The document discusses the origins and history of the Celtic cross symbol. It provides various perspectives on how the symbol developed. Some theories suggest it was introduced by Christian missionaries to help convert pagans by combining it with existing sun symbols. Others claim it originated from earlier pagan symbols later adopted by Christians. The cross did not become a common Christian symbol until the 4th century AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision and merged pagan and Christian symbols. The document examines interpretations from religious, folklore and academic perspectives to explain the complex history and meanings of the Celtic cross.
The document discusses the origins and history of the Celtic cross symbol. It provides various perspectives on how the symbol developed. Some theories suggest it was introduced by Christian missionaries to help convert pagans by combining it with existing sun symbols. Others claim it originated from earlier pagan symbols later adopted by Christians. The cross did not become a common Christian symbol until the 4th century AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision and merged pagan and Christian symbols. The document examines interpretations from religious, folklore and academic perspectives to explain the complex history and meanings of the Celtic cross.
The document discusses the origins and history of the Celtic cross symbol. It provides various perspectives on how the symbol developed. Some theories suggest it was introduced by Christian missionaries to help convert pagans by combining it with existing sun symbols. Others claim it originated from earlier pagan symbols later adopted by Christians. The cross did not become a common Christian symbol until the 4th century AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision and merged pagan and Christian symbols. The document examines interpretations from religious, folklore and academic perspectives to explain the complex history and meanings of the Celtic cross.
The document discusses the origins and history of the Celtic cross symbol. It provides various perspectives on how the symbol developed. Some theories suggest it was introduced by Christian missionaries to help convert pagans by combining it with existing sun symbols. Others claim it originated from earlier pagan symbols later adopted by Christians. The cross did not become a common Christian symbol until the 4th century AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision and merged pagan and Christian symbols. The document examines interpretations from religious, folklore and academic perspectives to explain the complex history and meanings of the Celtic cross.
While
I
was
in
Wisconsin,
I
saw
a
familiar
version
of
the
cross,
a
cross
with
a
circle
behind
it.
It
was
on
each
of
the
lights
in
the
sanctuary
of
my
uncles
church.
I
asked
my
uncle
about
it
and
he
did
not
know
anything
about
it.
I
did
not
give
it
any
more
thought
until
I
read
an
article
about
the
Bibles
that
were
going
to
be
used
in
the
2013
inauguration
ceremony.
It
mentioned
that
President
Obama
is
going
to
use
Lincoln's
Bible
and
Martin
Luther
King's
Bible.
It
further
mentioned
that
the
Vice
President
Biden
was
going
to
use
a
family
heirloom
with
a
Celtic
Cross
on
it.
My
curiosity
was
piqued,
so
I
did
a
web
search
on
Celtic
Cross
and
saw
the
same
cross
with
a
circle
behind
it.
After
doing
a
little
research,
here
is
what
I
found
on
the
origins
of
the
Celtic
cross.
Here
is
quote
from
a
WikiPedia
website
link
which
explains
the
origins
(or
possible
origins)
of
the
"Celtic
Cross".
"In
Ireland,
it
is
a
popular
legend
that
the
Celtic
Christian
cross
was
introduced
by
Saint
Patrick
or
possibly
Saint
Declan
during
his
time
converting
the
pagan
Irish,
though
there
are
no
examples
from
this
early
period.
It
has
often
been
claimed
that
Patrick
combined
the
symbol
of
Christianity
with
the
sun
cross,
to
give
pagan
followers
an
idea
of
the
importance
of
the
cross
by
linking
it
with
the
idea
of
the
life-giving
properties
of
the
sun.
Other
interpretations
claim
that
placing
the
cross
on
top
of
the
circle
represents
Christ's
supremacy
over
the
pagan
sun."
Next
is
an
excerpt
from
a
tarot
card
site
which
came
up
in
my
search
for
"Celtic
Cross".
"The
Celtic
Cross
is
probably
the
oldest
and
most
popular
pattern
for
reading
the
tarot.
It
has
survived
so
long
because
the
layout
of
the
cards
is
simple,
but
powerful.
A
strong
energy
has
built
up
around
this
spread
due
to
its
use
by
so
many
people
over
the
years.
You
can
think
of
the
Celtic
Cross
as
divided
into
two
sections:
the
Circle/Cross
(six
cards)
on
the
left,
and
the
Staff
(four
cards)
on
the
right.
(See
diagram
above.)
The
Circle/Cross
simulates
the
Celtic
cross
found
throughout
Ireland.
This
cross
has
a
circle
linking
the
four
perpendicular
spokes.
The
circle
and
cross
symbolize
the
joining
of
spirit
and
matter
and
the
unity
of
all
events
in
time.
The
feminine
energy
of
the
circular
section
works
in
unison
with
the
masculine
energy
of
the
Staff
section.
These
two
parts
of
the
Celtic
Cross
mirror
the
dual
nature
of
manifested
reality
-
the
polarities
that
abound
in
the
human
psyche."
I
have
included
these
excerpts
from
a
company
that
specializes
in
making
jewelry
with
the
Celtic
cross
on
it.
I
found
it
to
be
objective.
Here
is
the
website
link:
CeltArts.com.
There are many variations of interpretations and legends about the original meaning that are commonly repeated even today. The Presbyterian and Catholic are often startled to learn that the other considers this symbol their own. In our modern multicultural world the ringed cross is as much a symbol of ethnic heritage as it is of faith and it is often used as an
emblem of ones Irish, Scottish or Welsh identity.
The Irish Catholic priest will have no hesitation telling you that the circle of the Celtic Cross is a symbol of eternity that emphasizes the endlessness of Gods love as shown through Christs sacrifice on the cross. That is unless he says the circle is a halo. At the pub when the subject comes up you might just as likely hear the explanation that the great stone Celtic Crosses were carved from the standing stones of the Druids and were originally phallic symbols, just carved into crosses to disguise their original purpose. No proof of this theory is offered and the in-your-face delivery of this information will probably intimidate you from asking for any. With the rise of interest in the occult and pagan ideas in recent years you are likely to read New Age interpretations about how the cross in the circle is a symbol of the Sun that was worshipped by the Druids and that this symbol was appropriated by the Christians. There is a legend of how St. Patrick when preaching to some soon-to-be converted heathens was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle that was symbolic of the moon goddess. Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed the stone making the first Celtic Cross. This legend implies that the Saint was willing to make ideas and practices that were formerly Druid into Christian ideas and practices. This is consistent with the belief that he converted and ordained many Druids to lives as Christian priests. It seems that most people who know about Celtic Art as part of their personal heritage have the sort of knowledge that the academic cannot cite as fact since the source is mainly oral tradition. This does not prevent common knowledge from being strongly, even passionately believed nor does it mean that it is not true. The Cross did not become a common symbol of Christianity until the 4th century. The Chi-Rho symbol, the monogram of Christ was a commonly used symbol of Christianity in the 4th century Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantine who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire used as his emblem the Chi-Rho in a laurel wreath. Thus combined were a pagan Imperial symbol of Rome with a symbol of the new faith. A plain circle is often a symbol for the moon and a circle with a cross within or the arms of a cross without are universal symbols for the sun. The swastika is a related sun symbol. The Druids did indeed worship the sun and moon. If the Celtic Cross borrowed a pagan sun symbol, just as the Chi-Rho borrowed the pagan imperial laurel wreath, applying these to a Christian symbol were expressions of honor and reverence that should be seen in the context of the cultures that brought them forth. There are Christians who unfortunately see these vestiges of paganism as unholy. They ought to be regarded as the reverent tributes they were as these great cultures accepted the Gospels. The Celtic Crosses made at Iona and elsewhere from the 6th century onwards were made by Christians for the Glory of God. Like much of what they did and believed, their pagan heritage influenced their art. The early Christians certainly were erecting neither phallic symbols nor pagan monuments in their own minds when they carved these splendid creations.
In
the
article
a
specific
time
period
was
presented,
the
fourth
century
AD.
This
brought
back
to
my
memory
something
I
had
come
across
before
in
my
studies.
To
expand
on
this
aspect
a
bit
I
will
take
you
through
what
was
discovered.
It
is
reported
that
in
313
AD,
Constantine
had
a
vision
of
a
cross
in
the
sun
and
later
he
merged
paganism
with
Christianity.
Here
is
a
quote
from
the
Wiki
page
for
the
Battle
of
Milvian
Bridge
in
313
AD.
"It
is
commonly
stated
that
on
the
evening
of
27
October
with
the
armies
preparing
for
battle,
Constantine
had
a
vision
which
led
him
to
fight
under
the
protection
of
the
Christian
God.
The
details
of
that
vision,
however,
differ
between
the
sources
reporting
it."
The
question
we
must
ask
is,
did
paganism
that
influence
Christianity
as
a
result
of
his
conversion?
Here
is
a
quote
about
Constantine
from
the
WikiPedia
page
on
"Sunday":
"The
ancient
Romans
traditionally
used
the
eight-day
nundinal
cycle,
a
market
week,
but
in
the
time
of
Augustus,
the
seven-day
week
also
came
into
use.
The
two
weeks
were
used
side-by- side
until
at
least
the
Calendar
of
354
and
probably
later,[5]
despite
the
official
adoption
of
Sunday
as
a
day
of
rest
by
Constantine
in
AD
321.[6]Mithraism
kept
Sunday
holy
in
honor
of
Mithras.[7]
On
7
March
321,
Constantine
I,
Rome's
first
Christian
Emperor
(see
Constantine
I
and
Christianity),
decreed
that
Sunday
would
be
observed
as
the
Roman
day
of
rest:
'On
the
venerable
Day
of
the
Sun
let
the
magistrates
and
people
residing
in
cities
rest,
and
let
all
workshops
be
closed.
In
the
country,
however,
persons
engaged
in
agriculture
may
freely
and
lawfully
continue
their
pursuits;
because
it
often
happens
that
another
day
is
not
so
suitable
for
grain-sowing
or
vine-planting;
lest
by
neglecting
the
proper
moment
for
such
operations
the
bounty
of
heaven
should
be
lost.[8]'"
Here
is
an
entry
in
the
WikiPedia
page
on
"Constantine
I"
which
demonstrates
that
he
was
appealing
to
both
Christian
and
non-Christians
to
observe
Sunday.
Was
he
providing
religious
freedom
or
intolerance?
"Later
in
321,
Constantine
instructed
that
Christians
and
non-Christians
should
be
united
in
observing
the
venerable
day
of
the
sun,
referencing
the
sun-worship
that
Aurelian
had
established
as
an
official
cult.
Furthermore,
and
long
after
his
oft
alleged
"conversion"
to
Christianity,
Constantine's
coinage
continued
to
carry
the
symbols
of
the
sun.
Even
after
the
pagan
gods
had
disappeared
from
the
coinage,
Christian
symbols
appeared
only
as
Constantine's
personal
attributes:
the
chi
rho
between
his
hands
or
on
his
labarum,
but
never
on
the
coin
itself.[209]
Even
when
Constantine
dedicated
the
new
capital
of
Constantinople,
which
became
the
seat
of
Byzantine
Christianity
for
a
millennium,
he
did
so
wearing
the
Apollonian
sun-rayed
Diadem;
no
Christian
symbols
were
present
at
this
dedication."
On
the
next
page
is
the
image
of
a
coin
with
Constantine
on
it.
On
it
you
will
find
the
image
of
the
sun
and
the
image
of
the
cross
in
front
of
the
sun.
Later,
in
the
Canon
that
came
out
of
the
Council
of
Laodicea
in
365
AD,
we
find
further
religious
intolerance:
Canon
29
Christians
must
not
judaize
by
resting
on
the
Sabbath,
but
must
work
on
that
day,
rather
honouring
the
Lord's
Day;
and,
if
they
can,
resting
then
as
Christians.
But
if
any
shall
be
found
to
be
judaizers,
let
them
be
anathema
from
Christ.
Conclusion:
Each
person
needs
to
make
their
own
choice
on
this
information.
There
are
many
people
who
may
not
care
how
this
image
came
to
be,
but
I
have
an
interest
in
these
things
and
find
the
research
fun
and
interesting.
I
learn
a
lot
about
history
and
discover
things
which
lead
me
to
a
deeper
appreciation
for
what
God
has
done
for
us
and
how
much
work
the
devil
puts
into
confusing
us
in
a
myriad
of
ways.
Regardless
of
whether
this
changes
your
view
or
position
on
what
you
think
when
you
see
an
image
of
the
Celtic
cross,
we
know
what
happened
on
the
cross
of
Calvary
is
crucial.
