Orthodox cross

A cross with three crossbars, the lowest set at a slant.

Also known as: Russian Orthodox cross, Three-bar cross, Slavic cross

ReligiousCulturalStandard profile

This symbol carries culturally, religiously or politically sensitive meanings depending on context. See the meanings below for a full, sourced breakdown rather than a single summary judgement.

Meanings

The Orthodox cross carries three crossbars: a short upper bar for the inscription, the main bar, and a slanted lower bar used as a footrest in iconography.

Culturally establishedVerified fact
Identifies Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly the Russian and other Slavic traditions.
Contexts: Religion
Culturally establishedDocumented interpretation
Carries three bars: a short upper bar representing the inscription placed above Christ, the main crossbar, and a lower slanted bar shown in iconography as a footrest.
Contexts: Religion
Culturally establishedTraditionreligious sensitivity
Attracts several explanations for the slant of the lower bar within Orthodox tradition; these are devotional interpretations rather than a single settled account.
Recorded as tradition because the explanations are held within the tradition and are not uniform across it.
Contexts: Religion

Visual description

A vertical beam crossed by three bars — a short one near the top, a long one below it, and a slanted one near the foot.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Part of the same system as: Latin cross
Both are forms of the Christian cross used by different traditions.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Cultural meaningLow confidence: Low confidence because the cultural meaning is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

Christian cross
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Russian Orthodox cross
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-30
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-07-30

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Meanings

The Orthodox cross carries three crossbars: a short upper bar for the inscription, the main bar, and a slanted lower bar used as a footrest in iconography.

Culturally establishedVerified fact

Identifies Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly the Russian and other Slavic traditions.

Contexts: Religion

Culturally establishedDocumented interpretation

Carries three bars: a short upper bar representing the inscription placed above Christ, the main crossbar, and a lower slanted bar shown in iconography as a footrest.

Contexts: Religion

Culturally establishedTraditionreligious sensitivity

Attracts several explanations for the slant of the lower bar within Orthodox tradition; these are devotional interpretations rather than a single settled account.

Recorded as tradition because the explanations are held within the tradition and are not uniform across it.

Contexts: Religion

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Cultural meaningLow confidence: Low confidence because the cultural meaning is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is defined by a current official standard, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

Christian cross
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Russian Orthodox cross
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-30
Tertiary reference. Used for widely-agreed identity and origin summary, not for contested detail or exact dates.
Unicode Code Chart: Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
The Unicode Consortium · retrieved 2026-07-30
Authoritative for the character's code point, name and block only. Unicode assigns identity; it does not define what a symbol means in use.

Last reviewed 2026-07-30

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols