Holy Trinity Orthodox Church - Cross above iconostasis arch

CROSS (CENTER of ICONOSTASIS ARCH)

Moving from top to bottom, the following features may be noted on the Slavic-style cross that sits atop the central arch of the iconostasis:

Icon not Made by Human Hands

At the uppermost center of the cross can be seen the image of Christ refered to as the "icon not created by human hands." Although the predominant image of Christ on the cross is that of the Crucified One, this image of the face of Christ on the cloth (Gk: mandylion) brings to mind the Incarnate Lord and his miracles.

The story has it that King Abgar of Edessa, suffering an affliction of the skin, probably leprosy, send a messenger to Jesus. The messenger, Ananias, brought a letter from King Abgar inviting Jesus to come to Edessa. Arriving at the place where Jesus was, Ananias found Jesus surrounded by a great crowd.

Not wishing to return to his master empty-handed, Ananias climbed onto a high rock, and from that vantage tried to draw a picture of Jesus, but found that he could not do so adequately because of the radiance he perceived in Jesus' face. However, Jesus noticed him, invited him to come down, and inquired as to his purpose. Telling Ananias that he could not travel to Edessa, Jesus then requested a basin of water and a towel. Wringing out the cloth, he covered his face with it. In this way the miraculous impression of the Holy Face was made upon the cloth.

Top Cross-Bar

This is the title-board which Pilate had hung from the Cross with the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek (see Jn. 19:19-20). Here Pilate's words have been replaced with the letters IX XC, the Greek initials for Jesus Christ, while below the bended knees of two angels can be read the Christian affirmation: "The King of Glory." Between the two angels can be rad teh inscription "Angels of the Lord." (Unless otherwise noted, on inscriptions on this cross are in Slavonic.)

Central Cross-Bar

In the upper corners of the central cross-bar we find images of the sun (left) and moon (right). Above the outstretched arms arms of the Crucified Lord is the inscription "Son of God," while below his arms is the inscription "Before thy Cross, we bow down and worship, O Master, and thy Holy Resurrection we glorify," a hymn sung on feasts of the Cross.

Lower Cross-Bar

This is the foot-rest. The slant of the lower cross-bar is symbolically associated with the eternal destinations of the two theives crucified alongside of Jesus. As a hymn sung at the daily service of the Ninth Hour explains: "In the midst, between the two thieves, was thy Cross found, the balance-beam of righteousness; for while the one was led down to hades by the heaviness of his blaspheming, the other was lightened of his sins, unto knowledge of things divine. O Chirst God, glory to thee!"

On the sides of the lower cross-bar are depicted buidlings belonging to the city of Jerusalem, outside of whose walls the Lord was crucified.

The Figure of Christ Crucified

The Lord is depicted with a halo, in which may be found a cross and the the Greek letters that form the present tense of the verb "to be," and may be translated as "the one who is," a reference to the identity of Jesus as being the same indescribable, transcendent God who presented himself to Moses as "I am who I am" or "I am who is." (Ex. 3:14) In Orthodox iconography, the Crown of Thornes is not depicted.

Naturally the nails of the crucifixion can be seen in Christ's hands and feet. On the right side of his torso (viewer's left) can be seen the place where his side was pierced by the spear of the Roman centurion, from which Blood and Water flowed. The Church has traditionally seen in the Blood and Water images of the sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism respectively. By Baptism we enter into the Christian life and the fellowship of the Church; by Eucharist we are fed and strengthened in our communion with God in Christ and in our communion with one another.

Behind and Below

Behind the body of Christ are the lance which pierced him (left) and the pole with the sponge (right) on which gall was placed for Christ to drink.

Below the feet of Christ are four letters meaning "The Place of the Skull where Paradise was," and buried in the cave under the earth is teh skull of Adam. Just as Adam lost Paradise through a tree of whoe fruit he disobediently partook, so Christ regained Paradise for mankind by obediently giving himself up to death on the tree of the Cross.