Longinus cross

The Longinus cross[1] (German: Longinuskreuz) is a special form of the Arma Christi cross, which occurs mainly in the Black Forest, but also occasionally in other regions of South Germany. In addition to the instruments of the Passion, Longinus crosses depict the figure of Saint Longinus as a horseman to the side of the crucified Jesus. These crosses are usually made of wood and are about 3–4 metres high. Often they are topped by a hipped roof that resembles the roofs of Black Forest houses, and a back wall on which the figures bearing the instruments are depicted.

Detail of a Longinus cross

A Longinus Cross in St Martin's Chapel, nr Schönwald

The history of Longinus crosses is closely bound up with the monastic orders that provided spiritual care in the Black Forest: the Jesuits, Capuchins and Cistercians.[2] The popular missionaries of these religious communities erected mission crosses, on which the instruments associated with the suffering of Christ were displayed. The links between the Anterior Austrian parts of the Black Forest and the imperial capital of Vienna, where the Holy Lance was kept, could have played a role here.[2] The design of these mission crosses was subsequently copied by private wayside and household crosses.

The feature of the Longinus crosses, the depiction of the figure of Saint Longinus as a rider beneath the cross, is probably explained by the popularity of the saint as a patron of farmers. On older crosses, his figure is usually shown in the uniform of a Baden dragoon,[2] often accompanied by the verse "Truly, this was the Son of God" (from Mark 15:39) on his shield. Many Black Foresters served as cavalry in the wars of the 19th century, due to their familiarity with horses and, on their return from war, made Longinus crosses in memory of their own military service.[2]

Little is generally known about the woodcarvers who made the crosses. Stylistically, however, several individual artists can be distinguished and, in some cases, even their names are known. Of great artistic quality are crosses by the so-called "Herrgott Mattheubis", who came from the area of Schonach. Often the figures of Christ were ordered from professional sculptors, whilst the instruments were carved by members of the rural population themselves.

Even today Longinus crosses are occasionally made. The older crosses are protected as Kleindenkmale ("little monuments").

References

Arise and go toward the south: 2000 years of Christianity in Ethiopia by Annegret Marx and Alexandra Neubauer, IDP, 2007. Retrieved 11 Apr 2015.
Althaus (2003), p. 1.

Literature

Friedbert Andernach und Martin Ruch: Arma Christi- und Longinuskreuze im Erzbistum Freiburg. Blauer Reiter unterm Kreuz. Editions du Signe, Strasbourg, 2001, ISBN 2-7468-0423-9, 50 Seiten
Rezension' by Hermann Althaus, Review of Andernach and Ruch, 2003.

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[1] Arise and go toward the south: 2000 years of Christianity in Ethiopia by Annegret Marx and Alexandra Neubauer, IDP, 2007. Retrieved 11 Apr 2015.

[Althaus-2] Althaus (2003), p. 1.

Christian cross variants
In modern use	Anchored/Saint Clement's Cross Anuradhapura cross Cross of the Archangels Archiepiscopal cross Armenian Cross Arrow/Barby Cross Bolnisi cross Cross bottony Branch cross Bulgarian cross Byzantine cross Calvary cross Canterbury cross Catherine wheel Celtic cross Cercelée Cross of Saint Chad Coptic cross Cross crosslet Cross crosslet fitchy Crucifix Cruciform halo Double cross Eastern Syriac cross Cross of the Evangelists Short Sword Cross fleury Cross fleury fitchy Saint Florian Cross Forked cross Cross fourchy Fylfot Saint George's Cross Globus cruciger Gnostic cross Grapevine/Saint Nino's Cross Greek cross Greek Orthodox cross Huguenot cross Saint James/Santiago Cross Cross of Jeremiah Jerusalem/Crusaders' cross Jerusalem cross (variant) Kingdom of Jerusalem cross Cross of Saint John Latin (Roman) cross Macedonian Cross Maltese cross Marian Cross Maronite cross Cross moline Nordic Cross Cross of Novgorod Occitan cross Papal cross Cross patonce Saint Patrick's Saltire Cross pattée Cross pattée fitchée Patriarchal cross Cross of Saint Peter Cross of Saint Philip Pommy cross Portate cross/Cross of Saint Gilbert Cross potent Cross quadrate Ringed cross Russian cross Russian Orthodox cross Cross of Salem Saltire/Saint Andrew's Cross Serbian cross Serbian Orthodox cross Saint Thomas Cross Tau Cross/Saint Anthony's Cross Western Syriac cross
Historical	Avellane cross Aviz cross Brigid's cross Carolingian cross Consecration crosses Coptic cross Cross and Crown Cuthbert's pectoral cross Early Coptic cross Engrailed cross Cross erminée Gammadion Crux gemmata Saint Julian's cross Katanga Cross Lazarus' cross Lorraine cross Cross of Neith Nestorian cross Cross of Peñalba Pierced cross Pierced cross quarterly Knights Templar cross Teutonic Order cross Two-barred cross Victory Cross Voided cross
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Christograms, Chrismons	Chi Rho Christogram IX monogram Labarum Signum manus Staurogram/Monogrammatic cross/Tau Rho
See also	Ankh Armenian eternity sign Balkenkreuz Ichthys Irminsul Kolovrat Mjölnir Rose Cross Rota Solomon's knot Sauwastika Scientology cross Shamrock Shield of the Trinity Sunwheel swastika Sun cross Swastika Triskelion/Triskele Descriptions in antiquity of the execution cross
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