351
edits
Changes
several small clarifications
'''[[Jesus Christ]]''' died on a '''Cross''' after suffering and giving up his spirit. The Cross of Christ, and the atonement He accomplished on it, is the very grounds that anyone who can be saved will be saved. The Cross is the best-known symbol of [[Christianity]]; since Clement of Alexandria "the Lord's sign". ''In the earliest Christian life, as can be seen from the metaphorical language of the primitive faithful, the cross was the symbol of the principal Christian virtue, i.e. mortification or victory over the passions, and suffering for Christ's sake and in union with Him.'' <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm Archæology of the Cross and Crucifix.]</ref>
'''[[Jesus Christ]]''' died on a '''Cross''' after suffering and giving up his spirit. The Cross of Christ, and the atonement He accomplished on it, are the very grounds that anyone who can be saved will be saved. The Cross is the best-known symbol of [[Christianity]], called by Clement of Alexandria "the Lord's sign". ''In the earliest Christian life, as can be seen from the metaphorical language of the primitive faithful, the cross was the symbol of the principal Christian virtue, i.e. mortification or victory over the passions, and suffering for Christ's sake and in union with Him.'' <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm Archæology of the Cross and Crucifix.]</ref>
The Sign of the Cross is a hand motion common in the religious devotions and worship services of [[Roman Catholic]], [[Anglican]], [[Orthodox]], and some [[Lutheran]] Christians. ''It is from this original Christian worship of the cross that arose the custom of making on one's forehead the sign of the cross. Tertullian says: "Frontem crucis signaculo terimus" (De Cor. mil. iii), i.e. "We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross." The practice was so general about the year 200, according to the same writer, that the Christians of his time were wont to sign themselves with the cross before undertaking any action.'' [[Ibidem]]
The Sign of the Cross is a hand motion common in the religious devotions and worship services of [[Roman Catholic]], [[Anglican]], [[Orthodox]], and some [[Lutheran]] Christians. ''It is from this original Christian worship of the cross that arose the custom of making on one's forehead the sign of the cross. Tertullian says: "Frontem crucis signaculo terimus" (De Cor. mil. iii), i.e. "We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross." The practice was so general about the year 200, according to the same writer, that the Christians of his time were wont to sign themselves with the cross before undertaking any action.'' [[Ibidem]]
Medieval Christian churches were usually built according to a cruciform plan.
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Beginning in the early Middle Ages, Roman [[Catholic]] depictions of the cross have usually included a representation of the body of Christ still on the cross. This is known as the crucifix and brings emphasis to the sacrifice and suffering of Christ. [[Protestant]] churches tend to portray the empty cross, emphasizing the [[Resurrection|resurrected]], risen Christ. [http://christianity.about.com/od/symbolspictures/ig/Christian-Symbols-Glossary/Christian-Cross.htm] Many Protestants oppose the crucifix, citing Exodus 20:4, with its ban on "graven images" existing in the [Ten Commandments]], but the crucifix is commonly used by Anglicans, Lutherans, and some other Protestant Christians who together constitute a large percentage of the world's Protestants.
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