Baptismal cross worn over your clothes?

[SeraphimSarov]

I wear mine over my clothes. I also have a cross tatted on my left arm and a chi rho on my right. I have been like Peter and publicly denied Christ in the past, so I made sure I couldn't hide my faith ever again. Another reason is simply because I need the reminders throughout the day to pray and to be Christ to others. I also find myself holding my baptismal cross when I'm nervous.

 

[Nephi]

The other day I saw your screen name and thought, "Nephi? Mormon? uh,....nah...." LOL

I guess it could be worse. You could be called "Lamanite1"

Haha, yeah. Although I do like the name "Nephi" even now so it's not too bad.

 

[Monica23]

Hi! My name is Monica and I'm a newbie

I think it depends on the motivation you have for wearing it: some may wear it for more 'personal' and symbolic reasons, while some may consider it as a way to bear testimony to their faith in public and be identifiable as Christians. Some others, as said above, may see it as ornamental too.

Personally, I have a strong sentimental attachment to the cross I wear (it's not baptismal, just a small plain gold one) because it used to belong to a late very close relative. For this reason, I wear it always under my clothes and on a fairly long chain, because for me it only makes sense to wear it if it is in contact with my skin and as close as possible to my heart.

Having said that, I don't have a problem at all with people wearing a cross over their clothes - as long as they have respect for it!

 

[Mariya116]

Hi! My name is Monica and I'm a newbie

I think it depends on the motivation you have for wearing it: some may wear it for more 'personal' and symbolic reasons, while some may consider it as a way to bear testimony to their faith in public and be identifiable as Christians. Some others, as said above, may see it as ornamental too.

Personally, I have a strong sentimental attachment to the cross I wear (it's not baptismal, just a small plain gold one) because it used to belong to a late very close relative. For this reason, I wear it always under my clothes and on a fairly long chain, because for me it only makes sense to wear it if it is in contact with my skin and as close as possible to my heart.

Having said that, I don't have a problem at all with people wearing a cross over their clothes - as long as they have respect for it!

Hi Monica, this is also how I wear my cross - on a long chain under my clothes.

 

[Fotina]

I wear mine over my clothes. I also have a cross tatted on my left arm and a chi rho on my right. I have been like Peter and publicly denied Christ in the past, so I made sure I couldn't hide my faith ever again. Another reason is simply because I need the reminders throughout the day to pray and to be Christ to others. I also find myself holding my baptismal cross when I'm nervous.

 

[Fotina]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Egyptian Copts are often tattooed with crosses, meanwhile, which has been interpreted as a defense against forced conversion. Similar cross tattoos were to be seen among Christians (especially females) in Turkish-occupied Balkan Europe, for similar reasons... Egyptian Christians usually have small crosses tattooed on their wrists, their Ethiopian co-religionists (again, especially females) tattoo their foreheads with rather big ones. I would guess that the custom also derives from times of Islamic invasion threat, and was originally a deterrant from forced conversion.
[/FONT]http://www.egyptsearch.com/forums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=8;t=007383

 

[Monica23]

Hi Monica, this is also how I wear my cross - on a long chain under my clothes.

Hi Mariya,

can I ask if in your knowledge the Russian Church offers any advice/guidance about the length of the chain?

I'm asking this because I've noticed many times that long chains seem to be more popular among Orthodox Christians, whereas a short chain seems to be the favourite choice of Catholic women who wear a cross, and I've always wondered whether it depends on different traditions, culture or what else.

Again, I have nothing to object to those who wish to wear it on a short chain, it's a personal choice - but when I bought the chain a few years ago, I asked myself 'I'm probably going to wear this Cross, this symbol of Love and Faith, every day for the rest of my life. Where do I want it to be? Down here at the centre of my main vital organ, itself a powerful symbol of Life and Love, whose continuous beating allows me to be alive in this world - or shall I instead wear it up here, close to... uhm... my thyroid gland, which is so important for... well I'm not even exactly sure what it does actually'
... and you know what I decided

If anyone has different views on why either a short or long chain would be preferable, I'd be interested if they wanted to share them.

 

[Mariya116]

can I ask if in your knowledge the Russian Church offers any advice/guidance about the length of the chain?

Gee, when it comes to what the Church teaches, you've gotta ask someone else here. I just wear a long chain because it hides the cross under my clothes, and I can take it off easily if I need to.

 

[Ann_of_Love]

I have a particular lady problem in the realm of fashion - it's very hard to keep my top side modest (ifyouknowwhatimean :o). I try my best, but I really need to start buying camis from LDS modesty shops. I wear mine on shorter chains so that nothing draws the eye lower.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Hi! My name is Monica and I'm a newbie

welcome!

I think it depends on the motivation you have for wearing it: some may wear it for more 'personal' and symbolic reasons, while some may consider it as a way to bear testimony to their faith in public and be identifiable as Christians. Some others, as said above, may see it as ornamental too.

yeah, far too many people see them as trendy or whatever, and that's why you see so many gaudy ones out there.

Personally, I have a strong sentimental attachment to the cross I wear (it's not baptismal, just a small plain gold one) because it used to belong to a late very close relative. For this reason, I wear it always under my clothes and on a fairly long chain, because for me it only makes sense to wear it if it is in contact with my skin and as close as possible to my heart.

Having said that, I don't have a problem at all with people wearing a cross over their clothes - as long as they have respect for it!

sounds good

 

[Dorothea]

I have a particular lady problem in the realm of fashion - it's very hard to keep my top side modest (ifyouknowwhatimean :o). I try my best, but I really need to start buying camis from LDS modesty shops. I wear mine on shorter chains so that nothing draws the eye lower.

I feel your pain. I always try to dress modestly not only to church but everywhere. I have a bit of that same problem...after children, sometimes one doesn't really go back to what they were before children.

I always like to wear a cotton tank top under shirts that may dip down a bit. That way I don't have to worry about cleavage and also makes me less self-conscious.

 

[Dorothea]

Hi Mariya,

can I ask if in your knowledge the Russian Church offers any advice/guidance about the length of the chain?

I'm asking this because I've noticed many times that long chains seem to be more popular among Orthodox Christians, whereas a short chain seems to be the favourite choice of Catholic women who wear a cross, and I've always wondered whether it depends on different traditions, culture or what else.

Again, I have nothing to object to those who wish to wear it on a short chain, it's a personal choice - but when I bought the chain a few years ago, I asked myself 'I'm probably going to wear this Cross, this symbol of Love and Faith, every day for the rest of my life. Where do I want it to be? Down here at the centre of my main vital organ, itself a powerful symbol of Life and Love, whose continuous beating allows me to be alive in this world - or shall I instead wear it up here, close to... uhm... my thyroid gland, which is so important for... well I'm not even exactly sure what it does actually'
... and you know what I decided

If anyone has different views on why either a short or long chain would be preferable, I'd be interested if they wanted to share them.

I think it's personal preference. I used to have a long chain for my previous cross for quite a long time, but I didn't really like that length. I like the 18" length because it stays flat on my upper chest and not as irritating when it's too low.