Despite the fact that this attribute of Christianity in ours is quite popular as a decorative element and is often perceived in isolation from church traditions, its symbolism should not be ignored at all.

According to the canons of the church, the Orthodox cross is a symbol of victory over sin, so it is important for every Orthodox Christian to wear it. A pectoral cross is put on a person after the rite of the sacrament of Baptism and is worn in the future throughout life. Sometimes people prefer to have small amulets, icons, various Christian symbols as a talisman. As a rule, the church has nothing against such attributes, however, according to its recommendations, first of all, you need to wear an Orthodox cross, and then the rest of the accessories.

From the point of view of religion, putting on a cross, a person renounces the devil. In addition, worn after Baptism, it symbolizes the ablution from sins and the spiritual renewal of the personality. And the correct wearing of this attribute shows the readiness of people for further spiritual development and constant struggle against evil.

What you need to know

The most important condition for wearing a Christian pectoral cross is the awareness of its meaning — it is not a piece of jewelry. The cross given at the time of Baptism does not need to be put on public display, because its primary task is to protect a person, and not show his status. Wearing a cross for fashion is considered a special sin, because the process itself must be conscious — this is how the power of this accessory is manifested.

Psychologists say that people from the poorer segments of the population, as a rule, try to demonstrate large gold pectoral crosses. So they try to draw attention to themselves, believing that gold should not be hidden under clothes. Thus, the church attribute ceases to be a protection for its owner, turning into an ordinary jewelry made of precious metal.

The pectoral cross should be worn only under clothing so that it is closer to the chest, namely, to the heart. It is not recommended to remove it even in the bath or when taking a bath. In some cases, for example, if you are engaged in wrestling, you can put it in a pocket specially sewn for this purpose on your clothes. It is unacceptable to cling a cross to your ear like an earring or on your wrist like a pendant — in this case it turns into an ordinary trinket.

The same can be advised for women who are going to a party or any entertainment venue. If the style of clothing does not provide for the presence of a cross on the neck, it can be pinned with a pin on the back of the clothing, but in no case should you leave it at home. By the way, this is exactly what many believers did during the Soviet Union, when the church was officially banned.

What should he be

There is a very widespread opinion that four-pointed crosses are unique to Catholicism. In fact, Orthodoxy recognizes everything: both four-pointed and eight-pointed, with and without the image of Jesus. At the same time, the material taken for manufacturing is diverse. It is only desirable to attach particular importance to the properties of a particular person. For example, there are people in whom silver products can cause darkening of the skin. There is nothing wrong with that — just such a person needs to choose a cross for himself from another material.

The main thing that distinguishes a real pectoral cross from a decorative one is its consecration before wearing. If it is purchased in a shop at the church, you do not need to worry about this — you are guaranteed to buy a pre-consecrated cross. It is advisable to consecrate a product from a jewelry store in a church — this process takes only a couple of minutes.