Cross: A Symbol of Love

Jesus' disciple Peter's brother Andrew also allegedly suffered and died on the Cross. The Apocryphal book of the 'Acts of Andrew' described that Andrew was martyred by crucifixion in the Greek city of Patras around AD 60. Like his brother Peter, Andrew also didn't consider himself worthy of dying in the same way as Jesus died. So he was bound, not nailed, to a Cross of X shape, instead of T shape. That's why X shaped Cross is referred to as St. Andrew's Cross. According to the 'Acts of Andrew' he was on the Cross for three days on his way to death, during which he was praising the Cross as a symbol of Christ's wonderful act of redemption, which is recorded as a 'three-day Sermon of St. Andrew.' Only three lines from there are being mentioned here, "Hail, O Cross, inaugurated by the Body of Christ and adorned with his limbs as though they were precious pearls. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear. Now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as a gift..."

Lesson: After the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the dreadful Cross of the past has turned into a beautiful symbol of love, grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and eternal glory.