The Jerusalem cross is undeniably a very important symbol of the Middle Ages and still today. Throughout the ages, different variants have been used by a number of people and organizations. Sometimes referred to as the Fylfot Cross, the swastika is one of the ancient symbols whose application supersedes the date of Christianity and embraced a cross with varied cultures all over the world. In Christianity, it represented decorative motives. Popularity: The Papal Cross is popular mostly amongst the context of the Catholic Church, more commonly during its papal ceremonies as well as in Vatican’s iconography. During the medieval period, the crucified Christ was commonly portrayed as a serene figure. The representation tended to change over the centuries, to Christ as a tortured, twisted victim. Different meanings Popularity: The St. Andrew’s Cross is especially very popular in Scotland itself, where it appears on the national flag. It is also largely used in heraldry and features on several national flags other than Scotland – Jamaica and the Confederate flag of the United States being prominent examples.

Helena’s supposed “finding” of the cross itself was given its own feast day in May: the “Invention of the Cross.” Both feasts were celebrated in Rome by the seventh century.It is sometimes sad to see that some people forget what forms the basis of the Christian religion, and sometimes willingly put material things into it. As believers, the cross of Jerusalem reminds us of the centrality of Jesus in our lives and the importance of the message of the Gospel in our daily lives. Shape: The Tau-Rho Cross presents itself as a combination of two Greek letters, Tau (Τ) and Rho (Ρ), by placing the loop of Rho over the vertical bar of the Tau to display Christ’s crucifixion. Throughout history, the Jerusalem Cross has held different meanings for different groups of people. For Christians, it symbolizes the five wounds of Christ and represents the spreading of the Gospel to the four corners of the world. It has also been adopted as a symbol of the Crusades and the Christian presence in Jerusalem. In addition, the Jerusalem Cross is often seen as a symbol of unity and tolerance among different Christian denominations. The design is also found on coins minted under his successor, the last king of Jerusalem, Henry II (forumancientcoins.com)

Some people believe that the cross of Jerusalem symbolizes the Bible. The cross potent in the middle, which is considered to be made of four tau crosses (in the shape of T letters), is seen as the representation of the Old Testament while the four crosslets are seen as the representation of the New Testament and its four gospels. A Crusader Cross Illustration by Sidhe The Five Crusader Nations Many churches and cathedrals around the world incorporate the Jerusalem Cross into their architectural designs. These crosses can be seen in stained glass windows, façades, domes, and other decorative elements. The presence of the Jerusalem Cross in these religious structures serves to emphasize the Christian heritage and connection to Jerusalem. Religious ArtworkCrosses as Protection: Each smaller cross within the Jerusalem Cross is believed to represent a certain virtue or aspect of Christian faith, such as faith, hope, love, and forgiveness. These crosses are seen as symbols of protection against evil and the divine presence in one’s life. The Unicode character set has a character ☩, U+2629 CROSS OF JERUSALEM in the Miscellaneous Symbols table. However, the glyph associated with that character according to the official Unicode character sheet is shown as a simple cross potent, and not a Jerusalem cross. Popularity: Though not much in use in the modern times, Chi Rho has an historic significance and at times is applied to liturgical arts and even Catholic heraldry.

Another interpretation of the Jerusalem cross is that it represents Jesus and his four evangelists: Mark, Matthew, John, and Luke. Popularity: Found in church and appearing through much of Christian iconography, the Botonee Cross is a universally popular cross across sects. But even before that, the cross was used in a divisive way. During the High Middle Ages, the cross became connected with a series of religious wars waged from Christian Europe to liberate the Holy Land from the grasp of Muslim rulers. Jerusalem crusaderscaptured Jerusalem in 1099, overthrowing Islamic rule. Godfrey de Bouillon, one of the leaders of the Crusaders, was the one to adopt the Jerusalem cross. A famous piece of early-third century Roman wall art, the “Alexamenos graffito,” depicts two human figures, with the head of a donkey, arms stretched out in a T-shaped cross, with the caption “Alexamenos worships his god.”Christianity was outlawed at the time in the Roman Empire and criticized by some as a religion for fools. The caricature of “Alexamenos,” offering prayers to this crucified figure was a way of depicting Christ with a donkey’s head and ridiculing his god.

The symbolism of the five-fold cross is variously given as the Five Wounds of Christ, Christ and the four evangelists, or Christ and the four quarters of the world. The symbolism of five crosses representing the Five Wounds is first recorded in the context of the consecration of the St Brelade's Church under the patronage of Robert of Normandy (before 1035); the crosses are incised in the church's altar stone. While the basic design of the Jerusalem Cross remains the same, there are variations in its appearance. Some crosses may have more intricate and decorative details, such as ornate filigree or gemstones. The proportions of the crosses may also vary. However, the distinct shape and arrangement of the central and smaller crosses are always present. How is the Jerusalem Cross used in contemporary times? Believers could share in this victory by being baptized, forgiven of past sin and “reborn” into a new life in the Christian community, the church. Christians, then, frequently referred to the Christ’s cross both as the “wood of life” and as a “victorious Cross.” The true cross? In modern times, the Jerusalem Cross continues to be used as a religious symbol, as well as a cultural emblem. It appears in various forms of Christian art, jewelry, and religious artifacts, serving as a reminder of faith and pilgrimage. The Jerusalem Cross is also incorporated into the flags and coats of arms of different organizations, cities, and regions that have historical or cultural connections to Jerusalem and the Crusades. Jerusalem Cross in Art and Architecture History: After Emperor Constantine I, having seen these letters in a dream with the inscription “In this sign, you shall conquer,” and then gaining victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, the Chi Rho Cross became a considerable symbol of Christianity.

The Jerusalem cross is often used in frequency selective surface applications. The Jerusalem cross is an attractive choice for the periodic element because such a choice makes the frequency selective surface less sensitive to angle of incidence. [14] See also [ edit ] Popularity: The Patriarchal Cross is excessively popular in Europe as well as the Middle East being more famous among Orthodox Catholics and Byzantine.