Bushmaster said:
Hello brothers, sisters,
I want to ask you, I am a cathecumen in the Orthodox church, would it be OK to use the Orthodox Cross under my name on these forums? I thought I should ask permission for this.
I should say that there is only ONE CROSS symbol of Christians and we should not look at different styles as Orthodox Cross, or Catholic, or Protestant although intense use of some cross styles by different rites could have led to a perception that that cross is the rites cross.
Some practical reasons, like on this forum, have their background. But since you were once baptized, then you are a Christian and can dispaly whatever kind of cross.
What on this forum is associated with the Orthodox Cross, it is almost identical with the Lorraine Cross used by the Free France of general de Gaule so very Catholic, but to me as a Romanian, this is a Russian Cross and the Cross style used in Romania, or by the Patriarchate of Greece or Constatinople are different from that, these, especially Greek style crosses, have only 4 equal arms.
My suggestion: do not focuse on exterior signs. This is explicable by your intense desire to BE Orthodox and there is nothing wrong, but a cross is a cross and as mentioned, when you would travell thru traditionally Orthodox countries you ill find out that different Cross styles are used than this asociated on this forum with orthodox. This is only a local convention, but do not do of this a dogma.
You will also find out that there can be slightly different customs in different Orthodox communites even in same country.
To be an Orthodox, other thinks are required, not the style of the Cross, like: being baptized, accepting only those dogmas recognized in the orthodox Church as the Nicene Creed without adding filioque, rejecting the Immaculate Conception, the Infaibility of the Pope, being communicated with both wine and bread and many others that a priest will tell you.
One evident exterior sign for Orthodoxes is the way they cross themselves meaning first right shoulder and then the left one and also how he/she keeps the fingers.
An other aspect could be this: as an Orthodox do not worshid 3D representations of Jesus Christ, saints etc wuth the exception of the Cross itself. connected to this I would like to relate you something and see what would be your opinion.
On Sept. 28th, the local Czech Orthodox Church celebrated Saint Ludmila, a Czech Saint from 10th century . She has her tomb in a catholic Church, but the Orthodox Clergy was allowed to conduct a Divine Service (there was not a Liturgy, this is the reason I used Service) there and after that we bowed and worshiped at Saint's tomb. As it was in a Catholic Cucrch , a big crucifix with Jesus Christ as a statue (i.e. 3D) was nearby and some people worshiped this too. I consider that this was mistake. I did not worship the 3D representation.
As I am acquinted from Romania and Czech (where I now live) the Orthodox crucifixes do not use a 3D representation of Christ, but a 2D, i.e. He is flat , painted.
From this point of view I think that you should pay more attention to what you worship and not to the Cross style, which is irelevant.
But about crucifixes, apart of the 3D vs. 2D difference, which is extremely relevant, I would like to
I would like to share you an other fact which is insuficiently known even to clergy in traditional Orthodox countries. I was told this by several priests and monks with higher theological education so I trusted them.
I am sharing this with you so you also check it over there and find out if correct or not.
It reffers to all representations of Jesus Christ on the Cross either icons or crucifixes.
It was stated that the Catholic Church represents Jesus Christ with 3 nails, while the Orthodox Church with 4 nails, one more for each foot as it is also stated in the Gospel (I must confess that i did not read the Gospel, but those priests and monks stated that it is like this). From my research, there is like this in most case in this part of Europe, but I found exceptions on both sides, but with the advantage of the catholics, who breaking their "rule", corrected the mistake. I consider that if there are 4 nails in the Gospel, there must be also 4 in any representation.
One could object that this is not important, but on my opinion it is VERY important because if we do not respect clear evidence, then no doubt that other less clear aspects for untrained people can lead to anywhere.... Well, all you Orthodox understand well what I mean...
So what is your opinion ?
By the way, is that your patron saint in the avatar? Who is it?
