Latin cross

A Latin cross or crux immissa is a type of cross in which the vertical beam sticks above the crossbeam,[1] with the three upper arms either equally long or with the vertical topmost arm shorter than the two horizontal arms, and always with a much longer bottom arm.[2]

"✝" redirects here. For the similar typographical symbol, see Dagger (mark).
A crux immissa or Latin cross

If displayed upside down it is called St. Peter's Cross, because he was executed on this type of cross.[3] When displayed sideways it is called St. Philip's cross for the same reason.[3]

History
Wayside cross in Karachi, Pakistan.

In a broad sense, the Latin cross is used to represent all of Christianity and Christendom, given that it teaches that Jesus sacrificed himself for humanity upon it, atoning for the sins of the world.[4][5] It is especially used among the denominations of Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic tradition and several Protestant traditions, such as Lutheranism, Moravianism, Anglicanism, Methodism, and Reformed Christianity, as well as by Anabaptists, Baptists, and Pentecostals.[6] In certain periods, such as during the 16th century English Reformation of the Anglican Church, the Latin cross was disfavored by a minority of theologians such as Nicholas Ridley, though in the overall history of the Western Christian Churches, this was short-lived.[7]

Cruciform churches
Latin cross floor plan. Shaded area is the transept

A Latin cross plan is a floor plan found in many Christian churches and cathedrals.[8] When looked at from above or in plan view it takes the shape of a Latin cross (crux immissa).[9] Such cruciform churches were very common in the West during the Romanesque period.[2] The Latin cross plans have a nave with aisles or chapels, or both, and a transept that forms the arms of the cross.[9] It also has at least one apse that traditionally faces east. Many also have a narthex at the entry.[9]

In computer systems
For information on how to enter these symbols on your computer, see Unicode input

The glyph has a unicode code point: U+271D ✝ LATIN CROSS

Similar marks

See also

References
  1. Herbert Norris, Church Vestments: Their Origin and Development (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2002), p. 128
  2. Curl, James Stevens (2015). "Cross: Latin" in Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Oxford University Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-19-860678-9. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. Joyce Mori, Crosses of Many Cultures (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1998), p. 32
  4. Johns, Catherine (1 February 2013). The Jewellery Of Roman Britain: Celtic and Classical Traditions. Routledge. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-135-85111-8.
  5. Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane (14 May 2020). A Guide to Christian Art. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-567-68514-8.
  6. Hryniuk, Margaret; Korvemaker, Frank (1 October 2014). Legacy of Worship: Sacred Places in Rural Saskatchwan. Coteau Books. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-55050-598-6. Latin cross and is most often found on Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. The more elaborate Eastern cross includes a small horizontal bar near the top and a slanted bar near the base. It is most often seen on Orthodox churches.
  7. Nicholas Ridley, A Treatise on the Worship of Images, written before 1555.
  8. St. Peter's in the Vatican, ed. William Tronzo (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), p. 275
  9. Lilian H. Zirpolo, Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2010), p. 314


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