The Jerusalem Cross, also known as the five-fold cross, is a major Christian symbol consisting of a large central cross surrounded by four smaller crosses in each quadrant. Historically, it served as the coat of arms for the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the 13th century and remains a central emblem for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre today.
The five crosses together are most commonly interpreted in the following ways:
- The Five Wounds of Christ: The central large cross represents the wound from the soldier’s spear in Jesus' side, while the four smaller crosses represent the nail wounds in His hands and feet.
- Christ and the Four Evangelists: The central cross represents Jesus, and the four surrounding crosses symbolize the authors of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
- Universal Evangelization: It symbolizes the command to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, with Jerusalem (the central cross) as the starting point.
- The Old and New Testaments: The central cross represents the Old Testament law, while the four small crosses represent the fulfillment of that law in the New Testament.
