History Facts Articles

The types of crosses around the world have their own meanings depending on the type of Christianity. People, regardless of their religion or position in the world, would be knowledgeable of what a cross is and what it means for Christians. The different cross images related to Jesus Christ, whether it's Jesus carrying the cross or Him being nailed onto it, are some of the most well-known portraits in the world. However, you should know that there’s more to a cross than meets the eye. The cross is the most popular of the Christian symbols. It is the image of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice to save humanity from sin. However, there are many other uses of the cross sign way before Christ was associated with it. But during Christ’s era, it was known as a symbol of the ultimate punishment: death. Learning about the different types of crosses, Christianity-related or not, helps raise awareness of the rich history of the symbol and its varieties. Because of Christianity's wide expansion, no two cross designs are the same. Apart from its history, this article will help you learn to whom each cross icon is for and why. Origin of the Crosses There have been many types of crosses since the birth of civilization. Many do not know it, but the cross symbol was actually not created by Christians. Since the dawn of time, Egyptians, Indians, Persians, Greeks, Europeans, and Syrians, have been using the cross as a symbol of their faith. Some of them used it as an ornament as well. There was also a time when drawing crosses meant extreme torture and punishment. Historians and archeologists call this period the Diocletianic Persecution or the Great Persecution. Roman emperors such as Galerius, Maximian, Constantius, and Diocletian enforced restrictions on Christians. Many patron saints were beheaded, abused, publicly humiliated, and even forced to denounce Jesus. Cross symbols had then become a mockery solely for Christianity. During this time, Christianity was considered a fool’s religion. Thankfully, all of that changed when Constantine, the first Roman emperor to legalize Christianity, arrived. Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helena, was said to have found pieces of the original cross of Jesus Christ. Legend has it that a piece of Christ’s cross has extraordinary healing powers. Take note that there has been no proven evidence of this legend and that this may have been a political strategy to gain more Christian followers for Constantine. Types of Crosses We should start by defining the difference between heraldic crosses and religious crosses, since there are many types of crosses involved in this article. Heraldic crosses were used as identification between enemy and foe. Many of these crosses were used to proclaim their faith in God while in battle. Most religious crosses involved Christianity. However, there were those that involved pagan religions, Buddhism, and Jainism as well. It's important to know the different historical backgrounds of each cross you may encounter. Not just for fun trivia at a dinner party, but so you could further appreciate each of their designs and symbolism. So, why don't we get started on some of these types of crosses?