Initially, the emphasis was on the physical aspects of Christ’s suffering, and then Orthodox Christians gave the crucifixion a more rosy, “victorious” meaning. From a symbol of ancient Roman execution, the cross turned into a sign of triumph and victory over evil. After all, without death there would have been no resurrection of Jesus.

The two “arms” of the horizontal axis of the cross became the embodiment of two fundamental paradigms of Christianity: on the one hand, forgiveness and repentance, and on the other, retribution and God’s punishment.

The cross in the church

Christians believe that the female/male cross, as a true religious symbol, protects and saves them. That is why it accompanies them everywhere. The image of the cross is central to all spheres of Christian life: in the Church, in attributes, in everyday life. A Christian sanctifies all objects with the sign of the cross.

If you look closely, everything in the church is centered around the cross. This sign formed the basis of church architecture and all the sacraments. You can see it on domes, iconostases, church utensils, clothes, and other church items.

Pectoral cross

The golden pectoral cross occupies the main place in the hierarchy of Christian attributes. Not a single event or ritual can be complete without it. It is with you every day: hidden under clothing, it protects its owner from evil and temptation. For Christians, the external beauty of the cross is not as important as its religious meaning. Therefore, when choosing a cross for women or men, the decor is of secondary importance.

Deeply religious people put a baby cross on a newborn in the first months of life. It is believed that during this sacrament, a little person is born for a new Christian life and receives a guardian angel.

The traditional Orthodox cross is a six- or octagonal cross, as well as a Latin four-pointed cross.

But for non-religious people, a cross with diamonds is an ordinary jewelry pendant that is lavishly decorated with various decorations and worn over clothes with other accessories.

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• Saints Cosmas and Damian (commemorated on October 17 and November 1)
• Saints Cyrus and John (honored on January 31 and June 28)
• Thallelaius (remembered on May 20)
• Samson (celebrated on June 27)
• Saints Cosmas and Damian (also commemorated on July 1)
• Hermolaüs (venerated on July 26)
• Panteleimon (acknowledged on July 27)
• Diomedes (remembered on August 16)

Though some question the existence of three distinct pairs of Anargyri named Cosmas and Damian, historical evidence suggests a single pair initially. However, the widespread veneration and dispersion of relics across the Empire led to the recognition of multiple pairs. Despite this, the Church’s Synaxaria have long commemorated all three pairs of Saints Cosmas and Damian as distinct entities, honoring their legacy of selfless service and healing.

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The myth of the birth of Christ has its origins in primitive worship. In ancient Egypt, for example, the birthday of the god of water, vegetation, and the ruler of the underworld, Osiris, was celebrated on January 6, and the birthday of the ancient Iranian god Mithras was celebrated on December 25. As the Christmas holiday became established in different countries, it incorporated other rituals and customs of other religions and folk festivals, acquiring special features that did not contradict Christian dogmas.

The Baptism of the Lord. This holiday is one of the main holidays in Christianity. In the scriptures dedicated to the Feast of the Epiphany, theologians note that it was proclaimed in memory of a historical event – the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. This event is described in the Gospels.

Initially, as we noted, Christianity did not know the rite of baptism at all. This is evidenced by the fact that there is no mention of this rite in early Christian literature. It was borrowed by Christianity from ancient cults. Sprinkling with water existed in many pre-Christian religions. By spiritualizing the phenomena of nature, our distant ancestors also spiritualized water, an important source of human life. Water quenched thirst, refreshed people, land, pastures, and ensured the fertility of fields.

Presentation. This feast is dedicated to the presentation of the baby Jesus Christ to God by the parents of Jesus Christ. The meeting took place in a Jerusalem temple on the fortieth day after Christ’s birth.

By introducing the Feast of the Presentation, the Christian Church tried to distract the people from ancient cults. In February, the Romans celebrated “purification” and repentance, fasting, believing that before starting spring field work, it was necessary to “cleanse themselves of sins” and evil spirits by making appropriate sacrifices to spirits and gods.

Palm Sunday is the eve of the so-called Holy Week, which is dedicated to “the memory of the suffering of Christ.” The holiday is immediately adjacent to Easter and has no fixed calendar date. In Orthodoxy, it is one of the “twelve feasts”.

The holiday is based on the story of the entry of Jesus Christ and his disciples into Jerusalem, where he went to suffer and die. The campaign was accompanied by miracles. On the day before entering Jerusalem, on Saturday, Jesus performed one of the greatest miracles – he revived Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, and on Sunday he entered Jerusalem. The people greeted him with joy, throwing palm branches in front of the Son of God.

The Ascension of the Lord. The earthly biography of Jesus Christ created by the evangelists ends with a description of the scene of the ascension of the Son of God, who had risen from the dead after the execution, to heaven. In honor of this event, the Christian Church established one of its holidays. It is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter and therefore has no fixed date.

Based on biblical stories, Christian theologians assure that the resurrection of Christ opens the way for the righteous to go to heaven, to be resurrected after death. The Orthodox Church’s “Priest’s Handbook” states: “Christ ascended to heaven as the firstborn from the dead, manifesting in His Person the beginning of the human nature He redeemed and revived.”

But long before the emergence of Christianity, myths about the ascension of people, heroes, and gods to heaven were widespread among many peoples. In pre-Christian mythology, the Greek hero Hercules, the founder of Rome Romulus, the Roman emperor Caesar and his successor Augustus, the Hindu god Krishna, the Phoenician god Adonis, the god Mithras, who was worshipped in Iran, West Asia, India, and others were among those “ascended to heaven.” Christianity borrowed the idea of ascension from the beliefs of the Phoenicians, Jews, and other peoples.

Trinity, or Pentecost. This holiday, which in Orthodoxy also belongs to the “twelve days”, was established in memory of a miraculous phenomenon: on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ, the “Holy Spirit” descended on his disciples (apostles) and they spoke in different languages, although they did not know them before.

The myths about the divine Trinity existed long before the emergence of Christianity among the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, and other peoples, from whose beliefs the emerging Christianity borrowed many ideas. The New Testament stories about the Trinity emerged as a result of the need to connect the new religion with the legends of the Old Testament.

Savior. The holiday is based on the Gospel legend of the miraculous transfiguration of Christ: at the end of his earthly existence, the founder of Christianity led his disciples to a mountain and was “transformed” during prayer: “the appearance of his face changed,” “his clothes became white and shiny, and a voice from heaven confirmed his divine origin.”

The Exaltation. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the most important holidays dedicated to the cult of the cross, a symbol of the Christian faith. The church associates several mythical events with the cross. One of them is always mentioned by priests in their holiday sermons. According to legend, the Roman emperor Constantine, who allowed the free practice of Christianity while still a “pagan,” had a miraculous vision before one of his greatest battles: a lighted cross with the inscription appeared in the sky: “By it overcome!”

Feasts of the Theotokos. In addition to the feasts in honor of Christ and the divine Trinity, the Christian Church has established a number of feasts in honor of his mother, the Virgin Mary. These are: The Nativity of the Mother of God, the Entry into the Temple, the Annunciation, the First and Second Holy, the Protection (the first four are considered “twelve” feasts), and many feasts in honor of her “miraculous” icons.

Easter (Pascha). Among the many Christian religious holidays, a special place belongs to Easter. The celebration of Easter was established by the first Christians to commemorate the “suffering, death and miraculous resurrection” of Jesus Christ.

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