The Jerusalem cross is considered to be the most recognizable and prominent symbol in the world. This cross is also known as Crusader’s cross or «five-fold cross». It has its history, symbolism, and hidden meaning. This attribute was used for different purposes, as an emblem, coat, or as a symbol in jewelry, including Knights Templar rings. Keep reading and find out the mysterious history and true significance of this cross.
What is a Jerusalem cross?
What does the Jerusalem cross represent? This cross is a heraldic and Cristian cross, which consists of one big cross surrounded by four squares with one smaller Greek cross in each. Jerusalem cross means the core of Christian faith, represented in various ways and directions:
1) The red of the cross represents Christ’s sacrifice for humanity;
2) The cross of Jerusalem symbolizes the five Jesus Christ’s wounds – four smaller crosses interpret Jesus` wounds on hands and feet and one in the center means the wound from a spear;
3) It represents the Bible – a big central cross means the Old Testament and the New Testament’s four gospels as four smaller crosses;
4) The central cross signify Christianity and another four crosses mean spread this faith to the four corners of the world;
5) It refers to Pilgrimage – the main big cross signifies pilgrim and another four crosses interpret those who pray for the pilgrim during his pilgrimage;
6) The big cross personifies Jesus Christ surrounded by four evangelists – Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John;
7) As a sign of devotion to the eight Blessedness that show the way Jesus taught us to reach the heaven.
The facts mentioned above would help you to understand what does the Jerusalem cross signify.
Where did the Jerusalem cross originate?
The Jerusalem cross dates the 11th and 12th centuries when the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 and spread a faith of Christianity on these lands. By the way, the Muslims controlled this territory at that time. The new Crusaders state began to call the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Godfrey de Bouillon, a leader of the Crusaders, was the first who used the Jerusalem cross as a symbol of the newly formed state. He considered that the cross symbolized Jesus and the city of Jerusalem – the true root of Christianity.
In the time, when the Crusader state was overthrown in 1291, the cross was still a symbol of Jerusalem for Christians. The esteemed Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem used this symbol as an emblem of the Order. To these days the cross remains all the clergy who did their best to keep and spread Christianity in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem cross was also used on the signets of the regents of Jerusalem during the 12th century. The cross showed the simplified scheme of the city, where it was the tower of David between the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock enclosed with the city walls. The cross was minted on a coin while in the reign of John II in 1285-85. In this time, the Jerusalem cross appeared as a coat of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in such books of heraldic devices as the Camden Roll.
Some uses of the Crusader’s cross
This symbol was used by the Crusaders when they were going to the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. They began to be called the Crusaders because of adopting this cross. Pope Urban II gave the papal flag with Jerusalem cross to the Crusaders in the Middle Ages.
The Jerusalem cross is popular among Christians and is an attribute of the Holy Land. The cross is also represented on the national flag of Georgia. Because of its connection with the Holy Land, this symbol was chosen as a flag. The flag existed before the era of the Crusades and was mentioned as a national Georgian flag in the chronicle of the tenth century. The Jerusalem cross is important to define the Georgian identity due to the long history of relationship to Christians in Georgia with the Holy Land and the history of Jerusalem cross.
Today, the Jerusalem cross is commonly used in jewelry. Someone finds it as an irreplaceable symbol of belief due to the knowledge of Jerusalem as a center of the world for all Christians. A Jerusalem cross pendant means Christ’s authorization for all believers to bring the Gospel to every corner of the world. Jerusalem cross rings, necklaces, and bracelets are truly a powerful amulet and symbol of Jesus Christ’s mission on the earth.
Summary
The Jerusalem cross remains the root of Christianity belief that comes from the Holy Land. It is the official symbol of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Franciscans, however, it originated from the era of Crusaders. In fact, today, the Jerusalem cross jewelry is on the pick of the popularity.