In the Catholic and Orthodox tradition the cross is the great Shrine in the measure that it was the immaculate lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ has suffered agony and death for the salvation of the human race. In addition to the crosses, crowning the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches, there are pectoral crucifix that religious people wear on their chest.
There are several differences pectoral Orthodox crosses from Catholic, which was formed during several centuries.
In the ancient Christian Church of the first centuries of the cross shape was mostly four-pointed (with one Central horizontal bar). Such forms of the cross and its images were in the catacombs in times of persecution of Christians by the pagan Roman authorities. The four-pointed shape of a cross still remains in the Catholic tradition. Orthodox cross most often is an eight-pointed crucifix, on which the top rung - a sign on which was nailed the inscription: "Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews", and the lower beveled crossbar indicates the repentance of the robber. This symbolic form of the Orthodox cross indicates high spirituality of repentance, spodoblyayutsya person of the Kingdom of heaven, and a heart of bitterness and pride, which entails eternal death.
In addition, in Orthodoxy, it is possible to meet and form a six-pointed cross. In this type of crucifixion in addition to the main Central horizontal is lower beveled crossbar (sometimes there are six-pointed cross with top straight horizontal bar).
Other differences include the picture of the Savior on the cross. On the Orthodox crucifix Jesus Christ standing to God, the Victor over death. Sometimes on the cross or icons sufferings on the cross Christ is depicted alive. This picture of the Savior testifies to the victory of the Lord of death and the salvation of mankind, tells about the miracle of his resurrection after bodily death of Christ.
Catholic crosses and more realistic. They depict Christ, who died after a terrible agony. Often on Catholic crucifix of the Savior's arms SAG under the weight of the body. Sometimes you can see that the fingers of the Lord are bent as if in a fist, which is most likely displaying the investigation driven into the brush of the nails (on the Orthodox cross for the palm of Christ raskryty). Often on Catholic crosses you can see the blood on the body of the Lord. All of this focuses attention on the terrible agony and death that Christ endured for the salvation of man.
It is possible to note other differences between Orthodox and Catholic crosses. So, on the Orthodox crucifix Christ's feet are nailed with two nails, the Catholic one (although in some Catholic monastic orders to the XIII century, met the cross with four nails instead of three).
There are differences of Orthodox and Catholic crosses and inscriptions on the top plate. "Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews" in the Catholic crosses is written with the abbreviation of the Latin style - INRI. Orthodox crosses lettering - NZ. On the Orthodox cross in the nimbus of the Saviour inscription in Greek letters the word "Things":
Also on the Orthodox crosses often have napisania "NIKA" (for the victory of Jesus Christ), "King of Glory", "Son of God".
