With regard to which cross is truly Orthodox I once heard a saying attributed to Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitysky): "Every Cross is Orthodox". I am not sure it was he that said that since the perspective on Orthodoxy held by those who follow in his footsteps (the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) has not been so inclusive. I think it is a wonderful expression!

The three-bar Cross is in fact widely used by Ukrainians and Russians. There are those Ukrainians who are opposed to the last bar being on a diagonal - as far as I could ascertain chiefly because they consider that this is a particularly Russian form. Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) late primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada firmly defended this form of the Cross as being typically Ukrainian.

The three-barred Cross has also often been used by Ukrainian Catholics (this was particularly the case at one time in Ukraine). This may be related to a movement in the early 20th century which sought to link them with the Russians, but may also be simply to emphasize the particularity of their rite in the predominantly Roman Catholic state of which they were a part.

There is a growing movement initiated and encouraged by Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky and Patriarch Joseph Slipyj of blessed memory to recover the purity of the Orthodox tradition after 400 plus years of association with the Church of Rome which was not always respectful of diversity.

By way of reminder: the diagonal form is said to represent the X-shaped cross of St. Andrew, the Apostle who evangelized in the place where Kyiv arose (he also prophesied that it *would* arise there). I like the explanation which recalls the response to Jesus of the two thieves between whom He was crucified. The bar which points upwards recalls the one who received Him as Lord; the one downwards - the one who mocked and rejected Him. This can remaind *us* that when we confront the Cross of our Lord we are always called upon to make that choice: receive or reject. Follow or do not follow. It reminds us that our life in Christ must be one of continual vigilance and repentance. Are we with Him? Are we *still* with Him in the daily choices we make? His arms are always outstretched to welcome the prodigals - all of us! Joy is being *on* the Cross with Him. For the Cross is also the way to Resurrection.