new cross vs. baptismal cross

zhilan · Dec 27, 2008

I have my baptismal cross from my Chrismation that I wear all the time. For Christmas my mom bought me a beautiful cross that she wants me to wear. Should I wear both of them? What do you usually do? Do you keep your baptismal cross forever, or do you change it out? I never take off my baptismal cross so I'm not sure what to do.

I know it's kind of a silly question, but I'm not sure what to do as my mom really wants me to wear this cross she bought me, and it is very beautiful.

Khaleas · Dec 27, 2008

I guess it really depends on the cross, how large it is etc. I wear my cross under my clothes so it doesn't really matter. My husband gave me a sapphire cross and I wear it on the same chain as my chrismation cross. I also wear a small St Nicholas pendant on it. They are both considerably smaller than my chrismation cross (which is just over an inch long, the other cross and pendant are less than half of the main cross).

zhilan · Dec 27, 2008

They are both about the same size, which is the size of a small woman's necklace cross (maybe the size of a nickle?)

AureateDawn · Dec 27, 2008

Wear one under your shirt and the other over it?

E.C. · Dec 28, 2008

Well, I had my cross from my Chrismation and a cross that was given as a gift later on.

The Chrismation cross was quite small and began to decay on the corners because of sweating and the like. It now hangs from an icon in my icon corner.

The cross I wear now has not yet began to decay. If it were to (it's sterling silver, may be a while) than to prevent further decay, it would probably hang from a different icon.

The Chrismation cross I'll probably keep with me to the grave, but because it started to decay, I probably may not wear it.

Michael G · Dec 28, 2008

My cross from my Chrismation and the chain it was on I changed out a few years ago. Both were worn daily and never taken off and the cross was getting a bit rough. I started by changing the sterling silver chain for an 18k gold chain and then later replaced the cross with a much bigger 14k gold cross. I only wear the new cross, the old one is in a jewelry box.

rusmeister · Dec 28, 2008

The crosses here are usually blessed by a priest, so they generally are "svyatyny" (holy things). I wouldn't wear just any old cross, myself.

Crosses are only symbols, of course, and things can happen outside of our control to deprive us of our baptismal crosses. It's not magic, after all. But still, symbols mean something, and a cross produced for a Las Vegas wedding chapel is not the same as a cross prepared and sold by an Orthodox church - if we are chrismated in it, all the more so.

Bessie · Dec 28, 2008

I probably would wear the chrismation cross under my clothes and wear the new cross outside, as jewelry. You might also ask your priest to bless your new one?

choirfiend · Dec 28, 2008

Have your priest bless the new cross and wear it, if it makes your mother happy.

angrylittlefisherman · Dec 28, 2008

My preist always instructs the newly illumined to never be without the Cross, he does not specify what cross it has to be. The Christian should wear the Cross, change 'em up, you will not be sinning.
What Bessie said is good too. Get your preist to bless it.

Greg the byzantine · Dec 28, 2008

My mother wouldn't let me wear my baptismal cross when I was younger, out of fear that I would lose it. When I was 13 an uncle who went to Cyprus brought back a handmade gold and silver cross that I love. I've only taken it off an a few occasions in order to get a few knots out of the chain.

The moral of the story. If it pleases your mother go along with it

nutroll · Dec 28, 2008

Well I can't say that there is anything wrong with wearing a cross other than your baptismal cross, I do believe there is something very important and special about your baptismal cross. As someone who has lost his cross on a couple occasions, I can tell you that it makes me very uncomfortable to be without it.

There was a time a few years back where I strayed from the Church for a period of a couple years. Looking back, I can hardly fathom how I could have just walked away, but I did. During that time, I lost my baptismal cross. When I repented and made up my mind to return to the Church, it was still a while before I was able to get back to Church because I didn't have a car at that time. I still could not find my cross, and it was such a powerful reminder of where and to whom I belong that it pained me not to have it. I turned my house upside down looking for it, but was unable to find it. The day I returned to Church I came home and was going through some things in my closet and I found it. I still get teary eyed thinking about what it meant to me to have my cross back.

This is not the only time that I lost my cross and feel like God had a hand in returning it to me, but it is the most powerful example to me. So I would consider wearing both if I were you, rather than putting aside your baptismal cross.

Anhelyna · Dec 29, 2008

I have this problem too - I have 3 neck crosses - and I do actually wear them all at times.

The one I use most is one given to me by my GodPapa about a year before I was Chrismated - at that time I was still wearing a Gold RC Crucufix and had been given a very nice silver medal of St Seraphim with the Icon of the Theotokos on the other side. The sliver one he gave me is a crucifix but is Byzantine and rests very nicely on top of the medal.

Then I was given a plain silver 3 bar Cross - which is nice and simple and later I bought a sliver Celtic type cross with a 3 bar cross inserted in it .

They have all been blessed by my SF [ he likes the Celtic type one , saying it reflects the different sides of me ]

Which do I wear most - the one my GodPapa gave me but the others do get used - often depending on what I am wearing and where I am going . Mine are usually easily seen - they are on relatively short chains and I normally have open necked blouses on.

cassc · Dec 31, 2008

My recommendation (as others have said) is to have your priest bless your new cross and wear it as you please, there is no reason that the only cross you can wear is your baptismal cross unless that is the only one you want to wear. As a symbol of our faith, it is the symbol not the object that is important.

zhilan · Dec 31, 2008

I just left it off with my priest to get it blessed. After that, I'll wear both.

MoNiCa4316 · Jan 7, 2009

Sorry I'm just barging in this thread lol but I have a quick question, - how does the priest bless crosses; does he use holy water? Thank you!

zhilan · Jan 7, 2009

MoNiCa4316 said:
Sorry I'm just barging in this thread lol but I have a quick question, - how does the priest bless crosses; does he use holy water? Thank you!

He leaves it on the altar during Liturgy. I think he may also bless it with holy water.

MoNiCa4316 · Jan 8, 2009

zhilan said:
He leaves it on the altar during Liturgy. I think he may also bless it with holy water.

thanks!

new cross vs. baptismal cross

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