St. John's Cross

Pattee Cross

Sterling silver Passion Cross, which is slightly Pattée and rebated with a budded cross
(Click photo to enlarge)

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'.

Where there is a religious connection, however tenuous, the style is referred to as a St. John's Cross or Maltese Cross. (See below)

There are several variations of the design: the arms may meet at a point in the centre, producing a cross comprised of four triangles (the Triangle represents an arrow in heraldry, or the Holy Trinity where there is a religious connection). The cross may have straight or curved arms, straight or curved edges, concave or convex¹.

Triangular

Wedge

Concave arms, convex ends

Concave arms, straight ends

Concave arms, concave ends

Sharp

Any of the above styles may also feature a notch at the arm ends.

V-shaped

Rounded

Squared

Dovetailed

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 beatitudes².

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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Military Cross of Valour

One interpretation of the 'sharp' pointed cross is of four fishtails. The fish symbol was adopted by the early Christian church and the design has long been used as a Hospitaller Cross and Crusader Cross. From this we have the basis of numerous military crosses, including:

• St. John's Cross
• St. Florian's Cross
• various Campaign Crosses
• (Belgian) Croix de Guerre
• (British) Elizabeth Cross, Military Cross, Victoria Cross
• (Dutch) Oorlogskruis
• (French) Croix de Guerre
• (German) Honour Cross, Knight's Cross, Iron Cross
• (Polish) Military Cross of Valour
• (Ukraine) Cossack Cross
• (U.S.) Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Cross

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Biker Cross

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.

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Amalfi


Queensland


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.

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Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

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