Christian Art What Does a Circle Around the Head Mean
You may have seen an image for a Celtic cantankerous before without realizing the name of the object. It's similar to a traditional cantankerous, merely with a ring effectually the intersection where the smaller and longer beams meet. It may accept been introduced first by St. Patrick himself when he did missionary piece of work in Ireland.
Ornate or simple, this type of cantankerous has a vast history, especially throughout the Heart Ages.
However, because it is and so unique, many Christians wonder: what is the origin of the Celtic Cross? And what is the meaning and symbol behind the extra circle (amongst other symbols)? Is it biblical or heathen?
What is a Celtic Cross?
As mentioned above, a Celtic cross is like a cross just with a circumvolve in the center. Nigh likely of Irish origin, there are really ii types of Celtic crosses that we take to distinguish:
The first type is the Celtic Memorial cross. These serve every bit headstones, especially fashionable in the 1850s during a revival of Gaelic traditions.
The second blazon are Celtic High Crosses, that take a slightly longer "stem" (a longer vertical beam on the cross). Instead of adorning graves, they adorn churches or important holy places. These will typically take a pyramid base at the bottom.
No matter which Celtic cross you lot think of, they typically have the same symbolism. The circle in the center typically represents the sun, an important item of worship in Druid religion.
To preach the Gospel to the Druids, St. Patrick united the element of the lord's day with the cross of Christianity, showing how the true "Son/Lord's day" far outshines any god, deity, or spirit of another religion. Yet this article suggests that St. Patrick blending two religions together is just a new-historic period fabrication.
Others have said the circle represented a moon goddess typically associated with pagan religion. Many take translated the meaning of the circle to symbolize eternity (since a circumvolve has no showtime and end), showing the eternal nature of God.
The Celtic cross also has very potent roots in Irish gaelic nationalism. The circle in the center of the cross has likewise been known to stand for a Celtic shield. Or, the cantankerous would take resembled a tree, to make the Gospel more than palatable to pagan religions who frequently used trees as symbols or items of worship.
Where Did the Celtic Cross Originate?
Although it's popularly believed St. Patrick introduced the Celtic cross, others have conjectured differing origins for this pop Irish gaelic symbol.
Some take said St. Declan, a 5th-century Christian who evangelized in Wales, showtime introduced the Celtic cross.
No matter which Saint starting time introduced information technology, the Celtic cross had a popular history throughout the middle ages, featuring several ornately crafted crosses, and had a revival in the 1800s. Many gravestones featured the cross during that fourth dimension.
Is the Celtic Cross Biblical?
Information technology depends which tradition is true, and the truthful meaning behind the circle in the heart.
Crosses, without a doubt, are biblical (Philippians 2:eight). And because we cannot reach a consensus about the truthful origin and significant of the Celtic cross, nosotros don't know if it has true biblical roots or not.
However, Christians can learn biblical truths from the Celtic cross.
Assuming the center does hateful eternity, we tin learn virtually the eternal nature of God.
God has no beginning and no end (Psalm 102:12). We can know that though the earth may laissez passer away and seasons change, God does not alter. He's the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
We can also think about eternity in the sense that we will live with God forever once we leave this earthly life. We'll reunite with young man Christians who have gone before united states, and will spend a glorious eternity with God.
Even if the circle in the center had a heathen origin, we should keep in mind:
God tin can use annihilation for His glory.
Paul, throughout the New Testament, quoted from infidel philosophers and poets. He even used a pagan idol to point to Jesus (Acts 17:23). God tin can apply anything for his kingdom. We can find points of intersection with those of other religions and start a dialogue virtually why nosotros believe what we believe.
Some Christian symbolism and traditions have pagan connections.
We also have to keep in mind this wouldn't exist the first fourth dimension Christianity has blended elements of other religions to make the message of the Gospel more than palatable. Traditions in Halloween and Christmas accept infidel roots which Christians translated to accept Gospel truths and meaning.
Just similar the circle in the center may take represented the sun, just they pointed to the true Sun (Son).
Of form with any chemical element of other religions, Christians practise take to do circumspection when finding points of intersection, especially with having more enigmatic origins.
No thing whether the circle has pagan or Christian roots, crosses are without a doubt Christian symbols, and the Celtic cross shows how Christianity and forms of worship tin spread in a beautiful way across other cultures.
Is The Celtic Cross Worn By Christians?
Although Celtic crosses typically adorn graves and churches, similar to the traditional cantankerous steeples and graves, nosotros do come across wearable Celtic crosses.
And fifty-fifty though Christians do wear these, its wise to remember that not everyone who wears a Celtic cantankerous is necessarily Christian. Especially since the Celtic cross has links with Irish national pride, you lot can see the Celtic cross on flags, emblems for sports teams, and more.
Symbols Oft Associated with the Celtic Cross
One of the most popular symbols associated with the Celtic cross is the Celtic knot, composed of vii strands, with each strand representing something of import in Celtic culture.
Throughout history, these knots take been etched on Celtic crosses and woven into a popular Celtic jewelry piece known as the Trinitarian knot, symbolizing the Trinity.
These knots had origins as far back equally the Roman Empire and played a huge role in artistic decoration in the Byzantine era.
The Compass Rose was another symbol associated with the Celtic cantankerous, used by sailors and later translated into popular jewelry pieces.
Why Does the Celtic Cross Matter?
Why does it matter that we learn about the symbolism of the Celtic cross? Outset, it helps us to understand the heritage of our brothers and sisters of the faith who live and come up from Ireland. We can see how this cross has played a major office throughout their history.
Second, we can meet ways we tin can open a dialogue with those outside of the Christian community. St. Patrick (or whoever introduced the Celtic cross) understood the important symbols of the Druid religions and used those to point toward the Gospel.
Nosotros tin learn from those outside of the Christian faith and use points of intersection to straight them toward the Gospel message.
Lastly, nosotros can recall Christ and God'southward eternal nature every time we see the Celtic cross. Whenever we see this symbol on a necklace or serving as a headstone, we tin exist reminded of God'due south death and resurrection, so we tin spend eternity with him.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/DACowley
Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/celtic-cross-meaning-origin-symbolism.html
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