St.Nino’s Cross – Grapevine Cross

Description of St.Nino’s Cross – Grapevine Cross

A symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church, St. Nino’s cross originated in the 4th century. It is also known as the grapevine cross. It is attributed to Saint Nino, a woman who preached Christianity in Iberia (now known as early Georgia). Legends state that the cross was received by her from the Virgin Mary, and it was secured by entwining it with her hair. The St.Nino’s cross accompanied Nino in her journey to Georgia to preach.

General Christianity description

Christianity has consistently remained one of the largest religions in the world. Christianity is steeped in history and rich symbology. Followers have used Christian symbols for a variety of reasons. These symbols have been used over time to express identity and beliefs. For over two thousand years, Christians have used a variety of symbols as an expression of their beliefs, their religious identity and to recognize the sacrifices made over the centuries for their religion. Symbols were commonly used to identify other Christians, especially in times when Christianity was banned and to subtly express their own beliefs without drawing too much scrutiny to themselves. The early community had a special reliance on holy iconography as a symbolic way of representing Christian ideas and stories in the artwork that was produced during these eras. Though the most common and widely recognized symbol is the cross, there are many other symbols that hold importance in the religion. These symbols can be found carved on ancient tombs, hidden in medieval art and a variety of other places. These symbols have their roots in pre-Christian times and were adapted and modified for use in Christianity. In early times, the symbolism of Christianity was mainly seen as learning for initiates only. Once Christianity was legalized in the 4th century, symbols become more common in their use even today.