Cross

The cross as a symbol actually pre-dates the life of Jesus Christ and many actually hail from more ancient Pagan religions. Gods that had been worshiped for thousands of years before Christianity became a force in the world were represented by some form of the cross.
The cross has been used as a symbol in ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures, as well as by the Aztecs, whose culture of human sacrifice was actually quite shocking. Even the Norse God Thor's hammer is thought to be represented by the Tau cross. Even the Hebrew letter Tau (or Tav) is said to be a form of the cross. The writings of nineteenth century occultist Aleister Crowley teach that the cross and the Tau are at once symbols of power and the human phallus. Cross symbolism can be found in numerous civilizations and cultures across a great many centuries.

I. Christian Cross Designs

1. The Latin Cross

also called the Roman, Protestant, Western or Plain Cross (crux ordinaria) is a stipe (upright post) with a patibulum (horizontal beam) inserted at right-angles.
Although an identification mark of their faith, Christians cannot (and generally do not) claim that they have exclusive right to use the symbol.
The Latin Cross is not a registered trademark and it is used freely in heraldry, fashion jewelry, by Freemasons, and still today, by Pagans.

a) As a Pagan symbol it has been found in China and Africa. It appears on Scandinavian Bronze Age stones depicting the destructive hammer of Thor, their god of thunder and war. It is regarded a magical symbol, bringing good luck and diverting evil. Rock carvings of the cross have been interpreted as a solar symbol, or a symbol of earth with its points representing north, south, east, and west.
To alchemists, the cross was a symbol of the four 'classical elements': air, earth, fire, water. Elsewhere, the cross variously symbolised health, fertility, life, immortality, the union of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, the sun and the stars.

As a representation of the human form:
•upper section - corresponds to the north wind, the most powerful, the all-conquering giant, the head and intelligence
•lower section - the south wind, the seat of fire and passion, and of melting and burning
•right arm - the east wind, the heart and the source of life and love
•left arm - the gentle wind from the spirit land, the dying breath and the subsequent journey into the unknown

b) As a Christian symbol

It is sometimes referred to as the Western Cross to differentiate from cross designs favoured in the east. The Latin Cross is typically used as the basic floor plan of Western churches. It can be the identification mark on maps and signboards for a church or chapel, hence the alternative names: Chapel Cross or Church Cross.

As a representation of the Trinity, the three shorter sections represent the Three Persons of the Trinity and the longer, lower portion signifies the One Divinity.

It can also be called a Protestant Cross because it is plain, without any corpus attached. It does not deny the suffering on the cross but focuses the mind on Christ's resurrection and is mostly used in Protestant churches. Baptists, for example, tend to favour the empty Latin cross to emphasize the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
When the cross includes a corpus, it is usually referred to as a crucifix and emphasizes Christ's suffering and sacrifice which gives meaning and sense to His resurrection.
For many Catholics, the corpus is sacramental and its removal would be heretical. Protestantism initially prohibited the corpus as a graven image and idolatrous. Rood screens were pulled down to allow closer access to the altar by lay worshippers and Altar Crosses were removed as illegal 'Ornaments Rubrics'. This helped Protestants distance themselves from Roman Catholics and even today, crucifixes are found more in Catholic churches than Protestant churches.
Generally today however, Protestants no longer protest too much and not averse to using a crucifix, and Catholics are quite happy to use a plain cross. Christ's resurrection is central to Christian doctrine, whatever the sect. http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/latin.html/

2..The Celtic cross.

Celtic cross designs are often embellished by using a pattern of knots that have no beginning or end. These knots are believed to symbolize the intersecting of the corporeal and spiritual worlds and the continuous nature of life itself. Bring the knot and the cross together for some very heavy symbolism.When many people look at Celtic cross tattoo they immediately assume it's a symbol of the wearer's Christian faith. While this may be true in some instances, these crosses do hold a different meaning for people who hold other beliefs.
Existing as both a Christian and Pagan symbol, Celtic crosses can mean different things to different people. Here is a basic summary of both viewpoints.

a) Christian symbolism.
To Christians, the Celtic cross itself is a stylized symbol of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The circle that encompasses the cross-section of the bars has always been explained as both a symbol of the eternal nature of the universe and never ending faith in God.

b) Pagan sumbolism
Pagans view the cross in a very different, yet mystical light. As you might expect, it is layered with meanings. Let's begin with the cross itself. The four points can relate to the four compass points of North, South, East and West. The points can also be symbolic of the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. When you take both veins of symbolism into consideration, the intersection of the cross is viewed as a joining of forces.

Now let's discuss the role of the circle. When laid over the intersection of the cross, the circle is believed to represent a place where the mystical and corporeal worlds meet. This is extremely important in the greater context of Pagan beliefs because communications between the two worlds is paramount to many religious ceremonies.
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3. Patriarchal cross

The Patriarchal Cross is also known as Archiepiscopal Cross, Archbishop's Cross,Metropolitan Cross or Double Cross. This cross is often confused with the Cross of Lorraine, which originates from the Patriarchal Cross.

There are several explanations for this 'extra' beam:

•The most popular idea is that the upper beam, also seen on the Russian and Eastern Orthodox cross, represents the plaque bearing the name of the crucified victim. For example, Pontius Pilate's inscription "Jesus the Nazorean, King of the Jews" . Such a plaque is known in Latin as titulus cruces and therefore this form is sometimes called the Titulus Cross.
•Another explanation is that the first beam represents the death of Jesus Christ and the second beam His resurrection.
•A third view is that the first beam symbolises secular power and the second beam the ecclesiastic power of Byzantine emperors. In the 9th century, this was a political symbol used by Byzantine clerks and missionaries.

Origin
It is conjectured that the double-beamed cross form was first used in ancient Samaria (now the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) as an ideogram for rulership, since it depicted a shepherd's crook.

Use
With this ruler/shepherd image in mind, it was adopted for use as a Patriarchal Cross and included in the heraldic arms of an archbishop.

In Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, 'Patriarch' is the title of a bishop who has the highest rank in the hierarchy of jurisdiction.

This cross was the arms of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who granted its use to the Knights Templar. The Duke of Lorraine, Godefroy de Boullion, used it for his standard when he took part in the capture of Jerusalem. The cross was then passed on to his successors as heraldic arms and became known as the Cross of Lorraine.

In Freemasonry, the Patriarchal Cross is often angled like the St. Gilbert

4. Passion cross

The Passion Cross has sharpened points at the end of one or more of the cross members. It is also referred to as the Cross of Suffering representing the nails that Christ suffered at his crucifixion.

The French word for 'sharpened' is aiguisé and in heraldry it is called the Cross Aiguisé or Pointed Cross. Another heraldic name is the Cross Urdée (Urde, or Urdy). Urde means a 'sharp projection', like a spearhead. The plural of urde is urdee and this word is sometimes used to describe the pointed battlements of a fortress. In addition to heraldry, this cross is used as a typographical mark called the obelisk.

The Passion Cross is a smooth design, suitable for heraldry and easy to print or draw. An alternative name is the Nail Cross which has exactly the same meaning but is visually more representational. The Nail Cross may show three, or four, nails.