The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church community has created cross designs, individually hand-crafted from bullet shells from the relatively recent military activity. The crafts persons have turned the metal of war into symbols of peace and reconcilliation. The three cities of Axum, Lalibela, and Gondar usually have unique general styles. The large crosses are carried in processions. The small crosses are worn as amulets and serve as signs of faith.

3 large crosses from the three cities, one small cross

The large cross at the left and the small cross may be from the Lalibela area. I will try to recall the symbolism, some of which may also apply to the other two large crosses. At the very bottom is a small box, representing Adam's tomb. There are 3 points around the tomb, possibly representing the care of the Trinity. Above that is a large box with lace work. The lace represents unending eternity. The box itself has two possible interpretations. It could be the Ark built by Noah that saved 8 people from the global Flood. It could also be the Ark of the Covenant, so precious in Ethiopia, physically representing God's presence here on Earth. The vertical shaft is a connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament. It could also represent Jesus Christ descending to Earth from Heaven to give us the only Way to Heaven.

The Lalibela cross has a prominent cross in the middle of the top portion, emphasizing how Jesus provided eternal life, for those who trust in him, by dying on the cross to pay the enormous entrance fee to Heaven for each of us. Around the edges of the top design are 12 knobs, representing the 12 apostles. At the very top is a cluster of 3 knobs again representing the Trinity. The small cross has those same elements as the top of the leftmost large cross.

The top of the middle large cross is dominated by lacework within a broad cross. The lacework represents eternity (no end). At the top and sides are small boxes with crosses inside, but they total 3 such boxes, likely representing the Trinity. Attached to those 3 small boxes are three clusters of 4 knobs, making a total of 12 for the 12 apostles.

The top of the right large cross has lacework (eternity) in a center square (throne of God?). Around it may be 4 crowns or wings and 4 small empty rectangles, reminding me of the 4 living creatures of Revelation 4. Counting the wingtips, around the edge of cross top are 24 small knobs, for the 24 elders of Revelation 4. At the 3 (Trinity) tips of the design are 3 squares containing 4 dots each, totalling 12 for the Apostles.

an assortment of small crosses
Rev. Dr. Mendedo gave each of us tour participants a bag of about 30 small crosses. These are suggested for sale at about $20 each to provide funds for the Master Builder Center (www.mbcnow.org), of which he is the president, to promote its programs. Notice both the similarity of some designs and the variety of basic designs.

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