Religions - Christianity: The cross - BBC

Paradoxically a symbol of suffering and defeat but also of triumph and salvation, the cross is the universal Christian symbol, ... BritishBroadcastingCorporationHomeAccessibilitylinksSkiptocontentSkiptolocalnavigationSkiptobbc.co.uknavigationSkiptobbc.co.uksearchAccessibilityHelp Thispagehasbeenarchivedandisnolongerupdated. Findoutmoreaboutpagearchiving. Religions MichaelSymmonsRobertsinvestigatesthemeaningoftheChristiancrossandhearsfromthosewhohavediscovereditspowerintheirownlives. Onthispage Introduction Theubiquitouscross Multifarious Thecrossinmodernart Reinventingthecross Findoutmore Pageoptions Printthispage Introduction CrossatCapeKamenjack,Istria,Croatia.Photo:FlorianFrühstück© Paradoxicallyasymbolofsufferinganddefeatbutalsooftriumphandsalvation,thecrossistheuniversalChristiansymbol,acknowledgedbyalldenominationsasthesinglevisualidentifieroftheirfaith. WhileGoodFridaymarksthePassionofChristandhiscrucifixion,RomanCatholicandEasternOrthodoxChristiansalsoreflectonthecrossasasymbolofsalvationwiththefeastofTheTriumphoftheCrosson14thSeptember.HereMichaelSymmonsRobertsdiscussesthecrossasubiquitoussymbol. Theubiquitouscross Takeapenandplacethenibatthetopofapieceofpaper,inthemiddle,wherethetitlemightgo.Drawaverticallinedowntothefootofthepage.Thendrawahorizontallineabouttwo-thirdsofthewayupthevertical,fromedgetoedgeofthepaper.Thissimplegeometricshapeisoneofthemostpowerfulsymbolsintheworld. Youcan'tgetawayfromit.It'severywhere.Notjustinchurchesandcathedrals,butinhomes,inmovies,paintingsandmusicvideos.Andofcourse,wewearittoo,asearrings,asanecklace,stitchedorstuddedontoleatheranddenim.WhatwouldCocaColaorMcDonaldsgivetoownasymbolthatcountlessmillionsofpeoplewearroundtheirneckseveryday? Asymbolofgallantry.TheGeorgeCrossmedal ThecrossonwhichJesuswasexecuted2000yearsagohasbeenasymbolforhisfollowersfromveryearlyon.Atfirst,theywerescaredtodisplayitpubliclyincasetheywerepersecutedormocked.ButaftertheEmperorConstantineconvertedtoChristianityinthe4thCentury,crucifixionwasabolishedasapunishment,andthecrosswaspromotedasasymboloftheSonofGod. It'sbeenwithuseversince,butwhatdoesitmeaninaculturelikeours?Whydowestillwanttowearit?Isitsuperstition,fashion,orfaith? Top Multifarious Canthecrossbenon-religious? Sowhileotherancientsymbolsgentlyfadeonclay,stoneandvelluminmuseumcases,thismostgruesomeRomaninstrumentoftorturecontinuestobepartofthebackclothofourdailylives,evenincountrieslikeours,whereChristianchurchesechomoreyearbyyearwithagrowingemptiness.Asaninternationalsymbol,it'sbeenstaggeringlysuccessful.Butarewesofamiliarwiththecrossthatwedon'treallyseeitanymoreforwhatitis? Idon'tbelieveitshouldn'tbeapieceofjewellery.Butifyouhaveeithernoideawhyit'simportant,orifyousimplywanttowearitbecauseitlooksnicewiththatparticulardress,that'sappallingtome,becausethere'sahugecosmicsignificanceinthesubject. Otherwise,youmayaswelljustwearagibbetroundyourneck,oranelectricchair.Andinfactifyoulookbackatthehistoryofthecross-thatiswhatyou'redoing.Soithastomeansomethingagooddealmorethanthattobesomethingtolerableatall. AnnWroe,writerandhistorian Notlongago,youmightwearasmallcrossunderashirtifyouwereachurchgoer,orabigoneoutsideyourshirtifyouwereaCardinal.Inrecentyears,though,it'sbecometheheightoffashion,andmanycelebritieswon'tstepoutinpublicwithoutsportingabigchunkofjewel-encrustedsilver. Talisman ButaccordingtofashionjournalistJamesSherwood,theyhavemorethanglamourinmindastheyfastentheclaspontheirdesignercrucifix.Theyhopeit'sgoingtodoajobforthem. Ithinkwe'reinaneraof"pickandmix"religionnow,particularlywithcelebrities.SowhenyouseegirlslikeCatherineZetaJones,LizaMinnelliandReneeZellwegerwearingthecrucifix,Idon'tthinkit'spurelysecular.They'veprobablyjustborrowedthatlittlebitfromCatholicismandIdothinkthattheylookonitasatalisman,asaprotectiveforce. LizHurley,forexample,wearsaTheoFenellcrossandshecallsthepublic"Civilians"-it's"Usandthem"basically.AndIdothinkitisasuperstition,obviously,becausethey'renotgonnaholdthecrossuptothepublicandmakethemwitherawaylikevampires-that'sridiculous.Butthereisstillenoughrespectinthisworldforthecross,thatwhenthesegirlsarewearingititgivesthemakindofaddedpiety.Itlendsthemthatsortofveneerofpiety,whichisobviouslymisplacedinacelebrity. JamesSherwood,fashionjournalist CampbellGillespie-asalesexecutivefromMerseyside-believesthatthegoldcrosshisgrandmothergavehimbothsavedandalmostcosthimhislifeinAugust2003. WewerecomingtothelastpartoftherunonaSundaymorning,about8.15-alovely,sunnysummer'sday,whenI'mtolditgotdarkallofasuddenandIwasstruckbylightning.Lightningattackedthegoldcrossroundmyneckthatwasgiventomebymygrandmotherandputmesixfeetintheair.Ilandedheadfirstintotheconcreteintoadeeppuddle,landedfacefirst.Istoppedbreathing.RayresuscitatedmeandNormanheldmeintherecoverypositionwhileRayranforhelp.Theyputmeintheambulance. Unbeknowntomesomeofmyfriendshadgonebacktowhereithappened,andhadfoundthegoldcrosswhichwaslyingontheconcrete,notamarkonit.Sotheybroughtthatuptothehospital,andIcameoutofthecomaontheFriday.OntheMondayIhada6houroperationwheretheyrebuiltmyface,basically.Theyput12platesinmyface.SoIdon'trememberanythingofAugust.Idon'tremembermuchofSeptember.ButthingsbecomemuchmoreclearinOctober. Inaway,thelightningwasattractedtothecross.Ifitsavedmylife,whydidthelightningstrikeit?SoI'min"catch22"overthesituation.ButI'malive-andIdon'tknowwhoIhavetothankforthat,butIthankthem,becauseIwasaninchoffcheckingout,y'know?Iwillstartwearingitagainoneday.Mymother'sofferedtogetmeachainforit,butI'mjustnotawfullyconfidentatthemoment,forobviousreasons.IhaveitinmydrawerbutIdon'twearitatthemoment. CampbellGillespie,lightningstrikesurvivor Thebeliefthatthecrosscanwardoffevilandprotectthewearergoesbackalongway.FromtheearlycenturiesofChristianity,it'sbeenacustomamongChristianstomakethesignofacrossonthemselveswithahand.Atfirst,itwasdonewiththethumbonthebrow,onrisinginthemorning,settlingtoeat,startingajourney,goingtobed. PopeBenedictXVIdeliversablessing,WestminsterCathedral,2010 Thenitgrewintothefullergesturewehavetoday-fromheadtoheart,andshouldertoshoulder.Butthissymbolmeanssomuchtopeople,theystillcan'tagreeonhowitshouldbedone.ShouldthesignbemadewiththeindexANDmiddlefingers,becauseJesushadtwonatures-GodandMan?Shoulditbemadewiththreefingerstosignifythetrinity?Orfive,tonumberthewoundsofJesusonthecross?Eventoday,theCatholicwestcrossesitselffromleftshouldertoright,andtheOrthodoxeastdoesitfromrighttoleft.Clearly,thissymbolstillhasthepowertodivideopinion,andsomeofthehottestdebatesaboutthemeaningofthecrossinrecentyearshavebeenconductednotinchurches,butinartgalleries. Top Thecrossinmodernart Art GeorgeHeslopisanartistwho'sbeenmakingandexhibitingchocolatecrossesforovertenyears.Notjustcrosses,butcrucifixes,withthefigureofJesusalsorenderedinchocolate.ForHeslop,chocolateofferstheidealmediumforanexplorationofhischildhoodfaith. Imaketwotypesofchocolatecrucifixion.Imakeaseriesindarkchocolateandaseriesinwhitechocolate.Atfirst,Iwasusingthetwodifferenttypesofchocolate,onetorepresentbronzeandonetorepresentmarble. Chocolateisaveryseductivematerial,andIfoundthatIwasseducedbytheBiblicalstories,thecommandmentsandJesus'smiracles.Iwaslookingforamaterial,andchocolateseemedtobetheperfectbalance.Itwastheperfectconnectionwithchildhood;chocolatecanasagift,it'sareward-butit'salsoapunishmentifit'stakenawayornotgiven. GeorgeHeslop,makerofchocolatecrosses GeorgeHeslopinsiststhathisworkisnotmeanttodebaseChristianity,thoughheadmitsthatwhenavisitortookabiteoutofachocolatecrucifix-atagalleryinLiverpool-thatdidsmackofblasphemy.ButHeslopisnottheonlycontemporaryartisttoappropriatethepowerofthecrossintohiswork. Asymbolofdemocracy.Acrossonaballotpaper TheAmericanartistAndreSerranoachievedinternationalnotorietywhenhesuspendedacrucifixinaglassofhisownurine,andarecentexhibitioninLondonfeaturesafullsizedcrucifiedChristmadeofcigarettes,byartistSarahLucas. Offensivetheymaybe,andatleastsomeofthemareclearlymeanttobe.Artistshavealwaysusedthecrossasawayofgettingareaction.Anditisn'tjustpainterseither.Moviedirectorsarewellawareofitspotencytoo. AwallcoveredwithcrossesinPlayaDelCarmen,Mexico© Nomatterhowmuchthecrossgetsintopopularculture-nomatterhowmuchMadonnawearsacrossinhervideosorwhicheverrapstarwearsit-nomatterhowmuchthathappens,westillhaveacertainreverenceforthecrosswhichnevergoesawayandcausestheinvocationofthecrossonscreentobeaslightlyanxiouspursuit.Wheneveryouputthecrossonscreen,youhavetostartthinkingaboutwhatyou'redoingwithitbecausethepossibilityisthatyou'llgetintotrouble. Now,youtakeamovielike,forexample,KenRussell'sfilmTheDevils.TheDevilsofLoudan-it'satruehistoricalcaseabout17thcenturyFrance.Thebackgroundtothestoryisthatit'sapoliticalstoryinwhichCardinalRichelieuwastryingtoknockdownthewallsofLoudan.WhatRussellattemptedtodowasshowthathowtheorganisationofthechurchandtheorganisationofpoliticswasbecomingcorruptedwhilstthisman,thepriestwasquietlyfindinghisownfaithandthecentralsceneinthefilmwasascenewhichunfortunatelyhasnowbeentagged"therapeofChrist".WhathappensinthisfilmisthatGrandierisseenhavingaroadsidecommunion,veryquietlybreakingbread,takingwine,blessing...realisingthathehasapurposeinlifewhichistosavethetown.ThisisintercutwithaterriblespectaclegoingoninthecathedralatLoudaninwhichthesenunsbelievetheyarepossessed. They'vebeenwhippeduptobelieveitbytheseevilpoliticians;theyperformallmannerofsacrilegiousblasphemiesinthechurchandtheclimaxofthissequenceisthatthegroupofnunschargethealtar,teardownthisenormouscrucifix,lieitonthefloorofthecathedralandproceedtoassaultit.Nowthereasonthatsceneisinterestingtomeisthatwhenthatfilmwasmade,althoughitcontainedmanythingstomanypeoplethatwouldfindunacceptableeventoday,theonescenethatcameoutofthefilmintotalwasthesequencewiththecross.ThewholethingcameoutbecausewhenRussellmadethefilmheshowedittohisdistributorsandhisdistributorslookedatitandsaidno.Thereisnowayyouareputtingthatkindofdefilementofthecrossonanyscreenwithourmoney,thankyouverymuch. MarkKermode,filmdirector So,iffilmmakersunderstandthepowerofthecrosstostirupanaudience,whataboutmusicians?TheartistformerlyknownasPrincesurprisedhisfansin1987bydroppingasongcalledTheCrossintothemiddleofhisdancedoublealbum"Signo'theTimes".AndPrinceisn'ttheonlyone.InMadonna'svideosshedidn'tjustwearacross,sheworelotsofhugecrossesanddancedaroundlotsofothers.Sheevensetlighttothem. Ahwell.AsalapsedCatholic,Madonnaismorethanawareofthepowerofthecross.Andthatmeanswhenshesubvertsitorplayswithit,it'samorepowerfulmessageIsupposethansomebodylikeCatherineZetaJones,whomayjustliketowearaniceTiffanycross,orJudyFinnegan,whowearstheTiffanydiamondcrosseverydayonthetelevision.Ican'timagineJudyFinneganistryingtochallengetheChurchorchallengeconventionsbywearingadiamondTiffanycross.It'sjustapresentthatRichardgaveherandshelikesit.WhereasMadonna,writhingaroundonthefloorinaverylow-cutgowngraspingacrucifix-that'sadifferentstory. JamesSherwood,fashionjournalist MotherClaudiacomesface-to-facewiththeimageofChristcrucifiedcountlesstimesaday.There'sacrucifixonthewallofeveryroomofTyburnConventinLondon,whereshe'slivedfortenyears,andofcourse-likehalfthepopulationitseems-shewearsacrossaroundherneck. Inrecentyearsthereseemstohavebeenatendencytousethecrossasafashionornament.Icanonlysaythatyoucannot,youcanneverjudgeanindividualperson'sreasonfordoingthings.BecauseGodisGod...wecan'thurtHim;He'sbeyondthat.ButHe'salwaysthinkingofusandinhumanterms,ifpeopleinanyareaoranyreligionorbelieftakesomethingthat'ssacredtoagrouporareligionandmockit,anduseitinasacrilegiousorblasphemousway,thenthat'snotagoodthing.Andithasrepercussions-notsomuchhurtingthatgrouporreligion-ithurtsthatpersonintheirsoul,inawaythey'reprobablynotawareof.That'swhytheChristiantraditionwouldbequitewaryofpeoplemaybeusingitasafashionsymbolinaprofaneway. MotherClaudia,TyburnConvent Instrumentofexecution Ifthecrossisabused,mockedortrivialised,manypeoplestillfeeloutraged,butwhatabouttheoriginalimageitself?Isn'tthatprettyhorrifying?WhetherornotyouthinkJesuswastheSonofGod,thevisionofatorturedhumanbeinglefttodieinagony,hisarmsnailedwideopeninalostembrace,shouldbeoneofthemostshockingimagesinourculture.Butperhapsitisn'tanymore.Maybeoursaturationwithimagesofviolenceinoculatesusagainstit?FortheatredirectorDeborahWarner,thehorrorofthecrucifixionstillcutsthrough. Welltheviolenceofitappalsme.Ican'treallycometotermswiththatpartofit.Iabsolutelyunderstandthestrengthofthehugegesturethatsomebodygavetheironlyson.Butthattheygavetheironlysontothatdegreeoftorture,followedbydeath,doesseemveryhard.Crucifixionwasthewaythatpeoplewerekilled.Imeanitwasn'tchosenespeciallyonthatday. DeborahWarner,theatredirector ForDeborahWarner,everytimesheseesacross,she'sremindedofthebrutalityofwhathappenedonit.Forme,it'sagoodthingifitstillhasthepowertoturnourheadsandourstomachs.Ifwe'retooanaesthetisedtorespondwhenconfrontedwithwhattookplaceonthefirstGoodFriday,thenwe'velostsomethingprofound.I'msureithasn'tescapedyournotice,buttherewasablockbustermoviein2004thatsetouttochallengeournumbnessaboutthecross. MelGibson'sPassionoftheChristisquitethemostviolentmovieIsawthatthisyear.Itisclearlyahorrormovie.Itisabsolutely2hoursofrelentlesslyphysicaltortureandtome,ThePassionoftheChristwasabsolutelyafilmaboutanendurancetest-aphysicalendurancetestthatusedthelanguageofhorrorcinema.Itwasafilmaboutsomeonebeingflailedandbatteredandflagellatedandabusedandtorturedandthenturnedoverandhaditalldoneontheotherside.Andthen,youknow,incrediblygraphicallynailedtoacrossandthenhunginwhatIhavetosaywasglorious,goryrevelling.Now,Ipersonallydon'tfindthatparticularlyspiritualbeyondtheexperienceofextremecinema. Top Reinventingthecross Reinvented Ifoneindicationofalivingsymbolisthatitarousesstrongemotions,thenthecrossclearlyretainssomeofitsancientpower.Thoseemotionscanstillsurfacewhenafilmmakerorasingerorapainterwrithesaroundwithit,orcastsitinchocolate. Acrucifixamongnails© Butwhathappenswhenreligioussymbolsbecomesomuchapartofthewallpaperthatwenolongerseethematall?Throughouthistory,thecrosshasbeenre-imagined,asafishbone,awishbone,ananchor,ahookonwhichChristhangsasbaitforthedevil,awoodenbridgeconnectingGodwithhumanity.We'realwaysfindingwaysofmakingitnewagain. I'venoticedthatthedecorationsthatarethehighestfashionatthemomentaftertheMelGibsonfilmarenailsthatyouwearroundyourneck-crucifixionnails,threeincheslong. That'saprettynastyideawhenyouthinkaboutit.Butagain,Ithinkthat'sanattempttorecoupthepowerofthecross,realisingthatthesymbolhasprobablylostthepowertoshock.Butthenailshavenotlostthepowersonowyouhavethenails. AnnWroe,writerandhistorian What'shappenedwiththeGibsonfilmisthatpeople,becausetheyhavetothinkaboutitagain,arenotjustsimplyshockedbytheastonishinglevelofabusepriortodeath.HadChristbeenshotbyafiringsquadIdon'tknowthatwewould'vechosenthesymbolofthegun.Itwasveryhandythatitwasthatshape. DeborahWarner,theatredirector Isthecrossbecomingthecruciform-justageometricshapelikearectangleorsquare?Arewewitnessingthedeathofoneoftheworld'srichestandmostpotentsymbols?Well,Idon'tthinkso.Notyetanyway.Notwhiletherearestillpeoplewhobelieveitcanchangetheworld. EnthronmentoftheBishopofCoventryintheruinsofCoventryCathedral,1943 AttheheightoftheSecondWorldWar,thecityofCoventrysufferedveryheavybombingraids,anditsmedievalCathedralwasbroughttoitsknees.OneNovembermorningin1940,afteraparticularlydamagingattack,ayoungclergyman-PhilipWales-waspickingoverthemountainofrubblewhereonceagreatcathedralstood.Philip'sdaughterMarytakesupthestory. Itwaslaterexploringtheruinsbyhimselfthathefoundlyingontheground,undertheburntoutbeams,theenormousmedievalnailswhichhadheldthesebeamsinplace-theyareextraordinary-theyaresolarge.IwouldsaytheonesI'mlookingatthemomentareabout18"longandsomearebiggerthanthat.Theyarebeautifulintheirownright,asifacraftsmanhadmadethem. Myfatherbroughtahandfulofthemhome.Movingthesenailsaroundonthekitchentable,theyseemedtomoveeasilyintoplaceasacross.MyfatherfoundafirminCoventrywhowereabletoweldthesenailstogetherandanotherfirmwhoputacoatofsilvertocoverthem. Whenthedesignsweremadeforthenewcathedral,itwasdecidedrightfromtheverybeginningthatthesenailsmusthaveaspecialplaceinthenewcathedral. Mary,daughterofCoventryCathedralclergymanPhilipWales TheCoventrycrossofnailscametosymbolisenotjustthesufferingofwar,butalsothehopeofsurvival,ofresurrection.Now,theCrossofNailscommunityattherebuiltCoventryCathedraltakesitsdistinctivesymboltowar-zonesaroundtheworld,toinspirepeaceandreconciliation.CanonJustinWelbyisaleaderinthatcommunity. Inthatsense,thecrosswithinChristianthinkingmarkstheendofdisruptionofarelationship,andofanewfuture.Andwesee,intheworkwedonowintheCommunityoftheCrossofNailsandinourreconciliationworld-wide,thatthecrossisapowerfulwayofdemonstratinghope.Becauseitspeaksofthepossibilityofnewharmoniousandpeacefulrelationships.FirstwithGodandthenwithothers. Iworkveryofteninareasofconflict.Andyoutakepeopleroundthecross,oryoutalkaboutthecrossofnailsorallowthemtoholdthesmallcrossofnailsthatwewearroundournecks,youbeginimmediatelytofindatransformingofattitudes.Thereisapowerwithinthecrosswhichreachesdeepintothehumanheartandintothehumanemotions,thatchallengeshatredandchallengesunforgiveness,andchallengesacommitmenttoviolence. CanonJustinWelby,CrossofNailscommunity Meaningful? It'ssucharichsymbol-asymbolofhealing,sacrifice,reconciliation,hope,love-buthowmuchofthatisstillheldaftertwothousandyears,inthepure,clearshapeofthecrosseswewear?MotherClaudiaofTyburnConventbelievesthere'sawholeworldofmeaningineventhesimplestcross. Thephysicalsymbolofthecross-there'saverticalcomingdownfromheaven,enteringintotheearth,implantedintheearth.There'sthehorizontal,thehuman,crossingthevertical,crossingthedivine. Ifyoutakeawayoneofthoseparts,thevertical-there'snocross.Ifyoutakeawaythehorizontal-there'snocross. Soit'sthefusion,theunionofthosetwoaspects-thedivineandthehuman-thatgivesthecrossitspoweranditssignificanceanditsmeaning;thatGodisalwayswithusandHe'sparticularlywithusinoursufferings,inourcross.AndhecannotandwillnotseparateHimselffromusinoursufferings-he'salwaystheretohelpusandconsoleus,giveusthestrengthtogoon. Soitisagreatsymbolofhopeinthatway.Youcanlookupatthecrossandseethevertical,andkeepgoinguptoGod,toHeaven. MotherClaudia,TyburnConvent Ofcourse,thecrossisnottheonlysignofChristianity.Whenmodernbelieversdisplayfish-shapedlapelbadgesorcarstickers,they'reconnectingwithatraditiongoingrightbacktotheearliestChristians. Theubiquitouscross.JusticeliveatRadio1'sBigWeekend2008 Butthere'ssomethingaboutthecrossthatstillholdsusinitssway.ThepoetRSThomasputthesurvivalofthecrossdowntoitsgreatsimplicity,itsperfectgeometry.Butformeithasmorethanthat.Ithaseverything.Itconnectswiththeviolenceandthegoodnessofhumanityinequalmeasure.Itdeepensmysenseofwhatitmeanstobeaparent,tobesomeone'schild,tolove,tolose,tosuffer,tohope.Forsome,itrepresentstheseminaleventinhumanhistory.Forothers,it'sagreatpieceofjewellery.Butitstillcounts.Itstillmatters. Thepointofallthisisnomatterhowpoppyortrashyone'ssensibilityofthecrossbecomes,thankstotheMadonnavideosanditturningupinhorrorvideosandgangstermovies,thereisbehindit,still,anabsoluteanxietythatitmeansmorethanthat.Thereissomethingaboutthatsymbolthatyouhavetobecarefulwithandit'sinterestingthatveryoften,whenthatformofcinemaoverstepsthatboundaryasfarasthecensorsordistributorsoraudienceareconcerned,thesymbolofthecrossisinvolvedinit.Peoplearemorereverentialaboutthesymbolofthecrossthanperhapsthesecularworldthatweliveinwouldsuggest. MarkKermode,filmdirector Top Findoutmore ThePassionofJesus WhoKilledJesus? 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