Eastern traditional cross

[Medi]

What do the letters IC and XC located on the Eastern traditional cross represent?
Regards,
Medi

 

[Kuryakyn]

An abbreviation for “Icyc Xpиctoc” or Jesus Christ. Most icons have the name of the subject(s) written on them. Hope this helps.

 

[Ghoti]

An abbreviation for “Icyc Xpиctoc” or Jesus Christ. Most icons have the name of the subject(s) written on them. Hope this helps.

Or in the case of the Greeks, “ΙΗCΟΥC ΧΡΙCΤΟC”, where “C” is an alternate rendering of the Greek “Σ” (sigma).

 

[Kuryakyn]

Or in the case of the Greeks, “ΙΗCΟΥC ΧΡΙCΤΟC”, where “C” is an alternate rendering of the Greek “Σ” (sigma).

Thanks, I couldn’t remember how to spell the Greek version.

 

[Medi]

What are the differences between the traditional Eastern Orthodox cross and the traditional Byzantine Greek Catholic cross, if any? Are the incriptions the same?
Thank you Kuryakyn and Ghoti for your past responses.
Medi

 

[scapularkid8]

What are the differences between the traditional Eastern Orthodox cross and the traditional Byzantine Greek Catholic cross, if any? Are the incriptions the same?

Based on what I know about the Eastern traditions in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, there should be no difference at all.

 

[Aramis]

There are some minor differences in background imagery on some renditions.

The ones I’m used to seeing are filled with symbolism, for example, the Spear of Longinus, and angels on the end-caps vary, even within the slavic tradition.

The full icons often include St. Veronica and the Face-Cloth, Longinus and his spear, and other relevant figures, while smaller crosses.

A good introductory reference is saintthomastheapostle.org/the_cross_explained.html

Another:
stnicholas-billings.org/Practices/symbolism.htm

 

[Patchunky]

What are the differences between the traditional Eastern Orthodox cross and the traditional Byzantine Greek Catholic cross, if any?

Yes, the MAJOR difference is that TRADITIONAL Greek Catholic crosses have 3 bars all parallel; like this:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Orthodox crooses have the bottom bar slanted…

Hope this helps…

 

[searn77]

Can’t eastern catholic crosses have a slanted bar at the bottom also? The only reason I say this is that on the Byzantine Catholic Church in America’s website, the cross they show has a slanted bottom bar.

 

[Ungcsertez]

Can’t eastern catholic crosses have a slanted bar at the bottom also? The only reason I say this is that on the Byzantine Catholic Church in America’s website, the cross they show has a slanted bottom bar.

Yes. But when the Union of Brest-Litovsk (c.1595 then in the Kingdom of Poland) and the Union of Uzhorod (c.1646 then in the Kingdom of Hungary), the Roman Catholic royalty wanted to differentiate a Unia Church from an Orthodox Church. One way was to have the bottom foot rest bar parallel to the main cross bar and the sign bar.

U-C

 

[bpbasilphx]

Yes, the MAJOR difference is that TRADITIONAL Greek Catholic crosses have 3 bars all parallel; like this:

** I’ve seen plenty of Byzantine Catholic churches with the bottom bar slanted and plenty of Orthodox churches with the bottom bar straight.

BOTH are traditional.**

 

[Patchunky]

**I’ve seen plenty of Byzantine Catholic churches with the bottom bar slanted and plenty of Orthodox churches with the bottom bar straight.**BOTH are traditional.

BUT ONLY IN AMERICA AND SINCE THE 1950’s OR SO…

You will NOT find a Greek Catholic church in Europe with a slanted bar cross!

This is the former Greek Catholic church of Sv. Mikulas. It’s now in the skansen in Bardejov Kupele, Slovakia…

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

As you can plainly see, 3 bars STRAIGHT ACROSS!

They Greek Catholic church I was baptized in was built in 1911 and it had a lotus shapped dome with a 3-bar straight across cross on top. It stayed this was until they had to remove the steeple and dome before it collapesed. Now it has a gold onion-dome and slanted bar.

Fortunately, the front of the church hall had a 3-bar straight across cross built into it and they can’t change that unless they tear the building down…

 

[Diak]

Actually you will find some newer Greek Catholic churches, especially in Central and Eastern Ukraine, with a three bar cross and slanted bottom bar.

There is a so-called Kyivan Cross that was in use at the time of St. Peter Mohyla and which Metropolitan Andrey used on his episcopal staff, that is three bars with a straight bottom. Patriarch Josyp also used a staff like this.

But, like most things, the history is not so black and white. The cross that emitted the divine spark to St. Josaphat in Volodymyr Volyn’sky has a three-bar cross with a slanted bottom (I will scan a holy card soon to illustrate), so the notion that only straight bottom-bar crosses are Greek Catholic is not correct. I have seen printed Greek Catholic prayer books from the 19th century printed in Ukraine that have slant-bar crosses as well printed by some Greek Catholic monasteries or brotherhoods.

My own opinion is that the use by the Muscovite church especially after the 19th century Tsarist repressions such as Pratulyn continuing through Communist era is what likely made the slanted third bar unpopular amongst Greek Catholics, but it appears to be coming back in some places. Many of our clergy in the UGCC wear pectoral crosses with a slanted bottom bar. Some others wear a straight bar. As has been mentioned, both are legitamtely traditional.

 

[BibleWalks]

What do the letters IC and XC located on the Eastern traditional cross represent?

For a full list of Greek Initials and monograms, and examples from sites in the Holy Land, take a look in my info page:

Greek initials and Monograms

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[Patchunky]

My own opinion is that the use by the Muscovite church especially after the 19th century Tsarist repressions such as Pratulyn continuing through Communist era is what likely made the slanted third bar unpopular amongst Greek Catholics, but it appears to be coming back in some places. Many of our clergy in the UGCC wear pectoral crosses with a slanted bottom bar. Some others wear a straight bar. As has been mentioned, both are legitamtely traditional.

Hi Father Deacon…

When we had the Seminary Choir here from Uzhorod, they actually offered to climb our steeple and straighten the slanted bar cross we have on our church so it would look like a Greek Catholic church.

I still have the marks on my neck from where my cousins tried to yank my slanted bar cross off when I visited them in Slovakia.

I have NEVER seen a slanted bar cross on any Greek Catholic church in Slovakia, Zakarpatija or Maramorosh and I’ve been all over those areas…

Haven’t been to Lemkovina yet, so I don’t know about there…