Crucifix

Figure: H 27.5

Žemaitija

Crucifixes with the Crucified Christ were very popular in the countryside. There was a Crucifix in every believer’s home, and sometimes even a few. They were called ‘God’s Passion’ or a ‘home cross’, and were hung in the most honoured place: in the corner at the head of the table, called krikštasuolė (baptismal bench). The krikštasuolė was considered the centre of the house, a sacred place, a symbolic altar, where the family offered their daily prayers and celebrated religious feasts.

Various crosses were hung in homes: some were more decorative, with more expressive colours, others were simple, without any special embellishments. Often there was an Eye of Providence in a triangle in the centre of the crosspiece of the more ornate crosses, sometimes surrounded by rays of light. Or instead of the Eye of Providence, there could be a segmented star. Home crosses were sometimes decorated with rays between the crosspieces, and with bulbose or rhomboidshaped ends. Sometimes a skull and crossbones were depicted under Christ’s feet, an allusion to Golgotha (in Greek golgotha means ‘a skull’), Adam’s place of burial, and the mountain on which Christ was crucified.

Text author Skaidrė Urbonienė

Figure: H 27.5

Žemaitija

Crucifixes with the Crucified Christ were very popular in the countryside. There was a Crucifix in every believer’s home, and sometimes even a few. They were called ‘God’s Passion’ or a ‘home cross’, and were hung in the most honoured place: in the corner at the head of the table, called krikštasuolė (baptismal bench). The krikštasuolė was considered the centre of the house, a sacred place, a symbolic altar, where the family offered their daily prayers and celebrated religious feasts.

Various crosses were hung in homes: some were more decorative, with more expressive colours, others were simple, without any special embellishments. Often there was an Eye of Providence in a triangle in the centre of the crosspiece of the more ornate crosses, sometimes surrounded by rays of light. Or instead of the Eye of Providence, there could be a segmented star. Home crosses were sometimes decorated with rays between the crosspieces, and with bulbose or rhomboidshaped ends. Sometimes a skull and crossbones were depicted under Christ’s feet, an allusion to Golgotha (in Greek golgotha means ‘a skull’), Adam’s place of burial, and the mountain on which Christ was crucified.

Text author Skaidrė Urbonienė