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SeanF1989
Guest
Anyone know?
When did Christians first start wearing a crucifix around their necks and putting them up in their homes
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Usagi
Guest
Rather later than that, I think.
Especially if you mean the crucifix with a corpus, as distinct from a bare cross.
Usagi
Especially if you mean the crucifix with a corpus, as distinct from a bare cross.
Usagi
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asia53
Guest
I have a book, “Catholic Customs & Traditions”, by Greg Dues.
According to the section on Symbols:
"Early Christians avoided representing the body of Jesus on the cross. The first evidence of the crucifix (cross with Jesus’ body fixed on it), so popular today, comes from the 5th century. Even the plain cross was seldom displayed in public until the end of the persecutions. The reason for this is understandable. During the times of persecution, association with the symbol could bring identification as a Christian with dire consequences and also possible desecration to the symbol itself.
According to the section on Symbols:
"Early Christians avoided representing the body of Jesus on the cross. The first evidence of the crucifix (cross with Jesus’ body fixed on it), so popular today, comes from the 5th century. Even the plain cross was seldom displayed in public until the end of the persecutions. The reason for this is understandable. During the times of persecution, association with the symbol could bring identification as a Christian with dire consequences and also possible desecration to the symbol itself.
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SeanF1989
Guest
Bump.
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saraih
Guest
I don’t think crucifixes in particular (not just crosses) got popular until the middle ages, filtering to the laity through monks slowly between the 11th and 14th centuries. Cost must have been an issue as well.
Before the fifth century a lamb was more often used to represent Christ. His suffering wasn’t the focus of worship so much until about the 11th century, probably the majority of laity didn’t adapt the symbol until it was.
Before the fifth century a lamb was more often used to represent Christ. His suffering wasn’t the focus of worship so much until about the 11th century, probably the majority of laity didn’t adapt the symbol until it was.
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Joannm
Guest
Early Christians used the symbol of a fish to represent Christ. Ithcus (fish in Greek) using the first letters of Jesus Christ Son of God Savior. They also represented Christ as the Good Shepherd. These early images can be seen in the catacombs.
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saraih
Guest
Lambs, doves, fish, dolphins. Christ was more often the fish and Christians/Christianity the others, and Jesus was represented as a shepherd and also literally as the Lamb of God.
Crucifixes were very much later I think.
Crucifixes were very much later I think.
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Bookcat
Guest
and of course the Chi Rho !!!
(the sign of the cross was very much used in general…but the crucifix came later…It seems from the above around the 5th century…)
(the sign of the cross was very much used in general…but the crucifix came later…It seems from the above around the 5th century…)
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Dale_M
Guest
I don’t know.
However, Christianity arrived in what is now Romania in the third century. As the faith spread into Transylvania, Christians may have begun putting up and wearing crucifixes to protect against the vampires plaguing the area.
From there, the custom may have been gradually borne by traders and military to the rest of the Roman Empire (and its political successors.)
On the other hand, maybe I just need more coffee.
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grandfather
Guest
Sounds like you have already had too much.I don’t know.
However, Christianity arrived in what is now Romania in the third century. As the faith spread into Transylvania, Christians may have begun putting up and wearing crucifixes to protect against the vampires plaguing the area.
From there, the custom may have been gradually borne by traders and military to the rest of the Roman Empire (and its political successors.)
On the other hand, maybe I just need more coffee.
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asia53
Guest
Vampires!I don’t know.
However, Christianity arrived in what is now Romania in the third century. As the faith spread into Transylvania, Christians may have begun putting up and wearing crucifixes to protect against the vampires plaguing the area.
From there, the custom may have been gradually borne by traders and military to the rest of the Roman Empire (and its political successors.)
On the other hand, maybe I just need more coffee.
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Luvz2travel
Guest
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saraih
Guest
I was just watching the first part of the Civilisation series by Kenneth Clark, he gave a quick overview of the crucifix and why/when it became popular in Europe.
Relevant bit starts here.
Then between the 11th and 14th centuries, people slowly began using personal crucifixes as they filtered down/got cheaper/there were more Catholics about, I assume.
Relevant bit starts here.
Then between the 11th and 14th centuries, people slowly began using personal crucifixes as they filtered down/got cheaper/there were more Catholics about, I assume.
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