may be the only accessory always hidden under the shirt, and for her, this can be a great occasion to show off another precious highlight. Although, it happens quite the opposite - all people are different and for everyone this decoration has its own exclusive meaning.

It doesn't matter whether you pick up a cross for yourself or as a present for a loved one - a gift can be supplemented and assemble a complete and very personalised set. On our website for sale there are various accessories that are perfect for this, namely:

If you need the help of specialists or have additional questions, FJewellery managers are always online and will solve your problem in a matter of minutes! Contact us!