St. John's Cross

Pattee Cross

The Cross Pattée (Patty) or Cross Formée (Formy) is the heraldic name of a common cross style, especially in 'medieval' art. The term 'pattée' simply means the cross has splayed arm ends. The arms may be straight or concave but in essence, they are narrow at the center, and broader at the perimeter. The name 'pattée' comes from the French for 'paw'.

St. John's Cross has several variations in design: the arms may meet at a point in the centre, producing a cross comprised of four triangles (the Triangle represents the Holy Trinity). The cross may have straight or curved arms, straight or curved edges, concave or convex. (See also the Consecration Cross.)

St. John's Cross

St. John's Cross

St. John's Cross

St. John's Cross

St. John's Cross

St. John's Cross

Confusingly, the Celtic Cross and Hans's Cross are also sometimes referred to as St. John's Cross. (See also St. John the Evangelist's Cross and St. John the Baptist's Cross).

Sometimes called the Regeneration Cross because it has eight points. Eight symbolises regeneration for many religious ideas. It is the holistic number in Buddhism for the number of steps to end suffering. The number 8, like the lemniscate symbol for infinity , is a never-ending line. Tracing the shape of the 8 differs from the circle, square, triangle etc. in that the line crosses itself in the centre. This crossing symbolises death. But the line does not stop there; it carries on into a new life, just as the Christian cross symbolises new life. The eight therefore represents life, death, and rebirth. In Christianity, because Christ rose from grave eight days after entering Jerusalem, the number is associated with the rebirth of Christ and also baptism; the spiritual rebirth of a person.

The eight points on this cross also represent the eight beatitudes¹.

St John Ambulance

Not surprisingly, the St John Ambulance logo incorporates the cross used by the Knights Hospitaller, the Cross of Saint John.

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St. Lazarus's Cross

One interpretation of the 'sharp' pointed cross is of four fishtails. (See also Dolphin Cross and Pointed Cross.) The fish symbol was adopted by the early Christian church and the design has long been used as a Hospitaller Cross and Crusader Cross. A Vert (green) version of the Maltese Cross is the St. Lazarus Cross used by The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. The Armenian Cross is another 8-pointed fishtail cross and see also the Knights Templar Cross.

A further interpretation is of four arrow-heads. With this military/fighting association, the cross was the emblem of the Knights of St. John, who were driven from Rhodes to the island of Malta by the Turks. The eight-pointed cross is a symbol used by the knights to denote the eight chivalric obligations or aspirations: loyalty, piety, honesty, bravery, honour, self sacrifice, charity for the poor and the sick, and respect for the Church.

The St. John's Cross still maintains a 'valour and rescue' image, both in civilian life (police, fire and ambulance services - see St. Florian's Cross) and in the military, where it is often the basis of a Campaign Cross². These include the French and Belgian Croix de Guerre, Dutch Oorlogskruis, British Military Cross, U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Cross and Army Distinguished Service Cross. Three other famous medals using this shape were the German Honour Cross, Knight's Cross (see also the Brunswick Cross) and the Iron Cross, although the latter's image was tarnished for being awarded to soldiers later convicted of heinous war crimes. The Iron Cross was blackened to prevent the bearer from being an easy target for snipers.

In contrast, the modern Germany's new Honour Cross uses a bright surface and awarded only for bravery; the first being awarded in 2009 to heroes of the Afghanistan campaign (which German politicians carefully avoid calling a 'war'). This German medal has the same shape as the sinister Iron Cross, but reclaims the association with 'valour and rescue'.

Another pattée shaped medal is the British Victoria Cross, instituted in 1856, during the long reign of Queen Victoria. It was first used after the Crimean War and said to have been cast from bronze barrels of Russian cannons captured at Sebastopol. More recently (2009) the posthumous Elizabeth Cross was established for any member of the British Armed Forces who died as a direct result of military activity since the Second World War and awarded to their next of kin. The medal is made of hallmarked silver and features the rose of England, the Scottish thistle, the Irish Shamrock and the Welsh daffodil. In the centre is the crowned cipher of Queen Elizabeth II and behind the cross is the representation of a laurel wreath.

French and Belgian Croix de Guerre, Dutch Oorlogskruis

German Iron Cross

British Military Cross

United States Distinguished Flying Cross

United States Navy Cross

British Victoria Cross

British Elizabeth Cross

(Click any image to enlarge)

Unfortunately, whilst these crosses are only awarded in very exceptional cases of bravery, true valour and sacrifice, they still conjure up an image of fighting. Contrast this with another cross, the Red Cross, and we can see these military crosses have lost most of the ethos of the eight beatitudes¹.

There are only two kinds of music worth listening to -
Rock... and Roll

D-r-r-rag racing off in a different direction; brave, risk-taking, dare-devilish behaviour has led to variations the St. John's Cross becoming popular with fans of hot-rods, rockabilly and the general rock'n'roll scene. 'Worldly' music such as this is affectionately known as the Devil's music, adding to the rebellious appeal of the music. Or noise, depending on taste. The pink-edged cross is a naive attempt to mock the highest authority.

This symbol is associated around the world with Hell's Angels. The Japanese bosozuko bike gangs have their own tribal identity (see Tasuki Cross).

Heavy metal music is supposed to provide a channel for the Devil through the use of tritones, a musical interval that spans three whole tones, like the diminished fifth or augmented fourth. Tritones can sound a bit spooky and doomy to the Western ear, and they were suppressed by the Church in the Middle Ages, labelling this musical phenomenon as the Diabolus in Musica (the Devil's Interval).

The esoteric school of Pythagoras taught that these can trigger a sensual state of mind - something the Church considered was a Satanic temptation and consequently they made tritones illegal. This sounds ludicrous today, but we must remember that in the Middle Ages, their understanding of physiology was limited to drilling holes in people's heads (trepanation), far removed from today's neuroscience. Illness was considered the work of the devil and any sexual reaction within their bodies meant a supernatural power was taking hold of them. Why this should be the Devil and not God, remains a mystery.

Examples of tritones can be heard in Beethoven's Fidelio, the song 'Maria' in West Side Story, and the TV Simpsons' theme tune. You have been warned!

Poltava Oblast


Rivne Oblast


Vinnytsia Oblast

The Maltese Cross can be seen on the provincial Ukrainian flags of Poltava Oblast, Rivne Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast, where this cross is known as the Cossack Cross, a Ukrainian medal of honour. In czarist Russia, Slavs living mainly in the southern part of Russia formed an elite corps of cavalrymen. The name retains its brave, adventurous and somewhat guerilla fighting image.

National flag of Malta

The Maltese Cross has many similarities with the George Cross, also known as the Greek Cross. The civil ensign of Malta is a white Maltese Cross on a red ground, but the present day national flag of Malta (shown on the right) bears a George Cross rather than a Maltese Cross.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

The Maltese Cross appears in the logo of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (see also Lutheran Cross).