The pectoral cross is not only a symbol of faith, but also protection from the evil eye or evil spirits. That is why it is recommended to wear a cross throughout your life from the moment of baptism until your departure to another world. However, some people also add a small icon to the cross as additional protection, which is also a sacred amulet. But many people don’t know whether it’s possible to wear two symbols of faith at the same time, which is why questions arise: can they be worn together and on the same chain?
The meaning of the pectoral cross
Before answering the question posed, we need to understand the meaning of the body amulet. After all, every believer should know what exactly the cross means and symbolizes. For every Orthodox person, the cross that he wears on his body symbolizes salvation. According to Christian teaching, this item means that a person wears his personal cross throughout his life, given to him after the sacrament of Baptism. There is another interpretation of this religious symbol. Also in Orthodoxy, it can symbolize the believer’s victory over sin. By putting on a cross, a person protects himself from sinful acts and the influence of evil forces.
Since the cross is considered a talisman, it should not be taken off often. He should always be with a person to protect him. By wearing it on the body, a person confesses Christ and confirms the sincerity of his faith. It should only be removed when absolutely necessary. For example, when undergoing medical procedures that require that there are no foreign objects on the human body.
Chain weave and width
First of all, you should know one unshakable rule: the weight of the cross should be half the weight of the chain. This applies to both gold, silver and platinum, as well as alloys. When weaving chains, it is best to choose the strongest ones - this could be anchor weaving, bismarck, or shell.
If you choose an openwork chain for a cross, then there may be two drawbacks to it. The first is that the cross should slide along the chain, and in this case it will cling to the protrusions. Secondly, you can easily find a cross where it should not be in principle, for example, on the neck.
Age also plays an important role when choosing a chain for a cross. Older women rarely open their décolleté, unless, of course, they have had lifts. When choosing the length and width of the chain, you must again rely on your wardrobe.
In addition, build should also be taken into account. A thick chain on a thin neck can feel like an anchor chain, so be sure to consider its width and weave when choosing.
The attitude of the church towards body icons
Body icons are considered the most important attribute of the Christian faith. They must accompany a believer throughout his life. It is necessary to put such icons on people from infancy. This amulet will protect him from evil and committing bad deeds. They cannot be removed unless absolutely necessary, since without them a person will remain unprotected.
Most body icons depict images of saints. They are of great importance for every person who sincerely believes in God. You can read about the first body icon in the Bible. It describes one incident from the life of Christ when he healed a sick person with the help of such a sacred image. It was after this incident that Christ’s commandment about icon veneration appeared. Such small body images are no less significant than ordinary icons. They are revered in the Christian church in the same way as wall images of saints.
Icons
By the way, wearing icons on the body, according to Orthodox canons, is not encouraged at all. Icons are intended for heartfelt conversations with God and the Saints; it is appropriate to have them with you, and therefore placing them on a chain is a kind of indulgence, because the icon flutters in your pocket and can get lost.
Also, one of the reasons for the prohibition of wearing a cross and an icon at the same time is the fact that the icon can cover the body cross, and this is categorically not acceptable in the Orthodox tradition. You can often hear statements that the Church believes that wearing these symbols at the same time is considered disrespect for the Christian faith.
In addition, the Orthodox tradition professes the principle of moderation. Based on this, a true believer must know moderation in everything, including the rules of wearing the holy signs of faith. The Orthodox Church does not welcome those believers who are hung with many sacred symbols. Such a manner will only demonstrate a desire for all sorts of excesses and an ostentatious lifestyle, and not true faith and admiration for God. One pectoral cross will look much nicer and more modest than a string of other symbols of faith.
How to wear body icons correctly
Before wearing a body icon around your neck, you need to familiarize yourself with how to choose it correctly. When choosing such a product, pay attention to what it is made of. Popular icons are made of gold or silver. Their main advantage is wear resistance, thanks to which they will last for many years. They are of such high quality that some people pass them on from generation to generation.
Therefore, it is recommended to give preference to products that are made from these alloys.
Each person has the right to independently choose the image on the icon, since there are no strict rules for choosing. However, there are certain traditions that have been followed for many years. For example, images with the Mother of God are more suitable for women. There are many icons depicting the Mother of God. If you wish, you can choose for yourself an icon with the face of the Kazan, Seven-Shot or Vladimir Mother of God. Men are suitable for amulets that depict:
- Jesus Christ;
- St. George the Victorious;
- Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Wearing body icons is quite simple. You just need to hang them around your neck and don’t take them off unless necessary.
You cannot wear a cross with other jewelry.
This is complete nonsense! The fact is that any believer is required to wear a pectoral cross, without removing it under any circumstances. If it were impossible to combine the Orthodox cross with jewelry, then many people would never wear jewelry at all. For example, there is nothing wrong with wearing a pectoral cross at the same time as earrings or a ring.
But if you wear, in addition to the cross, some kind of pendant, medallion, pendant, there are special rules. In particular, these decorations should be placed separately. The cross is on its chain, the pendant is on its own. In this case, the decoration must be made of the same metal from which the cross is made. The exception is ordinary jewelry. You can also wear a cross with beads.
The chain on which the cross hangs should be of such length that the cross can be hidden under clothing. You shouldn't wear it with a deep neckline unless it's very hot outside. Other jewelry can be removed at night, but the cross should remain on you during sleep.
Pectoral crosses in our catalog
Our store's assortment includes decorative and Christian/Catholic models of crosses with silver and gold plated for women, men and children. You can purchase crosses with various inserts: cubic zirconia, semi-precious and precious stones.
Crystals
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Pectoral cross with crystals
29.00 rub.
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Pectoral Orthodox cross Save and Preserve golden
28.00 rub.
Jewelry glass PreciosaJewelry glassGlass
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Silver cross with crystals “Krasnaya Presnya”
24.00 rub.
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So which is better to choose?
The priests agree that a thing cannot be a miraculous protection from evil; one should not fall into pagan superstitions. The protection of an Orthodox Christian lies in prayer, humility, mercy and repentance. It is important to go to confession, to share what is tormenting you, thus relieving your soul. A righteous lifestyle will reliably protect you from sin and evil spirits.
Religion preaches modesty and abstinence, so you should definitely refrain from excessive decoration, even if it is related to Christian themes.
The Church and God care about the salvation of the soul, and not about the number of amulets hung on a parishioner’s neck. Essentially, amulet is reassuring yourself with the knowledge that the saint is always nearby, you need to thank him for every day you live. A pectoral cross is an ancient symbol of faith, a distinctive sign of a Christian who observes the traditions of the church; it can be worn separately or together with an amulet.
The main thing is that you like the product. When choosing, you should carefully study the assortment; a cross or amulet should resonate in the soul with warmth and peace.
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Do not wear over clothing
The pectoral cross should be worn under clothing. Only priests have the right to wear crosses over their clothes, and even then only in the Russian Orthodox Church. Among the Greeks, even priests wear a cross under their clothes. You cannot boast about an expensive cross, showing it to everyone - this is a sign of pride and boastfulness.
The cross is worn secretly so that the pagans cannot desecrate the shrine. A priest from the village of Aleksino near Moscow, Archpriest Igor Fomin, believes that faith must be demonstrated through deeds and actions. He says that passers-by twice tried to spit on his crucifix - once in Moscow, and the second time in Jerusalem.
Ladanka
Incense is, first of all, a talisman. Initially, it was a simple bag in which people carried particles of relics, holy land, and prayers. Nowadays, incense boxes are most often made in the form of icons, images of patron saints. And the meaning of the incense has not changed. It is designed to protect and protect its wearer from all sorts of ailments and misfortunes.
The incense, unlike the pectoral cross, is not a mandatory attribute of a believer. To wear it or not to wear it is a personal matter.
Is it possible to wear a pendant in the shape of a cross?
If desired, each person can wear a pendant in the form of a cross or with the image of a saint. However, it is impossible to replace a pectoral cross with such decoration. After all, it has a certain power and significance for a person. After all, a child often begins to wear such a talisman from birth, and attaches special meaning to it. Every Orthodox person must have his own sacred talisman, which cannot be worn by another person.
Many people perceive such an accessory not as a holy symbol and amulet, but as an ordinary decoration. Therefore, the issue is not given much attention. Girls and boys wear products every day without wondering whether this can be done. After all, now there is a lot of jewelry of different shapes and textures. Which one can you wear and which one should you discard?
If the pendant in the form of a cross is not sacred, but simple jewelry. It can be worn to create a festive or themed look. Sacred underwear is worn without taking off. It must be under clothing and hidden if possible. It is best if the chain is long so that it can be removed over the neck without unfastening it.
Superstitions about this
There are a lot of superstitions about this. However, not all are true. For those who believe in omens and superstitions, you should pay attention to the following:
- Often girls, in addition to the pectoral cross, also wear pendants with saints around their necks. Priests claim that you can wear icons with a cross at the same time. But only so that the two jewelry are on different chains or threads. This is due to the fact that the cross is the central Orthodox symbol, and icons play only a secondary role.
- You cannot wear a cross with other jewelry at the same time. With this combination, the following rules must be observed: all jewelry must be on separate chains. The jewelry must be made of the same metal as the sacred pendant.
Note: girls are allowed to wear jewelry (beads, pendants, etc.) with sacred symbols.
Does a cross pendant have a place as a decorative element?
If in the old days only Orthodox baptized people wore crosses, now anyone can wear jewelry with such a symbol. Such a product can be an excellent decorative element in different styles and images. However, you should be careful and approach the choice of jewelry and decorations with extreme caution. If a person is superstitious, then you should pay attention to other forms of jewelry.
What modern fashion says
Modern fashion goes beyond the rules. Today, every person has the right to decide for himself what can and cannot be worn on the street. In jewelry stores you can find a variety of products for both girls and boys. There are crosses, pendants, amulet and much more. To complete the look, you definitely need to select the right jewelry. And then passers-by will not be able to take their eyes off you.
Source
Is it possible to wear a pendant in the shape of a cross?
Today in church shops you can find a large number of different decorations with images of saints. Therefore, many Orthodox people have a question: is it possible to wear a cross with other jewelry, or can a pendant in the shape of a cross act as a decorative adornment in modern fashion? The opinion of many experts and fashion designers is contradictory. However, everyone comes to the same opinion. Every person should realize that the cross is a symbol of salvation. Therefore, it must be treated with extreme caution. Such a pendant can be an accessory in different looks, but you need to be able to combine and choose the right decoration for your bow. So as not to harm yourself and not spoil the image.
Never, never take it off?
If people of a different faith, pagans or atheists demand that you remove your cross, you should turn yourself in so as not to renounce Christ, says priest Pavel Konkov. He also stipulates that in exceptional cases it can be worn secretly on the body. But there are places in which you really have to remove the shrine - for example, during an operation or during an examination in a tomograph, where the patient should not have metal objects on him. In this case, it is better to remove the cross or put on a wooden cross on a cord in advance.
During the operation, says Fr. Andrey Efanov, you can attach the cross to your wrist or take it off and entrust yourself to God. This is dictated by the safety of the patient and is not a renunciation of Christ. If you are asked to remove the cross on a water slide or in another place of entertainment, then you should think about whether you need this entertainment?
