The top bar represents the plaque that was hung over Christ's head. The middle bar, as in Western Christianity, is the cross beam on which Christ's wrists or palms were nailed. The slanted bottom bar is the footrest - and Christ's feet are represented as being nailed individually rather than together.
So the story goes. Maybe, just maybe, they are plotting to forsake the one and true guiding light: FSM!
Efficiency! You use one vertical post to hang up to 3 victims! Since there is no record of anybody getting crucified in Jerusalem the different Church brands come up with their own rendition of what the cross ought to look like. BTW, the JWs believe that it was a straight pole and that Jesus was nailed to the pole with a single nail, with his hands above his head.
That Eastern lot are stranger then the Western ones. It wouldn't surprise me in the least, but if they think the FSM will give up meekly like someone else they are seriously mistaken.
This is based on Balkan folklore, I believe, in which qualities their main character was Incorporated into the character of Jesus. One of these traits is that this character had one leg longer than the other, hence the crooked foot-rest. The little piece at the top is the "ENRI" sign.
Does anyone know the meaning of the Eastern Orthodox Church's cross?
