Pectoral cross. Neckline cross

In Russia, the image of the Orthodoxfather: a man with long hair, an impressive beard, in a black robe, looking like a hoodie. Another important symbol of the priestly rank is a cross dangling on the chest or abdomen. In fact, in the representation of the people, the cross is what makes a priest a spiritual person, at least in the social sense. This is an important attribute of religious service and will be discussed below.

Priestly cross in the modern practice of the Russian Orthodox Church

The first thing to say is that the pectoralThe cross of the priest, so well known in Russia, is practically not used in the churches of the Greek tradition in the East. He and in our country became an attribute of the priest not so long ago - in the late XIX-early XX centuries. Prior to this, the pectoral cross was not worn by the priest. And if they put on, then only a few for a special occasion.

Today, every priest is given this subjectimmediately at the ordination to the dignity, as part of the binding vestments and insignia from other representatives of the hierarchy. In the service, clerics wear it on top of special vestments, and in ordinary times - on top of their robe or cassock. There are several varieties of pectoral crosses: silver, gold and with ornaments. But this will be discussed below.

Encolpion - ancestor of the priestly cross

The first ancestor of the modern priestlyA cross is an object called an enclion. It is an ark, that is, a small box, on the front side of which, in ancient times, Christim was depicted - the monogram of the name of Jesus Christ. A little later, instead of her, an image of the cross was placed on the enclpion. It was worn on the chest and played the role of a vessel in which it was possible to hide something of value: manuscripts of books, a part of relics, holy communion, and so on.

The earliest evidence of the encolpion, whichwe have, refers to the IV century - this subject is written by the Patriarch of Constantinople John, known in church circles as St. John Chrysostom. In the Vatican, during the excavation of local Christian burials, several enclonions were discovered, also no younger than the 4th century.

Later they were transformed from hollowrectangular boxes in the hollow crosses, while retaining its function. However, they began to be subjected to more thorough artistic processing. And soon they were accepted as attributes of the episcopal order and the Byzantine emperors. Later, Russian tsars and bishops, who survived the Roman Empire, adopted this custom. As for the sovereign, this tradition was abolished only by Emperor Peter the Great. In the church crosses-enclamps were worn by some monks, and sometimes even laymen. Often this subject became an attribute of pilgrims.

Cross Distribution

In the XVIII century encolpions almost everywherebecome obsolete. Instead, they began using metal crosses without cavities inside. At the same time, the right to wear a pectoral cross was first conferred on bishops. Since the forties of the same century, monastic priests have been granted this right in Russia in the rank of archimandrite, but only if they are members of the Holy Synod.

But a year later, namely in 1742, the possibilityAll the archimandrites in general are to wear a pectoral cross. It happened according to the example of the Kyiv Metropolis, in which this practice spread spontaneously before its formal approval.

Establishment of the right to wear crosses by white priests

White, that is, the married clergy got the rightwearing a pectoral cross in the late 18th century. Of course, they did not allow all of them at once. First, the Emperor Paul introduced this attribute as one of the church prizes for priests. It could be obtained for any merit. For example, a special pattern of the cross was given to many priests in 1814 in honor of the victory two years earlier over the French army. Since 1820, the crosses also began to be given to those clergymen who passed their ministry abroad or at the imperial court. However, the rights to wear this object could be deprived, if the clergyman served in his place for less than seven years. In other cases, the pectoral cross remained with the priest forever.

Crosses as a distinctive sign of the scholarship of the Russian clergy

In the XIX - early XX centuries an interestingpractice to give out priests crosses in accordance with the academic degree they had. At the same time, the pectoral cross relied on doctors of sciences. And the candidates and masters were content with these objects, attaching them to the buttonhole on the collar of the robe.

Gradually wearing pectoral crosses became the normfor all the priests in the Russian church. The last feature under this process was the Emperor Nicholas II, who ordered a special decree in honor of his coronation to award all priests with the right to wear an eight-pointed silver cross of the established pattern. Since then, it has become an inalienable tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Types of crosses

As already mentioned above, the crosses are differentfrom friend. The above-described silver Nikolaev cross is an attribute from which a clergyman begins his career as a clergyman. For services to the church or long service, he can be awarded the right to wear a four-pointed gold cross. With him the priest serves until he is elevated to the rank of archpriest. When this happens, he has the opportunity to receive the next reward - a pectoral cross with ornaments.

This species is usually richly encrustedprecious stones and, in principle, does not differ anything from the paraphernalia worn by bishops. Usually on this award in the field of breast jewelry ends. Sometimes, however, some priests are given the right to wear two crosses at once. Another, very rare award - the golden cross of the patriarch. But this honor is awarded to just a few. Since 2011, appeared, or rather, was restored pectoral cross, called doctoral. They give him, respectively, priests who have a doctorate degree in theology.

Neckline cross

As for the cross, which alsoworn on the chest, then it is given to each newly christened Christian. Usually it is worn under clothing, as it is not an ornament, but a symbol of religious identity. And called first of all to remind his owner of his Christian duties.