The Crosses Of The Faith

[bungo 3965]

The Crosses of the Faith

Scribed by: Lothar of Angren

 

Horen’s Cross



Horen’s Cross was the first cross given to Horen by God as a tool of worship. The erection of the Horen’s cross slowed towards the end of the Aegisian Period as St. Lothar of Balian brought forth a new, two bar cross, the Lorraine Cross. The tradition ceased with the migration to Asulon however the memory of the crosses was contained with paintings of the Al’khazar Cathedral. The Aegisian tradition of Horenite crosses is now for the most part replaced with the Lorraine cross. A replica cross can be found before the Pontifical Basilica to remember the ancestors of the church.

The shape of the cross is that of a single-barred cross with a circle attached. The most significant aspect of this cross is the circular shape, an uncommon sight in the crosses today. The original crosses erected by the Horenites were made of stone. Within the center of circle is usually a gem, which signified God’s earthly energies to the men of old. The surrounding circle signifies God’s effect on the world around his center of influence. The ancient Horenites erected these crosses about the world of Aegis as places of worship. After the Faith was centralized churches and towns were built around these crosses. After a time, these crosses grew to be more lavish, made of gold and encrusted in jewels to show the rising prosperity of humanity.

 

 

Lorraine Cross




Originally used by St. Lothar the Prince of Balian this cross came into replacing Horen’s Cross as dominant symbol within the Church in the Late Aegisian Period. Under the Exalted Emperor Godfrey the First, the cross was made to be the official symbol of the faith and grew to popular use among the clergy. It is also during this time in which various Holy Orders emblazoned it upon their shields and took raised it above their banners in battle. The cross became a symbol that those not of the Church began to fear, such as the Orcs of San’Orka began to fear as St. Lucien’s Crusaders when they held it with pride upon their shields. It was and is a symbol used to show a man’s pride of his devotion to God.

The shape of the cross is drastically different from the original Horenite Cross which encompassed a circle. The Lorraine Cross has two bars, one for the Heavenly Realm of the Seven Skies and the other for the Mortal Plane on which we stand. The Void is represented as with the absence of a bar, showing that within the void there is nothing. It is common for the Lorraine to be any size, unlike the Horenite Cross which was large and fixed in place. A number of variations of the cross exist in which the design of the cross changes but the most common form of the Lorraine is that of two equally-sized bars.

 

 

Hussariya Cross



The Hussariya Cross is used scarcely among the Heartlanders of Oren. It is a cross of Raevir tradition and like the Lorraine it sprang up as Horen’s Cross began to fade out with use. However unlike the Lorraine, it was only used among a distinct group of humans, the Raevirs. Due to this reason, the cross never grew in popularity in the same way as the Lorraine. Thus, to this day it is only seen among Raevirs or those with Raevir roots. Akin to the Lorraine, the cross was used by warriors of the faith, the most notable use of the Hussariya was by the Jolly Ruskan Band with their war against the Order of Saint Lucien.

The same concept of the three planes of existence also applies to the Hussariya. The shape of the cross is three barred representing the Seven Skies with the first bar, the mortal plane with the second bar, and the void with the last plane. The difference between the Hussariya and Lorraine is that the Hussariya represents the void with a bar, stating that a third plane, a hellish void exists whereas the Lorraine has the absence of a third bar, stating that the void is nothing so those whose souls are sent to it cease to exist. The most used design of the cross is where the middle bar is the longer of the others, symbolizing the impact that the mortal plane has on the other two.

[Cracker 4570]

"Very nice." says Daniel.

[ausbrig renegade 238]

Roderick smiles at the beauty of the Creator.

[Knox213 10]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.