The Holy Cross the Mystery

👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾On the Holy Cross: The Mystery on #Types of #Cross in the Church (Part 3) ✍🏾Beloved in Christ, sons and daughters of the Holy Church, let us open our eyes not to the shadows of the world but to the blazing light of the Cross, which shines more radiant than the sun. The Cross is not one, simple, poor object. It is the fountain of mysteries, the seal of faith, the throne of the King. Therefore the Church, with her profound wisdom and artistic vision, has adorned the Cross in many forms, that through visible shapes she may reveal to us invisible truths. ✍🏾The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has long been a treasury of sacred art and holy symbols: her paintings, her vestments, her sacred festivals, even the gestures of joy and mourning all proclaim the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Yet among these, the Cross stands supreme, for it is not mere ornament but the very sign of salvation. When we gaze upon its design, our hearts must not stop at its outward beauty. Rather, the icons must pierce our understanding and awaken in us the memory of Christ crucified. For what is a picture worth, if the mystery is not perceived? ✍🏾Thus the Church, like a wise mother, has given us many kinds of crosses. She names them, fashions them from diverse materials, and sets them in service, so that we may learn from every angle the depth of Christ’s work for us. Just as Scripture speaks in manifold ways of the same Lord, so the Cross is shown in manifold forms, each form unveiling another facet of Christ’s saving work. If we behold these icons with faith and understanding, then Christ is painted upon our hearts; but if we look without discernment, we remain blind like the Galatians, before whom Christ was portrayed as crucified, yet they did not perceive His grace (Galatians 3:1). I. The Cross by Material 👉🏾 Wooden Cross: Symbolizes the very wood upon which our Lord was crucified. 👉🏾 Iron Cross: Represents the five iron nails with which our Lord was fastened to the Cross. 👉🏾 Silver Cross: Reminds us of Judas’s betrayal, when he sold our Lord for thirty pieces of silver. 👉🏾 Gold Cross: Signifies the pure and incorruptible nature of our Lord. 👉🏾 Copper Cross: Copper, with its red hue, symbolizes the blood of Christ. II. The Cross by Design 👉🏾Arwe Birt Cross ( አርዌ ብርት መስቀል): Symbolizes the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness. 👉🏾 Apostle Cross (ሐዋርያ መስቀል): Represents the apostles traveling to every nation, preaching and teaching the Gospel. 👉🏾 Qerne Begi-e Cross (ቀርነ በግዕ መስቀል): Signifies our Lord as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 👉🏾 Awde Alem Cross (አውደ አለም መስቀል): A symbol of the salvation of all people through the Cross of Christ. 👉🏾 Lenginos Cross (ሌንጊኖስ መስቀል): Reminds us of the spear that pierced the side of our Lord. 👉🏾 Keranyo Cross(ቀራንዮ መስቀል): Points directly to the Cross on Calvary, where our Lord was crucified. 👉🏾 Lisane Ke Lebat Cross( ልሳነ ከለባት መስቀል): Symbolizes the saints guarding the Church with their teachings, just as a faithful dog guards the house of its master. 👉🏾Timhrte Ntfit Cross (ትምህርተ ንትፊት መስቀል): Depicts the sufferings of our Lord His side pierced, His head crowned with thorns, and His body wounded for our salvation. 👉🏾 Etse Sabek Cross(እፀ ሳቤቅ መስቀል): Represents Christ as the sacrificial Lamb, foreshadowed in the ram offered in place of Isaac. It is also associated with the Sabeq leaf, a symbol of this sacrifice. 👉🏾 Estegbue' Cross(እስተግቡዕ መስቀል): A composite design that brings together elements of different crosses, Continues 👇🏾