Latin cross

ALatin crossorcrux immissais a type ofcrossin which theverticalbeam sticks above thecrossbeam,^[1]giving the cross four arms. Typically the two horizontal and upper vertical arm are the same length, although sometimes the vertical is shorter, however the lower vertical arm is always much longer than any other arm.^[2]

If displayedupside downit is calledSt. Peter's Cross,because he wasexecutedon this type of cross.^[3]When displayed sideways it is calledSt. Philip's cross for the same reason.^[3]

Many medieval churches are designed using the Latin cross plan. When looked at from above, it takes the shape of a Latin cross. A Latin cross plan primarily contains a nave, transept, apse, and narthex.

History[edit]

In a broad sense, the Latin cross is used to represent all ofChristianityandChristendom,given that it teaches thatJesussacrificed himself for humanity upon it, atoning for the sins of the world.^[4]^[5]It is especially used among the denominations ofWestern 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 centuryEnglish Reformation of the Anglican Church,the Latin cross was disfavored by a minority of theologians such asNicholas Ridley,though in the overall history of the Western Christian Churches, this was short-lived.^[7]

Cruciform Churches[edit]

A Latin cross plan is afloor planfound in many Christianchurchesandcathedrals.^[8]When looked at from above or inplan viewit takes the shape of a Latin cross (crux immissa).^[9]Suchcruciformchurches were very common in theWestduring theRomanesqueperiod.^[2]The ideal church plan tended to be symmetrical around a central point during theRenaissance.^[10]The longer arm of the Latin cross plan is thenave,which runs on an east–west axis and traditionally containsaislesorchapels.^[10]^[11]Thetranseptcrosses the nave, running north–south, and can be the same width as the nave, or extend further on both sides to create a more pronounced cross shape. The east end is theapse,which traditionally contains the choir,chancel,or presbytery.^[11]Many also have anarthexat the entry.^[9]

Examples of Cathedrals with a Latin Cross Plan[edit]

Old St. Peter's Basilicais a cathedral in Rome, Italy, that was consecrated in 326 AD^[12]
Chartres Cathedralis a cathedral in Chartres, France, that was constructed between 1194 and 1220
Siena Cathedralis a cathedral in Siena, Italy, that was completed between 1215 and 1263
Cologne Cathedralis a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, that began construction in 1248, but was halted in 1590, unfinished until 1880
Notre-Dameis a cathedral in Paris, France, that was largely completed by 1260
Florence Cathedralis a cathedral in Florence, Italy, that was structurally completed in 1436

In computer systems[edit]

Theglyphhas aunicode code point:U+271D✝LATIN CROSS

Similar marks[edit]

U+2628☨CROSS OF LORRAINE
U+2020†DAGGER
U+2021‡DOUBLE DAGGER

References[edit]

^Herbert Norris,Church Vestments: Their Origin and Development(Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2002), p. 128
^^a ^bCurl, James Stevens(2015)."Cross: Latin" in Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.Oxford University Press. p. 213.ISBN 978-0-19-860678-9.Retrieved5 May2020.
^^a ^bJoyce Mori,Crosses of Many Cultures(Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1998), p. 32
^Johns, Catherine (1 February 2013).The Jewellery Of Roman Britain: Celtic and Classical Traditions.Routledge. p. 66.ISBN 978-1-135-85111-8.
^Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane (14 May 2020).A Guide to Christian Art.Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 231.ISBN 978-0-567-68514-8.
^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.
^Nicholas Ridley,A Treatise on the Worship of Images,written before 1555.
^St. Peter's in the Vatican,ed. William Tronzo (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), p. 275
^^a ^bLilian H. Zirpolo,Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture(Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2010), p. 314
^^a ^b"Western architecture - Early Renaissance, Italy, 1401-95 | Britannica".britannica.Retrieved2023-12-03.
^^a ^b"Architecture of Gothic Medieval Cathedrals".people.wou.edu.Retrieved2023-12-03.
^"Roma: Caput Mundi".mediakron.bc.edu.Retrieved2023-12-02.

[1] Herbert Norris,Church Vestments: Their Origin and Development(Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2002), p. 128

[Curl-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.Retrieved5 May2020.

[Mori32-3] Joyce Mori,Crosses of Many Cultures(Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1998), p. 32

[Johns2013-4] Johns, Catherine (1 February 2013).The Jewellery Of Roman Britain: Celtic and Classical Traditions.Routledge. p. 66.ISBN 978-1-135-85111-8.

[Apostolos-Cappadona2020-5] Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane (14 May 2020).A Guide to Christian Art.Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 231.ISBN 978-0-567-68514-8.

[HryniukKorvemaker2014-6] 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

[Zirpolo314-9] Lilian H. Zirpolo,Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture(Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2010), p. 314

[:0-10] "Western architecture - Early Renaissance, Italy, 1401-95 | Britannica".britannica.Retrieved2023-12-03.

[:1-11] "Architecture of Gothic Medieval Cathedrals".people.wou.edu.Retrieved2023-12-03.

[12] "Roma: Caput Mundi".mediakron.bc.edu.Retrieved2023-12-02.

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v t e Crosses
In modern use	Alcoraz Anchored/Saint Clement Anuradhapura Archangels Archiepiscopal Armenian Arrow/Barby Balkenkreuz Bolnisi Bottony Branch Bulgarian Cossack Burgundy Byzantine Calvary Camargue Canterbury Catherine wheel Celtic Variant Cercelée Coptic Crosslet Fitchy Crucifix Cruciform halo Double Ethiopian Evangelists Fleury Fitchy Forked Fourchy Fylfot Globus cruciger Archbishop's variant Gnostic Grapevine/Saint Nino Greek Greek Orthodox Huguenot Iron Jeremiah Jerusalem/Crusaders Jerusalem (Kingdom) Latin/Roman Macedonian Maltese Marada Marian Maronite Moline Nordic Novgorod Occitan Order of Christ Papal Patonce Pattée Fitchée Patriarchal Pommy Portate/Saint Gilbert Potent Quadrate Resistance Ringed Russian Russian Orthodox Salem Saltire/Saint Andrew Saint Chad Saint David Saint Florian Saint George Saint James/Santiago Saint John Saint Patrick Saint Peter Saint Philip Saint Piran Saint Thomas Serbian Serbian Orthodox Short Sword Syriac (Eastern) Syriac (Western) Tau/Saint Anthony
Historical	Avellane Aviz Black Blanc croix rouge Brigid Carolingian Chouan Consecration Coptic Coptic (Early) Cross cramponnée Crown Cuthbert's pectoral Engrailed Erminée Gammadion Jewelled Katanga Lazarus Lorraine Neith Nestorian Peñalba Pierced Quarterly Saint Alban Saint Julian Templar Teutonic Order Two-barred Victory Voided
By function	Altar Blessing Conciliation Heraldry Nordic Pisan High Market Mercat Memorial Mission Necklace Pectoral Plague Preaching Processional Lalibela Rood/Triumphal cross Summit Wayside
Christograms,Chrismons	Chi Rho IX monogram Labarum Signum manus Staurogram/Monogrammatic/Tau Rho
See also	Ankh Armenian eternity sign Ichthys Irminsul Kolovrat Lauburu Mjölnir Rose Rota Solomon's knot Scientology Shamrock Shield of the Trinity Sunwheel swastika Sun Swastika Triskelion/Triskele Descriptions in antiquity of the execution cross List of tallest crosses in the world
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