What is the origin of the Tau cross?
Cross of Many Names One of the most notable forms of these pre-Christian crosses is the tau cross. Taking their name from its similarity to the Greek letter ‘T’, these crosses were often used by the ancient Egyptians. In Hebrew, this letter is written as an ‘x’ but is pronounced in the same way.
Is the cross always a symbol of Christianity?
Today, the cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. It was not always so. In the early centuries after the time of Jesus Christ, there were other symbols: a dove, a ship, an anchor and a lyre.
What is the Franciscan tau cross?
As a Franciscan symbol, the TAU, resembling the Cross, is a sign of conversion. Because of his affection and devotion to the cross of Christ, St. Francis used this sign as his personal signature. For Francis, conversion implies a turning toward God and turning to one’s brothers and sisters.
What is St Francis of Assisi known for?
Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history. He founded the Franciscan orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order. He and St. Catherine of Siena are the patron saints of Italy, and he is also the patron saint of ecology and of animals.
When did the cross become a symbol for Christianity?
The cross was first used as a Christian symbol sometime in the second century, but isn’t widely adopted until the fourth century. Only a few examples are known from the second century. By the sixth century, the crucifix, (a cross with a 3-D depiction of Christ on it), began to be used.
What does the cross symbolize in Catholicism?
For Christians, the cross has become a symbol not only of Jesus’ death, but also of his resurrection. The cross symbolizes sacrifice, suffering, repentance, solidarity, and exclusion. These are only a few ways to interpret the cross. Every Catholic applies their own significance to this perennial symbol.
Was the cross originally a pagan symbol?
The cross in its various shapes and forms was a symbol of various beliefs. In pre-Christian times it was a pagan religious symbol throughout Europe and western Asia. In ancient times, the effigy of a man hanging on a cross was set up in the fields to protect the crops.
Why is the cross a pagan symbol?
David Williams, writing of medieval images of monsters, says: “The disembodied phallus is also formed into a cross, which, before it became for Christianity the symbol of salvation, was a pagan symbol of fertility.” The study, Gods, Heroes & Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain states: “Before the fourth century CE.
What is the significance of this cross in the Franciscan Order?
Franciscans cherish this cross as the symbol of their mission from God. The cross is a crucifix of a type sometimes called an icon cross because in addition to the main figure of the Christ, it contains images of other saints and people related to the incident of Christ’s crucifixion.