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A crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesus's body, or corpus. It is a principal symbol of the Christian religion. It is primarily used among Roman Catholic, certain Lutheran, and Anglican Christians, and emphasizes Christ's sacrifice—his death by crucifixion. Some styles of crucifix feature a skull and crossbones below the corpus, reflecting a legend that the place of Jesus' crucifixion was also the burial place of Adam.
The corpora of Eastern Orthodox crucifixes tend to be two-dimensional icons that show Jesus as already dead, as opposed to the depictions of the still-suffering Jesus that can be found in some other Churches.
Among Protestant denominations, some prefer to depict the cross without the corpus in order to emphasize the resurrection or because the image of Christ's death is too intense while others claim that including the corpus is idolatry. Some Protestants with more extremistic views even assert that portraying the body of Jesus on the cross is to profess that Jesus is not yet risen, though this is of course not what the various churches which use the symbol teach.
However, there are both Catholics and Protestants who also believe that a crucifix bears more meaning than a plain cross, not forgetting that the cross was primarily a torture instrument in the past whereas a crucifix shows that it is not "any other cross".
Nevertheless, many Protestants unexposed to other denominations of Christianity generally receive a shock when they see a crucifix for the first time upon entering a Catholic church or home, especially since most Catholic homes place a crucifix on/above the door or somewhere in the front of the house. (Such crucifixes are also generally larger and with more detail.)
Among Catholics and Protestants a third type of depiction of the body on the cross is what might be called a "resurrection cross" depicting a triumphant risen Christ (clothed in robes, rather than stripped as for his execution) with arms raised, appearing to rise up from the cross, sometimes accompanied by "rays of light".
A crucifix is often worn on a necklace as an item of jewelry, or is attached to a rosary. Some celebrities such as Madonna have in the past been criticized for wearing a crucifix as a fashion statement rather than as a sign of personal devotion to Christianity. (Madonna also infamously said "I find crucifixes sexy as there is a naked man on them.") It can be made out of various metals, wood, or even plastic. Some people will hang a crucifix (often a rosary) from their car's rear view mirror.
Catholics will normally ask their priest to bless a crucifix and place it in their home to as a reminder that Jesus Christ died for our sins.
Usage
Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican, and confessional Lutheran Christians generally use the crucifix in public religious services. They believe the crucifix is in keeping with Scripture, which states that "we preach Christ crucified." Also, in the Old Testament, Moses lifted up a snake crucified on a pole-- a kind of symbolic crucifix. For a long time it was revered, but not worshipped. Later on it was destroyed by King Hezekiah because the people were worshipping it along with pagan idols.
A crucifix that is part of a rosary or a handheld crucifix is often kissed by the Christian at the start of, or at the end of prayer to Jesus. Symbolically, a Christian (especially an Orthodox Christian) may form a "cross" with the intertwined thumb, first and middle fingers of the right hand while making the sign of the cross and kiss the "cross" formed by their fingers at the end of the motion.
Prayer in front of ("before") a crucifix or cross is often part of devotion for Christians, especially those worshipping in a church, and private devotion in a chapel. The person may sit, stand, or kneel in front of the crucifix, sometimes looking at it as if in contemplation, or merely in front of it with head bowed or eyes closed. In Catholic circles, a "procession" begins a Mass in which a crucifix is carried forward into the church, along with other items used in the service such as the Gospels, candles, etc.
Gravestones often depict some form of cross in Christian cemeteries or for individual believers who desire them. These range from simple cross shapes to the most elaborate and realistic sculptures. These are not typically used in worship service, but rather to symbolize the entrusting of the deceased to the care of Christ, or to express the belief of the departed.
In popular fiction and folklore, a cross or crucifix is often used to ward off vampires and other evil supernatural creatures that are seen to be related to demons (and thus are scared away by the symbol of Christ, who supposedly has power over them). The word rendered as "cross", in the original Greek Septuagint was the word stauros ("upright stake"). This has led some to believe that Jesus was not executed on a cross, but rather a stake of some sort.
Other pictures of Crucifixes
See also
Anglicanism | Christian art | Eastern Orthodoxy | Sacramentals | Religious objects | Cross symbols | Christian symbols
Krucifix | Krucifiks | Kruzifix | Crucifix | Krucifiksas | Crucifix | Krusifiks | Krucyfiks | Krusifiksi | Krucifix | Triumphkreuz
"Crucifix"