Jerusalem Cross Adorned with Stones

The Jerusalem cross consists of one large cross, surrounded by four smaller crosses, which are said to symbolize either the Holy Wounds of Christ or the four books of the Gospel describing Lord’s earthly life, Death on the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, written by evangelists. His face, edged with inscriptions, is the middle; on the sides there are inclusions of colored decorative stones. This form is frequently called “Pilgrim cross”: in Middle Ages and later on it was worn by pilgrims, who visited the Holy Land.

Today, thanks to “Jerusalem Candle” project, you can order a pilgrim’s wooden cross necklace from your home — for yourself, or as a gift to your family and friends. The cross was hand carved by the Holy Land artisans from olive tree wood; besides decorative stones, its middle has a protective layer of plastic. The product was blessed on the Stone of Anointing at Jerusalem’s Temple of the Holy Sepulcher.

According to an old tradition, Jerusalem (Pilgrim) cross can be worn not only around the neck, but also over the clothing. So in this case what to do with the old cross necklace, when you bought a new one, is no longer a question.