A pectoral cross or pectoral (from the Latin pectoralis, "of the chest") is a cross, usually relatively large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain that reaches well down the chest. It is worn by the clergy as an indication of their position and is different from the small crosses, that have no special significance, worn on necklaces by many Christians.
In Orthodox Church practice the rules for wearing the cross differ with various traditions. The pectoral cross is worn by all bishops, but not necessarily by all priests. In the Greek tradition, the pectoral cross is only given to specific priests for faithful service; in the Slavic tradition, a cross is worn by all priests.
The cross worn by priests depicts the crucified Christ, whether in painted form as an icon, or in relief. On the Orthodox crucifix the body of Christ is not in full three-dimensional form, but in no more than three-quarter relief. It also bears the inscription INBI (the title that Pontius Pilate placed above the head of Jesus at the crucifixion) and the letters IC XC NIKA (meaning Jesus Christ Conquers) around the four arms of the cross. Orthodox pectoral crosses are almost always on chains of either silver or gold, sometimes with intricately worked links. Priest's crosses will often have an icon of Christ "Made Without Hands" at the top. This is the icon before which Orthodox Christians usually confess their sins. In Russian practice, the back of a priest's cross is usually inscribed with St. Paul's words to St. Timothy: "Be an example to the believers in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12).
Pectoral crosses are awarded in several degrees (particularly in the Slavic tradition):
- In the Russian tradition, the Silver Cross is awarded to all priests by their bishop on the day of their ordination. This tradition began with the last Tsar, Nicholas II, who awarded a silver cross to every priest in the Russian Empire. Even after the fall of the Romanov dynasty, the practice of awarding the Silver Cross to Russian priests at their ordination has continued. This practice helps to distinguish priests from deacons or monks, all of whom wear the same type of cassock (riassa}, and are otherwise indistinguishable when not vested. The Silver Cross is not enameled or decorated in any manner except for engraving or relief. For Orthodox priests who do not wear the cross by right of their priesthood, but only by permission of their bishop, one way a bishop may punish one of his priests is to forbid him to wear the priest's cross.
- The next degree is the Gold Cross which is a simple gold cross, similar to the Silver Cross. It is also without enameling or other decoration. The Gold Cross is worn by archpriests, abbots, and abbesses as a mark of their office, and may be awarded by the bishop to other priests, both married and monastic, for distinguished service to the church.
- The highest pectoral cross, is With Decorations. It is jeweled and sometimes enameled and generally with the depiction of an Eastern-style miter at the top. This type of pectoral cross is also referred to as a Jeweled Cross and is worn by bishops, archimandrites, and protopriests as a sign of their office. The Jeweled Cross may also be awarded to other priests. All bishops are entitled to wear the pectoral cross with decorations, although most simply wear a Panagia when not vested for services.
Other aspects of wearing a pectoral cross are:
- A priest may be granted the right to wear a second pectoral cross.
- A priest who has been given the pectoral cross will typically wear it at all times, whether vested or not.
- In Russian practice, a nun who is not an abbess may also be granted the privilege of wearing a pectoral cross, as an honorary award which, however, is not an award granted to monks who are not priests).
Whenever the cross is put on, the wearer first uses it to make the Sign of the Cross on himself and then kisses it and puts it on.
Msalaba wa kifua (kutoka kwa Kilatini pectoralis, "ya kifua") ni msalaba, kwa kawaida mkubwa, uliofungwa kwenye shingo kwa kamba au mnyororo ambao hufikia chini ya kifua. Msalaba huo unachezwa na makasisi kama ishara ya cheo chao na ni tofauti na msalaba mdogo, ambao hauna maana maalum, unaovaliwa kwenye mkufu na Wakristo wengi. Katika desturi za Kanisa Othodoksi sheria za kuvaa msalaba hutofautiana kulingana na mapokeo mbalimbali. Msalaba wa kifuani huvaliwa na maaskofu wote, lakini si lazima na makasisi wote. Katika utamaduni wa Kigiriki, msalaba wa kifua hutolewa tu kwa makuhani maalum kwa huduma ya uaminifu; katika utamaduni wa Kislavonia, msalaba huvaliwa na makuhani wote. Msalaba unaovaliwa na makuhani unaonyesha Kristo aliyesulubiwa, iwe ni katika umbo la kuchorwa kama sanamu, au katika relief. Katika msalaba wa Orthodox mwili wa Kristo haupo katika fomu kamili ya pande tatu, lakini katika misaada isiyo zaidi ya tatu ya nne. "Kuna maandishi ""INBI"" (jina la cheo ambalo Pontio Pilato aliweka juu ya kichwa cha Yesu wakati wa kusulubiwa) na herufi ""IC X NIKI"" (Yesu Kristo Anashinda) kwenye mikono minne ya msalaba." Msalaba wa kifuani wa Othodoksi karibu sikuzote huwa juu ya minyororo ya fedha au dhahabu, nyakati nyingine ikiwa na viungo vilivyotengenezwa kwa ustadi. Mara nyingi misalaba ya makasisi huwa na sanamu ya Kristo "Imetengenezwa Bila Mikono" juu. Hii ni sanamu ambayo Wakristo Othodoksi kwa kawaida hukiri dhambi zao mbele yake. "Mfano wa msalaba wa kasisi ni maneno ya Paulo kwa Timotheo: ""Uwe kielelezo kwa waamini katika maneno na mwenendo, katika upendo, katika imani, katika usafi.""" 4:12) Ni nini maana ya maneno hayo? Msalaba wa kifua hutolewa katika digrii kadhaa (haswa katika utamaduni wa Kislavonia): - Katika utamaduni wa Kirusi, Msalaba wa Fedha hutolewa kwa makasisi wote na askofu wao siku ya kuwekwa kwao. Mfano wa utamaduni huo ni ule wa Mfalme wa Urusi, Nicholas II, ambaye alitoa alama ya msalaba kwa kila kasisi katika milki ya Urusi. Hata baada ya kuanguka kwa nasaba ya Romanov, zoea la kuwapa makasisi Warusi Msalaba wa Fedha wakati wa kuwekwa rasmi limedumu. Mazoea haya husaidia kutofautisha makuhani na mashemasi au watawa, ambao wote huvaa aina moja ya cassock (riassa), na vinginevyo hawawezi kutofautishwa wakati hawajavaa. Msalaba wa Fedha haujapakwa enamel au kupambwa kwa njia yoyote isipokuwa kwa kuchonga au kuegemea. Kwa makuhani wa Kanisa la Orthodox ambao hawavaa msalaba kwa haki ya ukuhani wao, lakini kwa ruhusa ya askofu wao tu, njia moja ambayo askofu anaweza kumwadhibu mmoja wa makuhani wake ni kumkataza kuvaa msalaba wa kasisi. - Daraja la pili ni Msalaba wa Dhahabu ambayo ni msalaba rahisi wa dhahabu, sawa na Msalaba wa Fedha. Pia haina enamel au mapambo mengine. Msalaba wa Dhahabu huchezwa na makuhani wakuu, maaskofu, na maaskofu wakuu kama alama ya ofisi yao, na inaweza kutolewa na askofu kwa makuhani wengine, wote waliooa na wa monastic, kwa huduma ya kipekee kwa kanisa. - Msalaba wa juu zaidi wa kifua, ni Pamoja na Mapambo. Ni jeweled na wakati mwingine enameled na kwa ujumla na picha ya mashariki-style miter juu. Msalaba wa kifua pia huitwa Msalaba wa Vito na huvaliwa na maaskofu, maaskofu wakuu, na makuhani wakuu kama ishara ya ofisi yao. Msalaba wa Vito unaweza pia kutolewa kwa makasisi wengine. Maaskofu wote wana haki ya kuvaa msalaba wa kifua na mapambo, ingawa wengi huvaa tu Panagia wakati hawajavaa kwa ajili ya huduma. Mambo mengine ya kuvaa msalaba wa kifua ni: - Kasisi anaweza kupewa haki ya kuvaa msalaba wa pili wa kifua. - Kasisi ambaye amepewa msalaba wa kifua kwa kawaida atauvaa wakati wote, iwe amevaa au la. - Katika mazoezi ya Urusi, mtawa ambaye si abbess pia anaweza kupewa upendeleo wa kuvaa msalaba wa kifua, kama tuzo ya heshima ambayo, hata hivyo, si tuzo iliyotolewa kwa watawa ambao si makuhani). Wakati msalaba unapofungwa, mtendaji huufanya kwanza ishara ya msalaba juu yake mwenyewe, kisha huubusu na kuuvaa.