Cross Orthodox Old Believers has a slightly different shape from widespread nowadays four-pointed.He has two crosshairs at an angle of ninety degrees, where the upper beam means plate attached over Christ with the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" and an oblique lower crossbeam, which symbolizes the "measure", evaluating good and bad deeds of all people.Its slope to the left means that the penitent thief first gone to heaven.
What feature has the cross?Believers pattern is sometimes included in the four-cross bigger and never has a figure of the crucified Jesus.This is interpreted as the fact that this character must mean the Crucifixion, but not to represent him.If the cross was present figure of Christ, the cross would become an icon, which is not intended to be worn and for prayer.Wearing the same icons in a hidden form (Old Believers never wear a cross on the mind) means for this group of believers to use it for other purposes (as an amulet, that the action is inadmissible).
Cross Old Believer is different in shape to be worn by men and women.For the stronger sex, he has a clear rectangular border, while the faithful ladies wear this symbol, surrounded by extra space, soft petal-shaped forms.On the reverse side of the cross there is a prayer, "Let God arise and his enemies razydutsya ..." or tropar Cross.
When did this cross?Believers option existed in Russia since ancient times.But during the reforms of Patriarch Nikon in the 1650s it began to blame, along with other symbols of those who refused to accept the ecclesiastical innovations.In particular, a lot of people did not take trehperstnoe sign of the cross, instead of two fingers, as well as the proclamation of the threefold "Hallelujah" instead of twice.Old Believers believed that three-kathismata contradicts the will of the Virgin.
What led a split in Russia, one of the symbols of which was precisely the cross?Believers people in the middle of the seventeenth century, was forced to flee from the central regions of the country to the edge of where the community and evolved sect.Recently had a lot of wonderful traditions.For example, Ryabinovsky sense worship the cross, made of mountain ash.And all the followers of the old church traditions united existence of isolation and extreme strictness in observing native, in their opinion, ceremonies.In some cases when you try to pay a settlement to the new faith, people have resorted to mass self-immolation.Account victims in some years, went to the tens of thousands.
where today you can see the crosses Old Believer?Photo settlements, home to just such believers are widespread.Such settlements can be found in the center of Russia and Altai.There are even tours to explore the life and the life of this cultural layer.However, pectoral cross themselves when visiting the village, you will likely not see, becauseBelievers still wear them strictly under clothing.
