In any church, a believer can purchase a cross, consecrated in accordance with the canons of the Orthodox Church. However, people often choose pectoral crosses purchased at a jewelry store, or receive them as a gift from loved one. Is it possible to consecrate such a cross yourself?

How a new cross is blessed in the Orthodox Church

A person receives a pectoral cross during the sacrament of baptism. Despite the church canons, it should be noted that a similar ritual was carried out in Rus' even before the adoption of Orthodoxy.

Therefore, wearing a pectoral cross is used even by non-believers, considering the object as an ancient symbol that protects against the effects of negative manifestations.

Since the cross is consecrated in the church at the same time as the baby is baptized, there is no need to purchase the cross again in the future. However, a person may lose an item that is important to him. In this case, the best option would be to purchase the Orthodox amulet again and consecrate it as recommended by the church. By the way, basically to sanctify a large number of Pectoral crosses are customary on Easter Eve.

Previously, the question of whether it was possible to consecrate a cross at home did not arise for residents of rural areas. This ritual was quite common. You just had to ask the priest for his blessing. But in large cities it was necessary to visit the temple for a special ritual.

Such division is often associated with temptations big city, greater exposure to the sins of its inhabitants. Therefore, the baptism of an infant and the illumination of the cross occurs only in the temple. Along with crosses, other objects, for example, icons, should also be consecrated. Believers are sure that during the ritual, priests read prayers for a month in order to reliably consolidate the effect.

Conditions for consecration

In fact, the ritual performed in the church is described in the missal, a special book.

It contains the basic rules by which, in particular, services performed on demand are held:

• If it is necessary to consecrate a new cross, it must be chosen correctly. Since this is an object not used for decoration, more attention should be paid to the image of Christ. A cross purchased from a church is made according to the canons and does not require re-consecration, since it has already undergone the procedure. However, crosses offered in jewelry stores are often intended for Catholics. The difference lies in the manner in which Christ's feet are nailed. In Orthodoxy, 2 nails are visible on the cross, but in Catholicism, there is only 1 nail in the image;
• It doesn’t matter what material the cross is made of. In Orthodoxy there are no clear instructions about whether there should be pectoral cross IR wooden or metal;
• In a church where it has been decided to consecrate a cross, you need to contact the minister. Typically, employees are constantly located near the place where candles are sold. You should contact one of them with a request to talk with the priest after the completion of the service;
• In a conversation with a priest, you need to make a request, addressing the priest “Honest Father”. Any person with the rank of priest can perform the ceremony;
• You definitely need to show the cross to the priest so that he can be convinced of its suitability. Orthodox canons. You can hang the cross on a chain or thread in advance;
• The priest takes the cross to the altar and performs the required veneration. The ceremony does not last long, but during this time you can light a candle to the icons and read a few prayers, for example, “ Grace of the Holy Spirit»;
• At the end of the ceremony, the priest will sprinkle the objects placed for consecration with holy water 3 times. Only after this is it considered that the thing has been cleansed;
• You should put on a pectoral cross immediately after the ceremony, since being present in church without it is undesirable.

After the prayer service, you need to thank the priest and leave a symbolic fee for the consecration.

How to consecrate a cross yourself at home

It is unlikely that a priest will agree to bless a cross at home. However, there are many ways that “knowledgeable” people recommend for performing the ritual.

For example: A cross that can be blessed is glued to the bottom of a bucket with resin. The bucket is lowered into the well on Maundy Thursday. On the morning of Good Friday, after the 5th rooster crow, a woman should go to the well, reading “Our Father”.

The bucket is taken out of the water, while the words are pronounced: Holy, holy, holy, from now on God’s cross is consecrated. It is believed that the item has undergone the necessary purification and can be worn as a pectoral cross.

According to Orthodox canons, such an action is considered heresy. In no church would such a thing be perceived as a consecrated object. Therefore, you should not perform the ritual yourself, especially for a believer.

The cross must be consecrated in an appropriate setting according to the traditions of Christianity that have developed over the centuries. Otherwise, the cross can only be considered as a pagan amulet.

The pectoral cross is a visible sign of belonging to the Orthodox Church and Christian faith. It is given to a person during the baptismal ceremony in order to wear his cross on his chest near his heart and not to forget about the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross.

The cross is worn under clothes, not for show, as one’s innermost shrine. For a Christian who has consciously chosen his faith, wearing a cross on his body is a kind of silent prayer and confession of Christ as his Savior.

According to church canons, any pectoral cross it must be consecrated in the temple, for which the priest performs a special ceremony, reading appropriate prayers and sprinkling it with holy water. Crosses sold in a church shop are already consecrated, but if a cross is purchased in a regular store, without consecration it will remain just a piece of jewelry.

Is it possible to consecrate a cross yourself?

On some Internet sites there are tips on how to consecrate a cross yourself. Yes, this is sometimes allowed, but only in cases where believers for some reason do not have access to clergy.

For example, if Orthodox Christians live in a remote area, or in a country where Orthodox priests are persecuted, believers can independently consecrate their crosses.


But as soon as they have the opportunity to conduct the rite of consecration in the temple, this must be done immediately.

How to consecrate a cross in a church?

Choose the temple in which you will consecrate the cross. Usually believers choose the church that they always attend on Sundays and holidays, or they go to a monastery or monastery, known for its holiness, but you can come to any temple for this.

Most churches are open every day from early morning until evening. It is better to come for the consecration on a weekday, so that the priest has time to perform the required ritual.

When entering the temple, do not forget to cross yourself and bow to the holy place. Approach a priest or deacon to explain your problem. The consecration of body crosses can be carried out by any clergyman.

The fee for the consecration of the cross is paid near the candle shop - a specially fenced place where they sell church candles, icons and spiritual literature, donations are accepted for the needs of the church. There is no need to remove the cross from the chain or cord - just place it on a special dish, which the priest will then place on the altar.



While the consecration ceremony is being carried out, you can pray for your needs and light a candle for the health of people dear to you.

Having completed the ceremony, the priest takes the cross out of the altar. You need to immediately put it on your neck (if it is intended for you), since a Christian in church is supposed to wear a cross on his body.

Material and shape of the cross

Sometimes believers are faced with priests’ refusal to perform rituals on a cross made in the “non-Orthodox” tradition. For our country, the eight-pointed cross with the image of the crucified Christ and the inscription “Save and Preserve” on the back is traditional.

At the same time, we should not forget that the cross is a symbol, the only spiritual power of which is our faith in the Most Holy Life-Giving Blood of Christ, which stained it two thousand years ago.

The shape and number of crossbars do not have of great importance. As proof, one can cite the saying of St. Demetrius of Rostov: “We venerate the Cross of Christ not by the number of trees, not by the number of ends, but by Christ himself, whose Most Holy Blood was stained with Him.



Displaying miraculous power, any Cross does not act by itself, but by the power of Christ crucified on it and by the invocation Holy Name His".

The material from which the cross is made does not matter. It can be made from wood or even plastic, or from precious metals. Still, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is advisable to ask the priest in advance whether he will conduct the consecration if you have a cross of a non-canonical shape.

Every baptized person bears a symbol of evidence of his belonging to the Orthodox Church. It is believed that this symbol is a means of protection from all evils. Such an important attribute Orthodox person given at the time of baptism. Some historians note that such a ritual was present in Rus' even before Orthodoxy. This is precisely why they explain the fact that crosses are also worn by those people who are not believers. They put into it the meaning of a symbol that prevents negativity.

It happens that people lose their pectoral cross or receive a piece of jewelry as a gift. No one can say for sure whether it is sanctified or not. What to do in this case? In this situation there are 2 options:

bless him in church

consecrate houses

Where to consecrate the cross is your decision.

How to consecrate a cross?

Often the pectoral cross is consecrated together with the newborn during the baptismal ceremony. And therefore there is no point in consecrating it again. But what to do in that situation if you have lost this symbol? Church workers recommend buying a new one and consecrating it.

Sometimes the following question is asked: is it necessary to consecrate the cross? Crosses that are sold directly in churches have already been consecrated. But jewelry from stores is unlikely. In addition, no one can guarantee you the purity of the metal from which these products were made and where they were taken from.

It happens that jewelry is stolen, removed from the dead and melted down. Just imagine what kind of energy a cross made of such metal can carry. Of course, it is advisable to consecrate such a talisman.

If you have chosen a place where to conduct such a ritual, then approach the attendants first and find out when is the best time to do it. It is noted that a large number of such rituals take place on the eve of Easter. But we must remember that not only crosses need to be consecrated, but also icons and other objects.

Bless the cross in the church

Previously, there were no questions about the location of the cross lighting. In the outback, people knew that such a ritual could be performed at home. The only requirement was the blessing of the priest. In cities, it was recommended to visit a temple for such an action.

Arguing this is that city residents are more susceptible to temptation. The consecration procedure itself is clearly stated in the special church book- missal. In addition, after such a ritual, the priests read prayers for another month to consolidate the result.

The missal spells out certain requirements for this procedure:

It is necessary to choose the right new cross. Church crosses are carried out according to all canons and they no longer require crossing. But the jewelry is mostly made in the Catholic manner.

It doesn’t matter for Orthodoxy whether the cross is made of wood or metal.

You should contact the priest after the service to perform this ritual.

When requesting a ceremony, you need to address the clergyman as “Honest Father”

Any person in the rank of priest can perform such a ritual.

It is advisable to show the decoration to the priest earlier and hang it on a thread or string

During the ceremony, the priest takes him to the altar and performs veneration. At this time, you can light candles and pray.

Finally, the items will be sprinkled with sacred water three times and considered cleansed.

It is advisable to put on the amulet immediately after the ceremony, since coming to church without it is considered undesirable.

After completing the ceremony, you must thank and give a symbolic payment.

How to consecrate a cross at home?

How to consecrate a cross at home? To perform this ritual, you can invite a priest home and ask him to do it at home. But many disagree. Is it possible to consecrate a cross yourself? In general, clergy do not welcome such an independent procedure.

If you nevertheless decide to carry out such a ritual at home, then you need to prepare the necessary attributes. Many “experts” say that this can be done by gluing a cross with resin to the bottom of the bucket. It must be lowered into the well in Maundy Thursday.

And on the morning of Good Friday, after the 5th rooster crow, a woman with the prayer “Our Father” approaches the well. With the words holy-holy-holy, he takes out a bucket. After which the cross is considered consecrated. But Orthodox religion refers to such a ritual as a pagan action.

How and where to consecrate a cross is everyone’s decision. You just need to clearly define for yourself: this is a symbol of faith or just decoration.

The pectoral cross is an attribute of almost all Orthodox Christians who are baptized and believe in the Lord God. Often, this church decoration is called a “vestnik”, as it protects against all illnesses and adversities, protects against any difficult situations and ill-wishers. That is why the most important words, so important for the church, are written on all the crosses - “Save and preserve.” This sacred attribute is worn only after the baptism ritual. Many people wonder how to consecrate a cross, the answer to which is hidden in this article.

The sacrament of baptism appeared long before Orthodoxy arose in Rus'. Therefore, even those who do not believe in God wear a cross. But for them, this accessory does not act as decoration, but as an ancient symbol of protection from negativity, evil people and gossip.

When Orthodoxy appeared, everything changed. Now there is no need to buy a “body cover” separately or again after baptism. During the ritual of baby baptism, Father always sanctifies a silver cross on a string and places it on the baby’s neck. The same thing happens with an item that was purchased in a regular store - you just have to consecrate it in the church during the service, asking in advance about when this will be. It happens that people lose their crosses. This is enough Bad sign, not good. Many say that such losses are not good. What could this mean?

1. For a Christian, the loss of a cross means insecurity from evil energy, a huge accumulation of negativity around a person.
2. For those who believe in omens, this means that a person has lost the strength to carry his Cross, but a believer always has a choice in life, what to do next.
3. The loss of a cross may mean that it’s time to get a new one, since the old one is unable to absorb bad energy.

By the way, it is best to consecrate crosses on the eve of Easter. During this period, the silver amulet becomes even stronger, carefully protecting its owner. If a believer has a question about how to consecrate a cross that was bought in a store, it’s not a problem; it needs to be brought to church. Those who work in the temple will definitely tell you which days are best to choose for the consecration of the attribute, what to bring with you, and so on.

How to consecrate a pectoral cross

How to consecrate a cross at home

How to consecrate a cross at home? Previously, such questions did not arise, since every parishioner could contact the church. But since everything has changed today, you can do this ritual within the walls of your own home.

1. Most the best option for such a decision- invite Father home so that he can perform a full-fledged consecration ritual. Not every priest will agree to this. But if you can find someone who can, that’s great.
2. Is it possible to consecrate a pectoral cross yourself? The question is controversial. The Church does not welcome such rituals, since people sometimes do not even know what prayer to read when consecrating the amulet, not to mention what the movements should be during the ritual.

If a person nevertheless takes up the ritual of consecrating his cross, then for this he must do the following: glue the future body amulet to the bottom of the bucket using ordinary resin. When Maundy Thursday comes, lower the bucket into the well. As soon as it comes Good Friday, and the rooster crows for the 5th time in the morning, go to the well and read the well-known and memorized prayer “Our Father”. Only a woman should approach and no one else. As soon as the bucket rises up from the well, each time you need to say: “Holy, holy, holy, God’s cross is consecrated.” Such a lengthy ritual allows you to completely clean the cross, which can be placed around your neck and worn calmly. True, the church does not accept this method of sanctification.

Even though people in villages and outbacks used to perform the ritual themselves, asking only for the priest’s blessing, they were also recommended to go to the temple. In any case, the most proven way is to come to church and, according to all the traditions of Christianity, perform a ritual that has been happening for centuries. In other cases, an unconsecrated cross is not a symbol of a talisman, but a very ordinary accessory, or an amulet that does not imply anything.

Rules for the consecration of a pectoral cross

The church has a special book called the missal. It spells out all the clear rules before each ritual, including the procedure for consecrating the pectoral cross. One of the paragraphs is devoted to the fact that after the rite of the Sacrament of baptism, Father reads prayers every day for a whole month to consolidate the result, so that God would help everyone who wears a new pectoral cross, just consecrated. Here are some rules written in the breviary that you need to know:

Stories from life after the consecration of the cross

All stories are valid. They describe the miraculous influence of the consecrated amulet on a person.

1. One woman had only possessed thoughts in her head and dreamed bad dreams, but I didn’t want to go to church at all. Despite this, the believer prayed every evening, asking the Lord for enlightenment and deliverance from evil spirits. The woman was baptized, but did not wear a cross. Her thoughts drove her crazy every day. Realizing that it was necessary to get rid of this lifestyle, the woman decided to purchase a cross. As soon as the consecrated amulet was placed around the neck, all demonic thoughts immediately disappeared, I slept soundly, and the parishioner began to go to church very often.
2. In one family, the baby cried a lot, was capricious all the time, could not calm down and sit for at least half an hour without screaming and crying. The parents were believers and always prayed for the little one. But every day the child’s tears flowed like hail, as if someone was terribly offending him. The family decided it was time to baptize their son. The parents bought a beautiful little children's cross and came to church. As soon as the baptism ceremony was completed, and the body amulet was on the baby’s neck, he calmed down and even began to smile. This is how the Lord God helped the boy, who now laughs, begins to speak his first words and is very rarely capricious.

Take care of yourself, be sure to listen to the church! A cross is not just an accessory that many people wear today. This is more than just a talisman. This is an inextricable connection with the Almighty. You can kiss him goodnight, and sleep at this time will be the most restful. Every believer should have such a thing around their neck. Despite the fact that the cross is very small in size and, it would seem, cannot physically protect a person, it is full of strong and unique energy that can push away all negative thoughts from the believer!

Is it possible for unbaptized people to wear a cross?

How to consecrate a cross in church or at home - rules was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

If you baptized person or are just going to be baptized, you should wear a cross. But before you put it on, the cross should be consecrated in the church. You can buy it in a secular jewelry store or in any church shop. By the way, in temples, churches and chapels they sell crosses that have already been consecrated.

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Instructions

Select Orthodox Church. All temples are open to believers from morning until late evening on any day of the week. You can consecrate the cross (and other things) at any time. If your cross is similar to others, in the event that several objects will be consecrated at the same time, mark it by tying, for example, a bright ribbon. The pectoral cross can be handed over for consecration along with the chain. It is important that the cross you choose is of the Orthodox type. An object that does not comply with the canons will not be taken for consecration. Contact the priest or any church employee before the service. Explain what you require. The cross will be handed over to the altar. Any priest or bishop on duty at that time has the right to consecrate a pectoral cross. Pay the consecration fee. If it is not provided, donate any amount to the needs of the church or the construction of a temple in a box near the candle shop. At the altar, a priest or priest will read special prayers, asking God to consecrate your cross. During prayer, the object will be sprinkled with holy water in a cross shape. If you are handing over an unconsecrated cross to perform the baptismal ceremony, do not forget to inform the church minister about this in advance. The object will be illuminated directly during baptism, lowered into a font of holy water. After the consecration ceremony, the priest will take the tray with the cross out of the altar and give it to you, immediately put the cross on your neck. All Orthodox Christians must be in church only wearing a cross. Approach the priest, bow and thank him for his service and ask for his blessing. Pectoral cross for everyone Orthodox Christian- the main symbol of faith, the holy sign of the existence of Jesus Christ. Treat the consecrated cross with care. Try not to take it off even in the most unexpected situations.

How simple

Other news on the topic: The Orthodox pectoral cross is not a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of faith. When choosing it, you must first of all pay attention not to the beauty and precious metals from which it was made, but to the compliance Orthodox traditions

. You can buy a cross in a church shop or jewelry store