Orthodoxy and Catholicism are major branches of the Christian faith. The two world religions have significant differences, both ritual and canonical, but there are also similarities.
In the Catholic and Orthodox tradition, the cross is sacred. It depicts Jesus Christ, who endured torment and death for the salvation of the human race. Believers wear crucifixes on their chests as a symbol of faith. For a long time, the appearance of body crosses has changed, but today the crosses in Orthodoxy and Catholicism have several significant differences.
Silver Orthodox crosses:
Form
The main difference between the Orthodox cross and the Catholic one is its shape. The Catholic cross looks simpler and has a quadrangular shape. In Orthodoxy, six- and eight-pointed crosses are common. The six-pointed cross has two horizontal bars, and the eight-pointed one also has a lower, oblique one. The upper crossbar was nailed over the head of the convict and the crimes committed by him were listed on it, and the lower one - the foot - symbolizes the "righteous measure": on one side of the scales are sins, on the other - the good deeds of people.
Catholic crosses:
Many people choose unusual crosses, decorated with stones and decorative elements, and wear them as decoration, over clothes. However, the Orthodox and Catholic churches do not welcome this and believe that if the cross is important to you precisely as a symbol of faith, you should not show it to others.
However, along with the eight-pointed cross, the Orthodox Church also accepts two other common designs of the cross: the six-pointed cross (it differs from the eight-pointed one in the absence of a small, upper crossbar) and the four-pointed one (it differs from the six-pointed one in the absence of an oblique crossbar).
Golden Orthodox crosses:
Crucifix
Another important difference between the Orthodox and Catholic crosses is the image of Jesus Christ. On Catholic crosses, the image of Jesus Christ is depicted as dead or in agony. His head and hands are often lowered, his palms are clenched into a fist, and his legs are crossed and nailed with one nail.
Golden decorative crosses:
On the Orthodox cross, Christ is depicted as resurrected: his palms are open, and his arms are straight or raised up, as if he spread them in his arms towards believers. On Orthodox crosses, Christ's legs are not crossed, but nailed with two nails, each separately. Such a symbolic position of the Savior on the Orthodox cross testifies to the victory of the Lord over death and the subsequent resurrection, personifies His mercy to people and the salvation of the human race.
Children's crosses:
On both crosses, as a rule, there is an upper plate with the inscription: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of Judah." On Catholic crosses, it is depicted with the Latin abbreviation "INRI", and on Orthodox ones - "І.Н.Ц.І.". Orthodox crosses also often have the letters IC XC on the right and left hand, which stand for "Jesus Christ" and the inscription "Save and Save" on the back of the cross. Catholic crosses do not have such an engraving.
