DIY welded decorations for grave crosses. Wooden cross for grave

The results of the measurements turned out to be very encouraging. The cross of 1637 practically coincided with, in which the royal fathom is used as a large crossbar, and the axis is the sum of the church and folk fathoms!
Really:
1) The large crossbar of the Nikon cross is 193.5 cm. This is only 4 cm less than the value of the royal fathom given in and used in drawing up the projects. When considering, it should be taken into account that the projects involve the production of crosses from logs with the upper part of the axle and crossbars hewn out onto the timber. And Nikon's cross is made of thick boards.
2) The height of Nikon's cross from Golgotha ​​is 309.5 cm. The exact height of the original Golgotha ​​is not known. If we put it equal to 20 cm, then the height of Nikon’s cross with Golgotha exactly matches the height of the project cross(also with Golgotha).
3) The width of the crossbar of the Nikon cross is 21.5 ± 0.3 cm, which is the most. In the projects of the author of the site, this size is proposed to be taken as spans from the basic fathoms: royal, church and folk. Consequently, in the cross of 1637, apparently, the fourth basic fathom was used - the measured flywheel.

When analyzing the results obtained, the following circumstances must be taken into account:
1) The dimensions of Old Russian fathoms were determined on the basis of measurements of numerous structures. And mostly large structures- church buildings. And when measuring large structures, the errors are inevitably larger than when measuring relatively small structures, such as a cross. are inevitably of an evaluative nature, and no assessment of the error of the results obtained is given. From this it can be assumed that either the nominal value of the royal fathom given in requires correction, or carrying out, removing the difference between 197.4 and 193.5.
2) When installed, any cross goes into the ground a little more or a little less than planned. The boulder calvary is also assembled without the use of graph paper.
3) There are also manufacturing errors. For example, I planned to make a crossbar 23.3 cm wide, but after marking the log, trimming it with an axe, and stripping it with a staple, you can get 22 cm. At the same time, on different sides of the crossbar the dimensions always differ, at least a little. By the way, the manufacturing error in the width of the crossbars on Patriarch Nikon’s cross is about 0.6 cm.
Consequently, some discrepancy in the sizes of the crosses (which were not even transferred from place to place) does not at all indicate that they were made according to different projects. Moving the cross to another place (as happened with the cross of Patriarch Nikon) inevitably changes its size.
Interestingly, the relative parameters of the projects and the cross of 1637 are almost the same:
Table No. 8.

Taking into account the above, we can conclude that the designs of the crosses exactly coincide with the oldest surviving cross from 1637. Since the projects were developed on the basis of the ancient Russian system of measures of length without using the measurements of the Nikon cross, one can with good reason hope that the designs of the crosses are approaching the Divine Law. At the same time, we can assume with a high degree of confidence that the method that ancient masters used when designing the Nikon cross and, apparently, other similar crosses has been revealed.
Considering that our ancestors followed traditions much more zealously, we can assume that the Savior was crucified on a cross of precisely this size.

Rule for determining the size of crosses

The following rule for designing crosses can be formulated:
When determining the overall dimensions of crosses, 2-4 fathoms should be used. Between the large crossbar (A) and the distance from the large crossbar to the ground (B) the relation B = sqrt(2)* A must be satisfied. The best set of fathoms is church, royal, folk. It was this set of fathoms that was used in the design of temples.
It is important to note that such a cross contains an encrypted formula that will save Russia: “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality.”

Calculations and model creation

First you need to draw a sketch of a model of the future cross. At the same time, you will develop a design concept and set the required dimensions of the product. They are calculated in accordance with the proportions of the “golden ratio”, characteristic of the ideal human body. This tradition comes from ancient times. Such was the cross of the Savior on which he was crucified.

If as the base height of the cross take a value of 1.618 m, then further relationships should have the following form:

The length of the central crossbar will be 1.618 m;
- the distance from it to the top, as well as the length of the top bar will be 0.382 m;
- the top crossbar should be 0.236 m from the middle one;
- from the top to the first short crossbar the distance is calculated at 0.146 m;
- between the lower braid and the base you need to measure 0.5 m.

Only after careful measurements and calculations, as well as subsequent accurate drawing of the sketch, proceed to creating a layout, according to which you can subsequently begin to make the cross itself.

Materials for production

It is necessary to decide what the grave crucifix will be made of. The entire subsequent process of preparation, and then the actual manufacturing of the product, primarily depends on this. The most popular materials in our case are wood, metal and stone.

The easiest way is to make a wooden cross yourself. To get a correct and beautiful frame of the model, you will need basic carpentry skills.

If you then want to decorate the almost finished product with carvings, you will also need artistic abilities. At the very end of the work, the wood must be treated with stain and varnished to protect it from negative impact environment.

Metal is a less malleable material than wood and requires very special skills and approaches. At the same time, it is no less suitable for artistic processing. A skilled craftsman is able to produce very beautiful things from it. The most common method of making a metal grave cross is forging. With this processing method, the material receives an additional reserve of special strength and oxidation resistance, which is later enhanced with the help of an anti-corrosion coating and subsequent painting.

If you know how to forge iron and the necessary technical means are available to you, then you have the opportunity to give the cross you made any unusual configuration from those offered by Christian culture. Stone is the most labor-intensive material, but all the manufacturing difficulties are more than compensated for by its outstanding performance qualities and, above all, durability. It is distinguished by its natural uniqueness, beauty and durability. At the same time, the finished product made from it will require minimal maintenance and will last for centuries.

Any more or less observant person probably paid attention to the proportions Orthodox cross. And, indeed, with all the variety of types of Orthodox crosses, one cannot help but notice that the geometry of each of them is strictly maintained, and the proportions are strictly observed. Is this the result of the fact that our ancestors knew about the rules for constructing geometric figures, or is there some kind of error inherent in the proportions of the Orthodox cross? This question is not as idle as it might seem at first glance: some people need to order a cross for their grave loved one, others want to order a handmade cross. Not every jeweler or master who makes grave crosses understands such subtleties as the proportions of an Orthodox cross, so you should approach the order with preparation.

Proportions of an eight-pointed Orthodox cross

In Russia, the most common is an eight-pointed cross, consisting of four crossbars: one vertical and three transverse, or a six-pointed cross, in which there are only two transverse lines. It is these crosses that can most often be seen on the domes and altars of churches, on graves, on the chests of priests, and in icon shops.

The proportions of the six- and eight-pointed Orthodox cross are usually strictly observed, based on the principle of the golden section. Thanks to this principle, it is possible to achieve an ideal relationship between the whole product and its parts. Golden ratio can be observed everywhere in the world around us, which is why it is sometimes called the Divine Section. The proportions of the Orthodox cross can be calculated using a special formula of the golden section.

What are the dimensions of the Orthodox cross

The dimensions of the Orthodox cross can be any, the main thing is that they correspond to the purpose of the cross. People wearing an Orthodox cross on their chest, the size of which exceeds the priestly pectoral, look extremely ridiculous. The same applies to grave crosses: you should not try to “outshine” everyone by erecting a huge cross on the grave, more reminiscent of a monument. The best thing we can do for the dead is to pray for them and give alms within our power. The size of an Orthodox cross in no way makes people’s fate after death any easier, just as a huge cross on a pectoral cross does not mean that its owner is devout.

All nations have their own principles of burial, but when a person dies, a lot of questions arise related to the design and installation of a cross on the grave .

An Orthodox cross must be placed on the grave immediately after burial.

Where is the cross placed on the grave of Orthodox Christians?

If there is a cross on the grave, this indicates that the deceased was a Christian. Orthodox Christians, as a rule, place an eight-pointed Orthodox cross on the grave. They bury him with his head facing west so that he can see the sunrise.

The cross at the feet allows the deceased to see the cross and pray to it.

Worth noting: Sometimes a photograph of the deceased is screwed onto the cross, but priests do not advise doing this. It is best to write on the sign the date of death and birth, as well as the last name, first name, and patronymic of the deceased.

Why do they put a cross on the grave?

In Orthodoxy, he places a cross on the grave due to the fact that the deceased believed in Christ and wore a cross during his lifetime, and now he is under the protection of the Crucifixion, located facing the dead, so that at the resurrection he can rise from the grave and see the weapon of victory over the devil.

Proportions and dimensions of the cross on the grave

The dimensions of the cross on the grave themselves may be different, but they must correspond to the “Golden Ratio”. The cross bar of the cross should be equal to 1/3 of the height of the product itself, which is multiplied by 2 and it turns out that the upper end is 1/3 of the center of the cross.

The side strips should also be equal to 1/3, and the bottom part will be 2/3. An inclined strip is nailed to the bottom of the cross, which will be parallel to the top of the cross. The slope of the bar itself should be 45 degrees, and the length should be equal to the length of the sign.

The slanting crossbar on the cross represents the scales of justice. According to the Bible, two thieves were crucified on Golgotha, one was on the left side of Christ, and the other on the right. On the right side, the thief repented and received forgiveness, and this is indicated by the oblique end of the crossbar, which is directed upward.

How to make a metal cross with your own hands?

Temporary grave crosses are most often made of wood, but can also be made of metal. Previously, crosses were made of iron, sometimes they were coated with titanium coating; they could also use steel and cast iron.

Many people buy metal crosses in funeral stores, but sometimes loved ones make such a cross with their own hands. Again its dimensions must necessarily comply with the proportions of the “Divine Section”.

In order to make this cross yourself you need to choose profile pipe, also a sign on which to write down information about the deceased. Before installation, it is necessary to paint the products in the desired color. Afterwards, it is advisable to coat it with anti-corrosion varnish so that the iron does not become rusty.

How to make a wooden cross with your own hands?

It is quite easy to make a wooden cross for a grave; in order for it to turn out beautiful and correct, you need to know basic carpentry skills.

After the cross is made according to the structure of the “Golden Section”, at the end of the work the cross must be impregnated with stain and varnished.

Is it possible to change the cross on a grave?

If the cross on the grave has become worn out and rotten over time, it can be replaced with a new one, but the old cross must be burned.

The fact is that in Russian Orthodox Church wood was the most common material used to create crosses in the cemetery. Our ancestors did not paint crosses, i.e. left the material as it is.

But today many people are thinking about how to preserve the memory of a loved one, and so that the cross does not get lost. appearance and stood much longer, before covering the cross with varnish and stain, it is necessary to clean out all the irregularities and make the surface smooth. Then cover the cross with stain, and then with varnish. The varnish does not dry immediately after a certain period of time.

Some people cover the cross with wax, then it acquires a matte tint and this protects it from bark beetles and sunlight. There are several types of painting of crosses, but when choosing a coating, you need to pay attention so that the coating itself can protect the wood from environmental influences.

What to do with the cross after installing the monument?

Most priests argue that after a wooden cross is replaced with a monument, it must be burned and the remaining ashes scattered on the grave in the form of a Cross. If it is impossible to burn it, then in this case the cross is dismantled and buried in the tombstone.

The church allows the wooden cross to be cut and buried next to the grave or given to poor people who do not have the means to install such funeral paraphernalia.

If there is a church or chapel on the territory of the cemetery, then, as a rule, the cross is brought to the clergy, and they make sure that it is burned according to all the rules.

After a funeral, it is customary to place a wooden cross on the grave.

Symbol of Christ's crucifixion spiritualizes the burial place, and according to the instructions of the Church, it is the only possible type of monument, since with its life-giving power it helps the soul to calmly say goodbye to its worldly affairs and go to the heavenly abode.

There are many types of crosses that are somehow related to Christianity.

This is the Egyptian, depicted in the form of the hieroglyph “life”, and the equilateral Greek, which is considered the first symbol of Christianity to appear in Rus', and various monogram forms (sun-shaped, Constantine, trident), and the more familiar four-pointed one. In the Orthodox tradition, all forms of the cult symbol are revered, since each of them contains a deep spiritual meaning. But it is the eight-pointed cross that personifies the great sacrifice of Christ in the name of all mankind and is considered the closest to the authentic one on which Jesus was crucified. And it is precisely this form that is recommended to be installed on the grave.

Eight-pointed cross diagram

The Orthodox eight-pointed cross consists of four crossbars, each of which has a sacred meaning and takes its place.

Their location corresponds to the proportions of the human body, in other words, the rule of the “golden section”. According to this rule, the coefficient of the most harmonious ratio of the two sides is 1.618.

If, for convenience, we take the basic size of the cross as 1.618 meters, then the layout of its crossbars and their dimensions will look like this: the longest longitudinal crossbar has a size of 1.618 meters. The top crossbar is the prototype of the tablet with the inscription: “This is Jesus, King of the Jews,” nailed above the head of Christ. Its size is equal to the distance from the top of the cross to the center of the middle crossbar, in our case it is 0.382 meters. The distance between the two crossbars is 0.236 meters. The difference between the two previous dimensions is the distance from the upper end of the longitudinal crossbar to the center of the upper transverse one - 0.146 meters.

The oblique crossbar is the foot. She represents the scales of righteousness. According to biblical stories, two thieves were crucified on Calvary on either side of Jesus. That edge of the foot, which is on the left hand of the Savior, indicates the thief who blasphemed and trampled on Christ and his followers. The thief, crucified on the right hand, repented and received forgiveness, which symbolizes the end of the oblique crossbar pointing upward. From the ground to the bottom crossbar-foot, the distance will be 0.5 meters.

The cross can have any height, but its other dimensions should change in proportion to the height.

In addition, the method of installing it on the grave depends on the size of the wooden cross. Thus, massive, tall items will require additional strengthening measures so that the cross stands at the burial site for at least a year and is not toppled by a hurricane. A year after the funeral and the installation of the wooden crucifix, the soil has settled sufficiently to allow the installation of a monument made of natural, durable stone.