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Thepatriarchal cross is a variant of theChristian cross, thereligious symbol ofChristianity, and is also known as theCross of Lorraine. Similar to theLatin cross, the patriarchal cross possesses a smaller crossbar placed above the main one so that both crossbars are near the top. Sometimes the patriarchal cross has a short, slanted crosspiece near its foot (Russian Orthodox cross). This slanted, lower crosspiece often appears inByzantine Greek andEastern Europeaniconography, as well as in otherEastern Orthodoxchurches[citation needed]. In most renditions of theCross of Lorraine, the horizontal bars are "graded" with the upper bar being the shorter, though variations with the bars of equal length are also seen.
The top beam represents the plaque bearing the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" (often abbreviated in theLatinate "INRI" and in the Greek as "INBI").
Many symbolic interpretations of the double-cross have been put forth. One of them says that the first horizontal line symbolized the secular power and the other horizontal line the ecclesiastic power ofByzantine emperors,[citation needed] and also that the first cross bar represents the death, and the second cross the resurrection, ofJesus Christ.
TheRussian Orthodox cross can be considered a modified version of the patriarchal cross, having two smaller crossbeams, one at the top and one near the bottom, in addition to the longer crossbeam. One suggestion is the lower crossbeam represents the footrest (suppedaneum) to which the feet of Jesus were nailed. However, there is no evidence of footrests ever being used during the crucifixion, and it has a deeper meaning. The bottom beam may represent a balance of justice. Some sources suggest that as one of the thieves being crucified with Jesus repented of his sin and believed in Jesus as the Messiah and was thus with Christ inParadise, the other thief rejected and mocked Jesus and therefore descended intoHades. In some earlier representations (and still currently in theGreek Church) the crossbar near the bottom is straight or slanted upwards. In later Slavic and other traditions, it came to be depicted as slanted, with the side to the viewer's left usually being higher.
One tradition says that this comes from the idea that asJesus Christ took his last breath, the bar to which his feet were nailed broke, thus slanting to the side. Another tradition holds that the slanted bar represents therepentant thief and theunrepentant thief that were crucified with Christ, the one to Jesus' right-hand repenting and rising to be with God in Paradise, and one on his left falling to Hades and separation from God. In this manner, it also reminds the viewer of theLast Judgment. Still another explanation of the slanted crossbar would suggest theCross Saltire, as tradition holds that the ApostleSt. Andrew introducedChristianity to lands north and west of theBlack Sea: today'sUkraine,Russia,Belarus,Moldova, andRomania.
The patriarchal cross first regularly appeared on the coinage of theByzantine Empire starting with the second reign of the EmperorJustinian II, whose second reign was from 705–711. At the beginning of the second reign, the Emperor was depicted on the solidus holding aglobus cruciger with a patriarchal cross at the top of the globe.[1] Until then, the standard practice was to show theglobus cruciger with an ordinary cross. The EmperorTheodosius III, who ruled from 715 to 717, made the patriarchal cross a standard feature of the gold, silver and bronze coinage minted inConstantinople.[2] After his short reign ended, the practice was discontinued under his successor,Leo III, due to hisiconoclastic views, and was not revived again until the middle of the eighth century byArtavasdus.
The two-barred cross has been one of the main elements in thecoat of arms of Hungary at least since 1190. It appeared during the reign ofKing Béla III,[3] who was raised in the Byzantine court. He was for a time heir to the throne of theByzantine Empire and betrothed to the emperor's daughter. When the emperor's wife gave birth to a son, the emperor dissolved his daughter's betrothal to Béla and removed Béla's title of despotes. Soon after Béla leftConstantinople when he inherited the Hungarian throne in 1172. The cross started appearing floating in the coat of arms and on the coins from this era. During the middle ages, the two-barred cross became associated with theÁrpád dynasty and theKingdom of Hungary along with theÁrpád stripes. Even theorb of Hungary has a two-barred cross instead of a simple cross. The symbol found its way toWestern Europe through Hungary, becauseRené the Good, who was related to theHouse Anjou of Hungary, laid claim to four kingdoms, includingHungary. He placed the symbol on his flags before thebattle of Nancy.[4] He won the battle and regained his lostDuchy of Lorraine. Thus the symbol became known in Western-Europe as theCross of Lorraine.
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Another form of the cross was used by theJagiellonian dynasty. This cross now features on the coat of arms ofLithuania, where it appears on the shield of theVytis. It is also the badge of the Lithuanian Air Force and forms the country's highest award for bravery, theOrder of the Cross of Vytis. The Jagiellonian cross is also used on the coat of arms and flags ofevery Lithuanian county, yet not following any heraldic rules.
The patriarchal cross appears on thePahonia, used at various times as the coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Lithuania for centuries and ofBelarus.
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During 1577–1625 the Russian use of the cross was between the heads of thedouble-headed eagle in thecoat of arms of Russia.
The territory of present-daySlovakia was an integralpart of theKingdom of Hungary from the 10th century until theTreaty of Trianon in 1920. Many of its cities gained privileges and coats of arms from theHungarian kings, often containing the kings' owncoat of arms.
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The town ofThame, Oxfordshire uses a version of the patriarchal cross (known as the "Thame Cross") as part of its official emblem, based on the design of a ring from a treasure hoard discovered in the town in 1940.[5] The "Thame Cross" also appears on the town's flag, adopted in 2017.[6]
Unicode defines the character☦ (Russian cross) and☨ (Cross of Lorraine) in theMiscellaneous Symbols range at code point U+2626 and U+2628 respectively.
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