The "Russian Orthodox cross" also known as the "eight-pointed" and "the cross of St. Lazarus" is considered one of the main and most recognizable symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church, but this was not always the case.
But what is the story that preceded its appearance?
Why eight-pointed
Despite the fact that the Evangelists themselves do not describe the type of cross on which the Son of God was crucified, it is generally accepted that on the way to Golgotha Christ carried the well-known four-pointed cross, however, he was crucified on the eight-pointed one because:
1. The lower crossbar, better known as the foot, was added just before the crucifixion itself, since those who crucified Him could not know in advance where their feet would reach.
Icon of the Crucifixion with the Forthcoming, mid-XIV century.
Promotional video:
2. The upper crossbar (title or tablet) was added immediately after the crucifixion itself, as stated in the XIX verse of the XIX chapter of the Gospel of John:
According to documentary evidence, a cross with three horizontal beams existed already in the 6th century, long before the Great Schism (the schism, after which the Church was finally divided into Roman Catholic and Orthodox). However, it was originally used only in church murals, but never on church domes. Old frescoes depicting this type of cross have survived on the territory of modern Greece and Serbia.
Despite the long history of this Christian symbol, it was only from the end of the 15th century that the eight-pointed cross began to be widely used in the Grand Duchy of Moscow, when the idea “Moscow is the Third Rome and the defender of the purity of Orthodoxy” was finally formed.
Many facts speak about the special popularity of this particular type of cross in Russia, but it is especially noteworthy that between 1577 and 1625, the Russian Orthodox cross was depicted between the heads of a two-headed eagle in the coat of arms of Russia and was widely used on military banners until the end of the 17th century.
Centennial banner, late 17th century.
The end of the widespread use of such a popular symbol was led only by the church reform of Patriarch Nikon, according to which only the "Greek" and not the "Russian Orthodox cross" became permissible, which, combined with other extremely unpopular decisions, led to the notorious split of the Russian Orthodox Church itself …
The very fact of replacing the Russian cross with a Greek one caused (already established historically) disrespectful attitude in Russia towards the latter.
However, the popularity of the symbol was so great that soon the Russian Orthodox Church again adopted the Russian Orthodox cross.