The Coptic cross refers to a number of
Christian cross variants associated in some way with
Coptic Christians.
Typical form
The typical form of the "Coptic cross" used in the Coptic Church is made up of two bold lines of equal length that intersect at the middle at right angles. Each line terminates in three points, representing
the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Altogether, the cross has 12 points symbolizing the Apostles, whose mission was to spread the Gospel message throughout the world.
This form of Coptic cross is widely used in the Coptic church and the
Ethiopian
Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in neighboring Eritrea and other parts of ...
and
Eritrean churches, and so this form of the cross may also be called the "
Ethiopian
Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in neighboring Eritrea and other parts of ...
cross" or "
Axum cross". Bertran de la Farge dates it to the 4th century and cites it as a predecessor of the
Occitan cross.
History and variation
Old Coptic crosses often incorporate a circle,
as in the form called a "Coptic cross" by
Rudolf Koch in his ''The Book of Signs'' (1933). Sometimes the arms of the cross extend through the circle (dividing it into four quadrants), as in the "
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses e ...
".
In 1984, a modern variant of the Coptic Cross composed of three bars intersecting at right angles in three dimensions was given as a gift by the
Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي ...
and mounted on the top of the
All Africa Conference of Churches building since the Coptic Church is considered to be the mother church in Africa.
Popular culture
Many
Copts
Copts ( cop, ⲛⲓⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ; ar, الْقِبْط ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group indigenous to North Africa who have primarily inhabited the area of modern Egypt and Sudan since antiquity. Most ethnic Copts are ...
have the cross
tattooed as a sign of faith on the inside of their right arm at the wrist.
One of the forms of the Coptic cross, which is referred to as the Ethiopian Coptic cross, was worn by
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Although his mainstream career spanned only seven years ...
.
Keith Richards
Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...
also wears an Ethiopian Coptic Cross.
Gallery
See also
*
Alexandrian rite
References
External links
About.com entry on crossesFunerary stele featuring a Coptic cross
{{Christian crosses
Coptic Orthodox Church
Crosses by culture
Tattooing and religion
Christian crosses