| a series by Dick Ficter, parishioner with Rev. Dina |
| January 31, 2024 |
| The Glossary of the Episcopal Church defines a cross as the instrument of Jesus’ death and the central symbol of the Christian faith. It represents Jesus’ offering and sacrifice of his life in love for us and our salvation. The cross thus symbolizes the Christian life, especially in terms of love, generosity, and sacrifice. The cross itself was a vertical stake in the ground which often had a horizontal piece attached at the top or just below the top of the vertical piece. Death on a cross was both execution and extreme torture. The victim to be executed on the cross would be attached to it until death. At times an inscription would be attached to the cross to state the victim’s crime. Crucifixion was a shameful death that carried with it a considerable stigma in Jesus’ day. Jesus’ death on a cross is described in the NT gospels (Mt 27, Mk 15, Lk 23, Jn 19). The cross has been the traditional focus of Christian piety. The practice of making the sign of the cross on the forehead dates from the second century. Devotion to the cross was spurred by the alleged finding of the true cross of Jesus’ crucifixion in the fourth century. Use of altar crosses dates from the fifth century, and use of processional crosses dates from the sixth century. During the Middle Ages, large crosses, or roods, were placed on beams at the dividing point between the chancel [the space around the altar] and nave of the church. Designs for crosses became very ornate, and some crosses were decorated with jewels. Crosses are used in Christian art and architecture and worn as an expression of personal piety. Crosses are found in a variety of shapes and sizes. A crucifix is a cross with a figure of the crucified Christ. A Christus Rex is a cross with a figure of the risen Christ in glory. A Jerusalem cross is a cross with four small crosses in between the arms of the larger cross. THE CANTERBURY CROSS As Episcopalians and being part of the Anglican Communion, we are familiar with the Canterbury cross which dates from about 850 AD, The Canterbury Cross has acquired widespread fame as a symbol of the Church of Christianity throughout the Anglican world.  Discovered in 1867 during excavations in St. Georges Street, Canterbury, it incorporates a number of sophisticated techniques into its Saxon design. Cast in bronze with complex decorations, it includes silver triangle engravings which are filled with niello (a black metal mixture consisting of copper, silver, lead and sulphur) enamel. The cross also features a small square in the center, from which extends four arms, wider on the outside, so that the arms look like triangles, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The tips of the arms are arcs of a single circle, giving the overall effect of a round wheel. A stone cross in the same image was erected at Canterbury Cathedral and has since become familiar to those who make a pilgrimage there. In 1932, a Canterbury Cross made up of pieces of stone from Canterbury was sent to each of the Anglican diocesan cathedrals of the world as a visible symbol of their communion with Canterbury. With deep connections to the religious and cultural heritage of the city, the cross has subsequently become iconic. (Source: The Beany, Home of Art and Knowledge) The Episcopal Shield and the crosses on the Episcopal Shield  This symbol, which you will see at every Episcopal Church, is the official “logo” of the Episcopal Church (TEC) and represents our history. The Red Cross on a white field is an ancient Christian symbol white representing the purity of Jesus and red representing his sacrifice on the cross and the blood of Christian martyrs. The Red Cross is also known as the cross of St. George patron St. of England and indicates the Episcopal Church’s descent from the Church of England. The Blue Shield in the upper left is the color traditionally associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a symbol of Jesus’ human nature which he received from his mother. The X-shaped cross is the cross of Saint Andrew, patron St. of Scotland. It recalls the Episcopal church’s indebtedness to the Scottish Episcopal Church for the consecration of its first Bishop Samuel Seaberry as the Bishop of Connecticut in 1764. The Saint Andrews cross is made up of nine smaller crosslets that represent the 9 original American dioceses that met in Philadelphia in 1789 to adopt the constitution of the Episcopal Church in the United States. These descriptions were taken from the Episcopal Handbook. Why was St Andrew’s Cross different? When Saint Andrew, one of the Apostles, was being crucified by the Romans in A.D. 60, it is said that he believed himself unworthy to be crucified on a cross like that of Christ, and so he met his end on a ‘saltire’, or X-shaped cross (St. Andrew’s cross) which became his symbol. In heraldry, Saint George’s Cross (or the Cross of Saint George) is a red cross on a white background, which from the Late Middle Ages became associated with Saint George, the military saint, often depicted as a crusader. Heraldry originated when most people were illiterate but could easily recognize a bold, striking, and simple design. The use of heraldry in medieval warfare enabled combatants to distinguish one mail-clad knight from another and thus to distinguish between friend and foe. (Source: Britannica) The statement about heraldry and that most people were illiterate at that time cautioned me on making judgements about decisions and actions made by others, out of context. That is, decisions are made without the benefit of our contemporary knowledge or a willingness to fairly consider and evaluate this knowledge in making their decisions.  NEXT WEEK What does an Episcopal cross look like? Come and see!  Do you have any questions for The Camel? Submit them to You can email your questions clergy@epiphanyec.org. Your name will be kept anonymous. judgments |
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| God Loves You. No Exceptions. Sunday, 2/11: Scouting Sunday & Newcomer’s Gathering Tuesday, 2/13 – Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Supper, Crafts. & Bounce House, 5:30pm – 7pm, donations welcome Wednesday, 2/14 – Ash Wednesday Communion with Imposition of Ashes:- 7:30am (Chapel), Noon (Chapel), 7:00pm (Chapel) Ashes to Go: 1pm Outside Door 1 |