Greek Cross
This cross has all fours members the same shape and form (crux quadrata) and was popular with Greek Christians who favoured symmetrical art
(For a cross typical of the Greek Orthodox Church, see Eastern Orthodox Cross)
The Greek Cross
also called St. George's Cross and (King) George's Cross
Greek Cross
The Greek Cross has all fours members the same shape and form (crux quadrata) and usually suggests the Christian church rather than a symbol of Christ's suffering. It appears as a 'plus sign' in liturgical documents to indicate where the priest should make the Sign of the Cross. (For example "The peace + of the Lord be + always with + you.")
This cross can be seen on grave stones in the Roman catacombs. In 958 A.D., a red cross with a white background became the flag of Genoa. In the 12th century, crusaders from England adopted the design for their own use, and took it back to England as the Cross of St. George (the current English flag 
).
The Maltese cross is similar but with flayed ends. It is a very popular basis in heraldic designs, when it is known as the Pattee Cross.
The Greek cross is the basis for the Swastika. Favoured by Adolf Hitler in the Second World War, the swastika was a symbol of the extreme-right. Its history, however, goes much further back.
Another and equally famous variation of the Greek cross is the emblem of the Red Cross. More than one hundred years ago, the International Red Cross was founded to aid those wounded in battle. The objective of the Red Cross emblem was to have a unified distinctive sign that would be respected internationally.
Admirable idea, but the Red Cross has made some people see red and get very cross about its use of the cross. (more...)
Then there's the Blue Cross used by a UK animal charity, the Green Cross for First Aid and Safety, and the Orange Cross used by loyalists in Northern Ireland. (See also Coloured Crosses)
National and regional flags that incorporate the Greek Cross
Flag of Greece
The Greek Cross appears on the national flag of Greece reflecting the country's long historical connection with Christianity. This cross has all fours members the same shape and form and was popular with Greek Christians who favoured symmetrical art. The Greek Cross also appears on many other national and regional flags:
| Alderney, Guernsey
Allande, Spain Barceloneta, Puerto Rico Brittany, France Church in Wales, UK Cornwall, UK Democratic Progressive Party, China Derbyshire, UK Devon, UK Dominica Dominican Republic Dorset, UK |
England
Gdansk, Poland Georgia Gloucestershire, UK Gornji Milanovac Groningen, Netherlands Guernsey Herm, Guernsey London, UK Madeira Malta Mantova (Mantua), Italy Marseille, France Montreal, Canada |
Morcín, Spain
Muscogee Nation Neuchâtel, Switzerland Piedmont, Italy Quebec, Canada Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia Sardinia, Italy Schwyz, Switzerland Sitges, Spain Switzerland Tonga Utrecht province, Netherlands Wales, UK Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine |
