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Why Is The Crucifix Important In Christian Art

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Why Is The Crucifix Important In Christian Art
The crucifix is an image of Jesus on the cross, it represents Jesus’ death and resurrection. A cross is a representation of the instrument of Jesus’ crucifixion. Both sacred objects are a sign of Christ himself and play a very important role in the christian faith.

Before the ruling of Constantine during the 4th century, it was seen as dangerous to openly use the cross so christians were very reluctant to practice or show signs of their faith in public. This however changed when constantine converted to christianity, and got rid of the death penalty and used it to promote the crucifix as a christian symbol of faith, resulting in both objects became immensely popular in christian art and monuments.

The cross was centre of the christians
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Western interpretations showed Jesus’ crucifixion with extreme pain and agony where as the romans added a royal type crown upon his head and this ultimately contradicted the changes made by gothic types where they places a crown of thorns upon the Christs head.

In the 16th century, the cross was introduced by the Protestant reformation and the Lutherans for ornamental an ceremonial uses. Alternatively the reformed churches only began using the cross in the 20th century where is was introduced on communion tables and on church buildings.
The origins of the crucifix and cross make connections between the lived experience of believers of the sacred . Through the different variations of each, believers are able to use their own interpretation of Jesus’ crucifixion when looking at their chosen symbol.

The cross links to the christian beliefs stated in the nicene creed of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for christians and the humanity and divinity of christ. The nicene creed states that christ was “crucified under pontius pilate, he suffered death and was buried”. This explores the the humanity of christ as he suffered the pain and humiliation of his trial and resurrection as redemption of the sins of all
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In his wounds we have been healed” as quoted from Pope Francis discusses the idea of death and resurrection in relation to Jesus freeing us from all sins only to have us carry on in hope of never sinning again and joining him in heaven with God.

The death of Jesus has a powerful meaning for christian believers as it represents Jesus christ saving humanity and his resurrection given christian believers proof that their is life after death. His resurrection shows his powers to bring his followers into life after death. This is represented in Romans 8:11 “But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up christ from the dead shall also raise your mortal bodies by his spirit lives in you”.

Sacred texts and principal beliefs connect the sacred to the believers through the beliefs of Jesus’ divinity and humanity as it gives the believer hope in joining Jesus and God in life after death, this is steamed from jesus’ resurrection proving life after death to

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