Armenian Cross
Khachkar Cross or Siroun Cross
All crosses have deep symbolism, and the Armenian Cross is no exception.
Armenian Cross
also known as the Khachkar Cross or Siroun Cross
Armenian Cross
In the early years of the 4th century, Armenia became the first country to accept Christianity1. It is not surprising then that the Armenian Cross mirrors some of the designs favoured in those days: vines and floral swirls. The winged Armenian Cross has a busy design where the lower shaft is usually just slightly longer than the arms and top, and each member is always seen with the distinctive double tips. An alternative name is the Siroun Cross. Siroun (pronounced "see-roon") is a girl's name in Armenian and means lovely. On the original stone crosses (Khachkar) we invariably see intricate carving, like the interlacing pattern seen in Celtic knots. And apart from the unique 'wings', no two crosses are identical.
This cross is sometimes confused with the Snowflake Cross and simpler versions of the Armenian Cross can be confused with the fishtail St. John's Cross. There are a similar forked heraldic crosses, like the Croix Fourche, or crescents, as in the Croix Croissant (known in witchcraft as the Lunate Cross), which in turn are similar to the Teutonic Cross. But on the Armenian Cross we see no forks or crescents. In fact, rather than moons, we can often see Suns.
At the end of each arm is invariably a small solar disc (sometimes more than one, as seen in the example above) and each of these Suns represents the light of Christianity. In the Armenian Church this symbol is emphasised during morning services. The intersection of the bars signify the four corners of the world meeting at life's centre. The cross is usually 'empty', unlike the Catholic crucifix bearing an image of Jesus, emphasizing Christ's victory over death.
Armenian horse blanket
Woven in the traditional symmetrical style of many Oriental rugs, showing a few of the animals, peacocks and other birds taken aboard Noah's Ark. (enlarge)
Whether the Khachkar is used by the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church or the Armenian Evangelical Church, the cross always features the double-tipped arms. These eight points, as with the St. John's Cross, represent the eight beatitudes2. Multiples of eight are significant in Armenian church architecture. The churches are built on sixteen pillars, consecrated to the twelve apostles and four evangelists, and the churches are often topped with an octagonal dome.
But all these interpretations of the cross design are relatively recent. The cross is truly ancient and was used in Armenia long before Christians adopted the cross in the 9th century. The original meaning is based on pagan beliefs.
In Armenia, one can see similar ancient pagan fertility dragon stones (vishapakar) near lakes, rivers and springs, where they represent the Tree of Life and the Biblical Garden of Eden. These fish-shaped vishapakars were carved and erected thousands of years before the Christian khachkar stones. Although the vishapakars evolved into khachkars, the fish tails were retained, as was its Tree of Life and Wisdom meaning. An addition was the equilateral geometry which symbolizes harmony. Such geometry is typical of Caucasian art, as seen in the Kazak nomad's horse rug above.
Sadly, in the past few years, invaders have looted and vandalized many khachkars, destroying thousands of these stone treasures.
1 : Many accounts say 301 or 302 A.D. was the year Armenia was declared a Christian country, after many years of evangelical activity in the 3rd century. The precise date is uncertain but there is consensus that Armenia was the first to accept the faith as a 'state religion'.
2 : Beatitude: One of the eight sayings at the beginning of Jesus' very first sermon - the Sermon on the Mount. In Latin each saying begins with beatus (blessed) and they are listed in Matthew 5:3-11.
