The Cross
Ok, this is the final post on our field trip to the Eklutna Historical Park. If you missed the others please check out the two previous posts.
The Russian Orthodox Cross is rather unique. I am glad that we had the guided tour so that they could explain all of the symbolism in their cross.
The Three-Barred Cross existed very early in Byzantium, but was adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church and was especially popularized in the Slavic countries. The upper arm represents the inscription over Christ’s head, and the lower slanting bar represents His footrest. The origin of this slanted footboard is not known, but in the symbolism of the Russian Orthodox Church, the most common explanation is that it is the pointing upward to Paradise for the Good Thief on Jesus’ right who acknowledged Him and downward to Hell for the Thief on His left (Luke 23). *
Info. via Eklutna Historical Park–Orthodox Church in America
Some of the crosses have a clover(three) shape on the end of each point as seen above. This stands for the three persons of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is also a good shot of the many spirit houses and an example of a grave with a fence around it signifying a person of prominence.
Tags: Alaska, Eklutna, Religion and Spirituality, Russian Orthodox Church Posted in Alaska
