ALTAR CROSSES OF EAST ASIA

An East Asian Altar Cross with Chinese Inscription - “Blessings to Heaven and Earth” - The Radical Components of the Character for “Blessing” (福) is “God” (神) Standing Next to “One Man” (一口) in a “Garden” (田), Recalling the Biblical Creation Narrative

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

The altar Cross is an ancient Christian Tradition, a mandatory part of a Christian Eucharistic liturgy. While the Cross takes many different cultural forms throughout the world, the altar Crosses of the Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia are extremely special, not only because of the thought, planning, craftsmanship and uniqueness of each one, but also how the local culture is reflected in the setting of each Cross. Each Cross incorporates local elements of wood and stone, are created to reflect the beauty of East and Southeast Asian culture, and are central features of our altar tables, around which we build our local Christian community and identity. 

One of the reasons Westerners flock to Orthodoxy is because of a misplaced sense of "orientalism" or “exoticism.” Humans love contrast. We are pulled to Orthodoxy because it represents things that are old and dry in a new and revealing way. Through striving to integrate our Orthodoxy with Asian culture in the Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia, we create a "net," a mystery, a paradox, whereby we can draw all humankind towards Christ. He is truly universal. By our Lord's incarnation, he became approachable in all cultures and settings. By integrating our worship style and liturgy into our Eastern cultural setting, we can help people see things that they have never seen before - Christ, and Him crucified. 

As we celebrate the Festival of the Holy Cross, let us remember the triumph, power and beauty that the Cross projects upon the world, declaring Christ’s victory over sin and death, and our New Life by the power of the Holy Spirit! 

Lift high the Cross! 

東亞祭壇十字架

祭壇十字架是一個古老的基督教傳統，是基督教聖體禮儀的必要部分。 雖然十字架在世界各地有許多不同的文化形式，但東亞和東南亞傳教教區的祭壇十字架卻極為特別，不僅因為每一個十字架的思想、規劃、工藝和獨特性，還因為當地文化如何 反映在每個十字架的設置中。 每個十字架都融合了當地的木材和石頭元素，旨在反映東亞和東南亞文化的美麗，是我們祭台的中心特色，我們圍繞著它建立當地的基督教社區和身份。

當我們慶祝聖十字架節時，讓我們記住十字架投射在世界上的勝利、力量和美麗，宣告基督戰勝了罪惡和死亡，以及我們靠著聖靈的力量重獲新生！

高舉十字架！

(Designs Copyrighted by the Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia, Photos by Shengya Studios)