The Cross is the primary image of Christianity. And what they’ve in frequent is that each there and there, the traditional Greek phrase ὁ σταυρός (stavros) is used within the identify – cross.

And monasteries turn into stavropegic when they’re given the standing of stavropegic. This phrase – ἡ σταυροπηγία, from σταυρός – “cross” and the verb πήγνυμι – “to determine, hoist” – actually means hoisting the cross. It signifies that in stavropegic monasteries the cross is erected and erected by the patriarchs themselves.

Normally, in fact, the cross as the primary image of Christianity is as paradoxical and distinctive as itself. Invented by the Romans (the Outdated Testomony doesn’t know the crucifixion), he was an instrument of horrible and shameful execution, which was subjected to essentially the most infamous criminals. An individual died from extreme struggling, since demise got here from suffocation, on account of an extended and intensely painful unnatural place of the chest and the entire physique. Nevertheless, in Christianity, the cross, quite the opposite, turns into an indication of victory and a messenger of salvation, the primary image of the Church and the Christian religion. That is the excessive dialectics of Christianity…

The cross turns into a logo and a continuing reminder of the truth that Christ, by His demise on the cross, trampled down and conquered the identical demise. Via excessive sorrow, he got here to a serious victory and thereby granted salvation to different individuals, displaying them the identical path in the event that they wish to imitate Him.

And when an individual is baptized, he not solely calls on God for assist and drives away demons: Hoc signo vinces! – ” You’ll win with this signal!”. When he’s baptized, he voluntarily places a cross on himself, that’s, he imitates Christ, voluntarily accepting sorrows and sufferings as the one solution to salvation: “Via many tribulations it’s essential to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

In any case, in truth, should you go searching, you can’t assist however see that nobody lives carefree, that everybody has their very own sorrows and sufferings. You’ll be able to’t get away from the cross. This can be a image of human life, which is analogous to demise, and an indication of that demise, which really offers actual life. The one query is whether or not you’ll attempt to escape the inevitable, or will you settle for it meekly and think about your self worthy of the sorrows despatched down. After which, in a nonetheless unknown approach, however, as Christ stated, “My yoke is straightforward and My burden is gentle” (Matt. 11.30).

However how can this heaviest burden of struggling abruptly turn into gentle and good? It may be, if you don’t ask what the sorrows are despatched for, merely accepting them. In any case, virtually each particular person is delusional, and it is rather, very troublesome for him to see his sins, everyone seems to be inclined to assume “however what am I for?”. However any struggling may be endured should you see the that means in it. You will notice this that means should you take every little thing upsetting with no consideration and ask “why do you want this?”.

The Russian Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, in his “Ascetic Experiences”, Quantity 1, writes the next: “Affected person bearing of 1’s cross is true imaginative and prescient and consciousness of 1’s sin. There isn’t a self-delusion on this consciousness. However he who acknowledges himself as a sinner, and on the identical time murmurs and cries out from his cross, proves by the truth that he solely flatters himself with a superficial consciousness of sin, deceives himself …

Out of your cross, glorify the Lord, rejecting from your self each considered criticism and grumbling, rejecting it as a criminal offense and blasphemy.

Out of your cross, thank the Lord for the priceless reward, on your cross, on your treasured lot, for the lot of imitating Christ together with your sufferings.

From the cross, theologize: as a result of the cross is the true and solely college, the repository and throne of true theology. Outdoors the cross there isn’t any dwelling data of Christ.

Don’t search for Christian perfection in human virtues. It’s not there: it’s hidden within the Cross of Christ.”