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  1. Overview

    The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the crucifixion of Jesus on a large wooden cross, is a symbol of Christianity. It is … See more

    Christian cross - Wikipedia

    • There are few extant examples of the cross in 2nd century Christian iconography. It has been argued that Christians were reluctant to use it as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution. A symbol similar to the cross, the staurogram, was used to abbreviate the Greek word for cross in very early New Testament manuscripts such as … See more

    Pre-Christian symbolism

    A version of the cross symbol was used long before the Christian era in the form of the ancient Egyptian ankh. See more

    Instrument of Jesus' execution

    John Pearson, Bishop of Chester (c. 1660) wrote in his commentary on the Apostles' Creed that the Greek word stauros originally signified "a straight standing Stake, Pale, or Palisador", but that, "when other transverse or promine… See more

    In contemporary Christianity

    In Christianity, communicants of the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches are expected to wear a cross necklace at all times; these are ordinarily given to believers at their baptism.
    Many Chris… See more

    Rejection among various religious groups

    Although Christians accepted that the cross was the gallows on which Jesus died, they had already begun in the 2nd century to use it as a Christian symbol. During the first three centuries of the Christian era the cross was "… See more

    Controversies

    In 2014, the Chinese Communist Party, which espouses a doctrine of state atheism, began a program of removing exterior crosses from church buildings "for reasons of safety and beauty." In 2016, 1,500 crosses we… See more

    See also
     
  1. Early Christian crosses were used as symbols by Christians in the 2nd century1. Here are some key points:
    1. The cross was initially of minor importance but became closely associated with Christians.
    2. The Staurogram, made by overlapping Greek letters "Rho" and "Tau," was an early depiction of the cross.
    3. The swastika was used as the gammadion cross in early Christianity.
    4. Early Christians were persecuted for their faith in the cross of Christ.
    5. The Staurogram resembles a person on a cross2.
    Learn more:

    Although Christians accepted that the cross was the gallows on which Jesus died, [note 5] they had already begun in the 2nd century to use it as a Christian symbol. [note 6] During the first three centuries of the Christian era the cross was "a symbol of minor importance" when compared to the prominence given to it later, but by the second century it was closely associated with Christians, to the point where Christians were...

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_cross
    Perhaps the earliest portrayal of the cross by Christians occurred in the iconography of their papyrus manuscripts, specifically the Staurogram, or shape of the cross made by the overlapping of the Greek letters “Rho” and “Tau” (). 11 A more obvious depiction of the cross is seen in a third-century gem in the British Museum, which depicts a crucified Jesus with an inscription that lists various Egyptian magical words.
    www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/cr…
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  3. Cross as an Early Christian Symbol -- Early Christian …

    Though in our day, the cross is the most common Christian symbol -- by far -- it was not always so. The Cross in Christian Art and Monuments. During the period of persecutions before Constantine I, we generally don't find the cross …

  4. The Early Christian View of the Cross

    May 14, 2014 · Many Romans and pagans believed that the early Christians worshiped their God, “Jesus,” in the form of a donkey or jackass on a cross. This drawing gives an amazingly detailed visual of a Roman crucifixion and the …

  5. Jesus and the Cross - Biblical Archaeology Society

  6. How the cross came to be the symbol of Christianity

    Feb 9, 2021 · A contender for the earliest physical representation of Christ’s cross is the Staurogram. Composed of the Greek letters Tau and Rho, its sound was reminiscent of the Greek word to crucify,...

  7. The history of the cross and its many meanings over …

    Sep 26, 2019 · The early cross. As a scholar of medieval Christian history and worship, I have studied this complicated history. Second century pagan graffito depicting a man worshipping a crucified...

  8. Cross | Definition, Symbolism, Types, & History

    Sep 13, 2024 · Cross, the principal symbol of the Christian religion, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of his Passion and death. The cross is thus a sign of both Christ himself and of the faith of Christians. …

  9. How did the cross come to be a symbol for Christianity?

    The shape of the cross (crux, stauros "stake, gibbet"), as represented by the letter T, came to be used as a "seal" or symbol of Early Christianity by the 2nd century.

  10. The History Of The Christian Cross - WorldAtlas

    Jan 27, 2023 · Although the exact time the Cross was made is unknown, the use of the Cross predates Christianity. The symbol dates to one of the earliest periods in human history, the Stone Age. Incisions of crosses were even found in …

  11. The Crucifixion Gap: Why it Took Hundreds of Years for …

    Apr 7, 2023 · Early Christians did not wear the cross as a fashion accessory, and it took centuries for it to become the dominant symbol of Christianity and appear in art. The cross, or crucifix, is arguably the central image of …

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