Cross Symbols

Cross Symbols ✝ ✞ ☨ † Copy Paste Religious & Decorative Characters

This collection features 24 cross symbols including religious crosses, decorative crosses, and related characters. From Latin crosses ✝ to Orthodox crosses ☦ to decorative variants ✞, these Unicode cross characters serve religious content, memorial tributes, decorative design, and symbolic communication. Copy and paste them into faith-based content, remembrance posts, or ornamental designs.

The cross is one of humanity's oldest symbols, predating Christianity by millennia. Simple cross shapes appear in prehistoric cave art and ancient civilizations worldwide. Christianity adopted the cross as its central symbol, representing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Different Christian traditions developed distinct cross designs—Latin, Greek, Celtic, Orthodox—each with specific theological significance.

In digital communication, cross symbols serve multiple purposes: religious expression, memorial tributes (often with birth-death dates), decorative design, and cultural reference. The dagger † also functions as a footnote marker in typography. Context determines whether a cross carries religious meaning or serves purely decorative or functional purposes.

How to Use Cross Symbols

Click any symbol above to copy it instantly. Paste with Ctrl+V (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+V (Mac) into any text field. These Unicode symbols work on all platforms.

When to Use Cross Symbols

• Religious content: Faith-based messaging, church communications, spiritual content.
• Memorial tributes: Remembrance posts and obituary-style formatting.
• Decorative design: Gothic, medieval, or ornamental aesthetic elements.
• Footnote markers: † as a second footnote after * in typography.
• Medical context: The Red Cross and pharmacy symbols derive from crosses.
• Cultural references: Historical, artistic, and architectural discussions.

Cross Symbol Types

• † Latin cross: Standard Christian cross. Vertical beam longer than horizontal.
• ✝ Latin cross outline: Outlined version of the standard cross.
• ☦ Orthodox cross: Eastern Orthodox with additional crossbeams.
• ☨ Cross of Lorraine: Two horizontal bars. French resistance symbol.
• ✞ Maltese cross: Eight-pointed cross of the Knights of Malta.
• ✠ Cross of Jerusalem: Large cross with four smaller crosses.

Cross Meanings by Tradition

• Latin cross: Western Christianity. Represents crucifixion and salvation.
• Orthodox cross: Eastern Christianity. Additional bars have theological meaning.
• Celtic cross: Circle behind cross. Irish and Scottish Christian heritage.
• Ankh: Egyptian cross with loop. Life and immortality.

Tips for Cross Symbol Use

• Religious sensitivity: Crosses carry deep meaning for Christians. Use respectfully.
• Context matters: A decorative cross differs from a memorial or religious cross.
• Memorial formatting: Name (birth†death) is traditional death date notation.
• Not just Christian: Crosses appear in many cultures with varied meanings.
• Footnote usage: † is the second footnote marker after * in academic writing.

Common Questions

• Is using a cross offensive? Context matters. Decorative use differs from religious disrespect.
• What does † next to a date mean? Death date. Traditional way to mark when someone passed.
• Are all crosses Christian? No—crosses appear across cultures. Christian significance is one meaning.
• What's the difference between † and ✝? † is typographic dagger, ✝ is specifically Latin cross glyph.

Related Collections

Explore more symbolic characters: star symbols for decoration, heart symbols for emotional content, infinity symbols for eternity, or browse all symbol collections.