Greek Religious Jewellery

Greek Religious Jewellery | The Orthodox Cross

The Orthodox Cross actually goes by a few different names. It’s also referred to as the Russian Cross, Byzantine Cross, and the Suppendaneum Cross. Though every culture within the Orthodox Christian religion has a slight variation, the basic idea is still the same. Aside from that, the Greek religious jewellery is also slightly different than the jewellery in the Russian Orthodox tradition. Here’s more information

Origin of the Cross:

Did you know that the cross was a symbol that was used well before Christianity? For example, the Roman goddess Diana is often depicted with a cross around her head. Also, both the Egyptians and the Hindus considered the cross to be a symbol of abundance. Each of these cultures had a different viewpoint of what it meant. It is now a well-established symbol of Christianity.

Byzantine Empire:

Did you know that the cross really wasn’t considered a standardized symbol of Christianity until the beginning of the Byzantine Empire? It was the Emperor Constantine, who founded the capital city of Constantinople, who advocated its use. Archaeologists haven’t been able to uncover evidence that the cross was worn as a symbol before them. However, that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used as a symbol of Christianity. Since this was a prosperous Empire, the symbol of the cross evolved. Archaeologists dating back to the early days of the Empire, which was around 300 AD, have uncovered many examples of cross jewelry.

Greek Religious Jewellery:

In order for the cross to be considered truly Greek religious jewellery, all four arms need to be of an equal length. This is different from other depictions of the Christian cross, where the length is a lot longer than the width. By the 4th Century AD, this cross was commonly used throughout Greece and the Byzantine Empire. Note that the Russian Cross often has a third bar at the bottom of the cross. This style isn’t all that common in the Greek Orthodox tradition.

History Of Greek Jewellery

Cross Jewellery:

The cross is the ultimate symbol of our Christian faith. Since Christ died on the cross to redeem us of our sins, Christians started wearing the cross as a reminder of that. When Orthodox Christians are baptized, the cross itself is an integral part of the ceremony. As a tradition, the godparents give their godchild a cross, an item that the priest requires for their ceremony. Though most Orthodox Christians will acquire many crosses throughout their lives, it is this first cross that is often considered the most special.

Sign of the Cross:

In both the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Christian traditions, the sign of the cross is an important symbol of worship. However, the execution of this symbol is slightly different. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the first three fingers of the right hand, which represent the Trinity, are touching. The individual then touches these fingers to the forehead, heart, right shoulder, left shoulder, and then the palm is placed on the heart. The sign of the cross is done several times throughout the Orthodox Church service. We design some best custom jewellery read our blog for more information.