Spiritual developmentNumerology

The Maltese Cross: History and Significance

The Maltese cross, which is also called St. George's, as well as the cross of St. John of Jerusalem, has an ancient history. It is an eight-pointed symbol, originating from the coat of arms of the Italian city of Amalfi. Knights from this city in the 12th century founded the Order of Hospitallers, whose symbol for a long time was this cross.

Knights believed that he symbolized eight knightly virtues (patience, sincerity, humility, sin, justice, truth, faith, mercy).

Now this symbol is used by the British sanitary brigades of the Order of St. John.

In Russia, the eight-pointed cross appeared under the reign of Paul I, who briefly included it in the Russian coat of arms. At present, this symbol remained in the arms of Pavlovsk and Gatchina.

There are other points of view about its origin. Some researchers believe that it appeared thousands of years before the Hospitallers' Order appeared and denoted the unity of the four Ashtarian gods. There is also an opinion that this sign unites two swastikas - solar and lunar, which means the unity of light and darkness.

It is still unknown what kind of people created the Maltese cross, the meaning of which to this day is treated quite differently. For example, many researchers, fascinated by esoteric and mysticism, consider this sign magical. They argue that he defines the essence of man's earthly existence, and also he answers the question of the main mystery of the universe.

In their opinion, the Maltese cross shows, first, the true essence of the material world, which represents the unity of the four elements (earth, air, water, fire). Secondly, he reveals the secret meaning of life non-material, which is the interconnection of time, space, power and information.

Moreover, if you represent the person in the center of the cross, the upper part will symbolize the divine will, the lower signifies wisdom, and the left and right signify the love that a person gives to the world. Thus, the purpose of each is to listen to God's will and follow it. The cross in this case is a symbol of the harmony of man with the world.

It is also believed that the magical power of the Maltese cross gives the power of the person who possesses it. Moreover, it was believed that Pavel I had such power , since it was he who made the cross part of the coat of arms of Russia, albeit for a short time.

By the way, during his lifetime he was the Grand Master of the Hospitaller Order, which was reflected in his official title, and strove to maintain the glory of the Order with all his might . Guardsmen walked under the banners with the Maltese cross, and on one of the fortifications of the Admiralty a Maltese pavilion was installed. In addition, in 1798, June 23, began to celebrate the day dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who is the patron of the Order. Many historians believe that the Emperor's predilection for the symbolism of the Order, as well as his attempts to introduce it into Russian life, were of a theatrical nature and were somewhat absurd. The successor of Paul, Alexander I, having ascended to the throne, soon abandoned this title, and on this close connection of the history of Russia with the order was completed, not having had time to get strong enough.

In 1889 it was announced that Russian subjects were forbidden to wear Maltese cross on clothes because the branch of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem had ceased to exist.

At present, the memory of those times and the emperor, who was the Grand Master, is still alive. About the events of more than two hundred years ago, remind cities such as Gatchina, Pavlovsk. And the Mikhailovsky Castle, like the Vorontsov Palace, keeps in its chambers the spirit of chivalry.

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