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Christian Cross Tattoos

Christian Cross Tattoos

The Christian faith uses the cross as a symbol for the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans, a common Roman way of executing slaves and non-Romans. The Christian cross symbolizes Jesus' victory over dead.

One of the first things that come to mind when thinking about Christian cross tattoos is: Is it ok for a Christian to get a tattoo?

The answer is yes, it is ok for a Christian to get a tattoo. The Christian religion doesn't have a rule against tattoos, unlike the Jewish faith.

Even if we just look at the basic Christian cross, there is still an almost endless variation in types of symbols and images:

• The most simple and basic cross is called the Latin cross or crux ordinaria. The vertical line represents the divine, the horizontal line represents the world, the intersection is the union of both. These holy cross tattoos are often quite small and done in black and white. Most popular places for them are the wrists, hands and the upper arms.
• The type that shows Jesus on a wooden cross is called a crucifix.
  
  
  
  
• A cross hanging at the end of a rosary, combined with praying hands is a popular Christian tattoo design as well.
  
  
  
  
• Others show the crown of thorns either hung over one arm or the cross or suspended in the middle of it.
• Italian cross tattoos are popular as well, this example is combined with a Latin text:
  
  
  
  
• An interesting variation is the cross of nails – in this cross tattoo, the cross itself is made up of large, rough-looking nails, the type that were driven through Christ’s hands and feet. Often a crown of thorns is added to this image as well.
• The following example is a wooden cross combined with a Jesus fish.
  
  
  
  

Holy cross tattoos are very apt at expressing the Christian faith, and have come to be associated with Christianity throughout the world.