THE EVOLUTION OF IMAGES AND SYMBOLISM OF THE CROSS IN THE CHRISTIANITY

Abstract

The article examines the general formation aspects of the cross image and its place in the Christian mythology through the evolution of its attributes and symbolism from the point of view of various movements and denominations since the ancient times the Christianity up to the present day. The author tries to establish the relationship between the semiotic content of the cross' superficial elements and the doctrinal features of the denominations that these elements reflect. In particular, the article provides a historical analysis of the most common forms of the cross, in order to determine the most authentic form from the evangelical point of view. In addition to analyzing the evolution of the external attributes, the author considers the changes in the spiritual and symbolic content of the cross at the universal level, and emphasizes the difference between the concepts of the "cross" and the "crucifix" at the semantic level. The author shares the opinion that the crucifix is not a type of the cross, but it is rather one of its elements that does not depend on the cross' form or shape. It is rather one of the supplementary attributes, in addition to the shape, that indicate the belonging of the image to a particular denomination of the Christianity, and therefore have a deep symbolic content. The article also argues that the primary meaning of the cross, the embodiment of the spiritual redemption for all the humanity through the physical suffering of Jesus Christ, remains an invariant despite the attributive or conceptual changes of its various forms. At the same time, the author refers to the scientific articles of diverse foreign authors, as well as to the comprehensive works of a number of prominent Ukrainian and foreign researchers in this field, in particular, Lubsky V. I., Schaff P., Barroso P. and others. However, the most important role in building the author's argumentation was played by researching and analysing the primary sources, i. e. the New and the Old Testaments.