| Part ofa series of articles on |
| Peter in the Bible |
|---|
 |
| In theNew Testament |
| Other |
TheCross of Saint Peter,[1] also known as thePetrine Cross,[2] is aninverted Latin cross traditionally used as aChristian symbol, associated with themartyrdom ofSaint Peter. The symbol originates from the Catholic tradition that when sentenced to death, Peter requested that hiscross be upside down, as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner Jesus had.
.jpg)
The origin of the symbol comes from the tradition thatSaint Peter wascrucified upside down.[3] This narrative first appears in theMartyrdom of Peter, a text found in, but possibly predating, theActs of Peter, anapocryphal work which was originally composed during the second half of the 2nd century.[4] In theActs of Peter, the author writes that Peter's request to be crucified upside-down was to make a point: That the values of those crucifying him were upside down, and that one needs to look beyond the inverted values of this world and adopt the values of Jesus if they wish to enter theKingdom of heaven.[5]
Sometime in the middle of the 3rd century,Origen of Alexandria popularized the tradition that Peter requested to be crucified upside-down.[6] At the end of the 4th century,Jerome wrote in hisDe Viris Illustribus ("On Illustrious Men") that the reason for this request was that Peter felt he was unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.[7][8]
The 19th-century French mysticEugène Vintras (1807-1875), founder of theWork of Mercy movement, led amystical Christian sect sometimes referred to as neo-Catholic.[9] His teachings emphasizedMarian visions, apocalyptic prophecy, and Eucharistic miracles, positioning his movement within a heterodox Christian framework. According to scholar Ruben van Luijk, Vintras incorporated the Petrine Cross into his vestments, particularly on his stole, as part of his movement'sesoteric Christian symbolism.[9] He was accused of heresy by the Catholic Church and the movement was formally condemned byPope Gregory XVI in 1851.[9]Joris-Karl Huysmans' novelLà-bas (1891), which describes aBlack Mass where participants wear vestments with inverted crosses, fictionalized Vintras' use of theinverted cross in an anti-Christian context.[10]
The Cross of Saint Peter appears in ecclesiasticalheraldry as a reference to the apostle’s martyrdom. According toSaints, Signs, and Symbols by Hilarie and James Cornwell, Saint Peter's coat of arms features an inverted cross withcrossed keys, symbolizing both his crucifixion upside down and his role as the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 16:19). This composition is prominently used in heraldic designs associated with Saint Peter and the Papacy, particularly in the arms of theHoly See andVatican City, where it represents papal authority andapostolic succession.[11]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Unless ye make the right as the left, and the top as the bottom and the front as the backward, ye shall not know the Kingdom (of heaven).
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)A quo et affixus cruci, martyrio coronatus est, capite ad terram verso, et in sublime pedibus elevatis: asserens se indignum qui sic crucifigeretur ut Dominus suus.
At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help).svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
_Swastika_(%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D1%2582%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0)_-_Rodnovery.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
