Choosing a children's cross for Baptism is not an easy task, you need to take into account several nuances at once: what size and type the religious symbol should be, what material it is made of and what chain to choose for it. Our material will help prepare for the sacrament of Baptism and understand all the details.
Features of the Orthodox and Catholic cross
Both Catholics and Orthodox wear a cross on their chest as a symbol of faith. The religious attributes of these Christian branches have some differences that both the future godparents and the parents of the child need to know about.
Form
Orthodox crosses are often six- and eight-pointed. Catholic ones are always four-pointed with an elongated vertical bar.
Crucifix
On the Catholic cross, the crucifix is not always depicted, but if it is, Christ is represented as dead: his head and hands are lowered, his face is frozen in agony, his legs are crossed. The Orthodox cross contains the triumph of the spirit, humility and joy. Christ is depicted resurrected - his arms are spread out as if to embrace the world, his palms are open, each leg is located separately from each other.
Captions
Sometimes crosses are engraved with "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews", but in different ways. Catholic version - INRI, Orthodox - IHC.I. Also on the reverse side of the Orthodox cross, you can read the expression "Save and save."
Cross material
Gold or silver is equally good for making a religious attribute of constant wear. Crosses made of precious metals look beautiful - even a simple-shaped item in gold or silver is suitable as a gift for a future godson.
But, be careful: some alloys can cause an allergic reaction. Most often this is due to additional components: for example, copper, nickel, lead, chromium and others. For information on what to pay attention to in order to avoid an allergic reaction, read the article on our blog.
If the risks of allergies are high (this should be clarified with the child's parents), choose a trusted manufacturer, you should not buy a cross at fairs, sales or in private workshops.
Size and decor
The size of the cross will depend on the age of the person. An infant or preschool child needs an attribute whose length does not exceed two centimeters. A schoolboy or teenager can buy a cross of medium (adult) size. No matter how much you want to make an expensive gift, you don’t need to buy a large, massive cross - it will be uncomfortable for a child to wear it, and it’s not customary to demonstrate such a symbol of faith: a cross is worn under clothes.
The main requirement for the external execution of a children's cross is safety: rounded corners, the absence of openwork elements, as well as complex relief. Otherwise, the child may be scratched or caught on protruding parts of clothing, the same applies to adolescents, for example, who are actively involved in sports.
Inserts with natural or artificial stones are also undesirable - the baby can try them on the tooth, and the mobile child can lose them.
Chain or lace?
You need to take care of the convenience of wearing a cross. For growing children, you can buy a chain or a leather gaitan, for babies - a soft fabric lace is better - it will not irritate delicate skin.
If the cross was bought in a jewelry store or an online store, tell the priest about it before the sacrament of Baptism - first this item must be consecrated (the practice of both Orthodox and Catholic churches).
General rule: the chain or textile rope should not be very strong, for safety reasons it should break under heavy load, for example, if you pull it sharply. The second point: the length of the fixing object should be sufficient to easily remove the cross over the head.
