Of all the existing world religions, Christianity is the most widespread. Its followers number about 2.3 billion people. One of the main distinguishing features of each of them is the wearing of a cross, a tradition that takes its roots far from the past.
True shrine
Since ancient times, a person received the pectoral cross at baptism and wore all his life. It was not allowed to take it off even while swimming. For going to the bathhouse, they made special wooden crosses so as not to burn themselves with metal ones. The person who took off the cross was considered an apostate, it was considered a great sin. Wearing a cross on the chest was an outward manifestation of a person's belonging to the church, a symbol of his adherence to Christ. At all times, Orthodox believers worshiped the cross as a true shrine, they also exchanged their pectoral crosses as a sign of special reverence for each other and location. And when a new church was erected, a cross was necessarily laid at its foundation. It is worth noting that the wearing of the cross was not always a universal responsibility of those who belong to the church, as it is now. This was once a manifestation of personal piety.
There are many superstitions associated with the wearing of the cross. For example, it was considered a harbinger of trouble if a believer lost his cross. You cannot give a cross, pick up and wear a found one. To wear a pectoral cross without true faith in the heart, in the soul, is still considered a sin. This is not a tribute to fashion, not a decoration. Now it is customary to wear a cross under clothes, not for show, because it is not for this that a believer wears it to show others.
Sign of Suffering
Someone considers the pectoral cross to be their amulet or talisman, but this is not entirely true. It is important not to forget what exactly is depicted on this cross, or rather, who. After all, it is much more important that Christians carry Jesus crucified on this cross, and not just a cross. Followers of the Christian religion consider Christ to be their savior, who atoned for the sins of all mankind. He was crucified on the cross, which is why Christians wear this symbol around their necks. They believe that divine power is transmitted through him, that when a person wears a cross, he becomes much closer to God. After all, Jesus Christ also once bore his cross for all sinners, so now people must give him to give in the form of this shrine. Not a talisman or amulet, but a shrine. For a Christian, wearing a cross means confessing his sins, repenting for them, expressing a willingness to atone for them. For a Christian, the cross is a symbol of atonement for his sins before the Almighty. It also testifies that its owner follows the teachings of Jesus, his sermons and commandments. It is also believed that the cross protects its owner from evil spirits.
