A crucifer or cross-bearer is, in some Christian churches (particularly the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Lutheran Church Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation in 15 ...

es,

Anglican Communion The Anglican Communion is a Christian Full communion, communion consisting of the Church of England and other autocephalous national and regional churches in full communion. The archbishop of Canterbury in England acts as a focus of unity, ...

, and Methodist Churches), a person appointed to carry the church's processional cross, a

cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

or crucifix with a long staff, during processions at the beginning and end of the service. In these Christian denominations, the crucifer is a role assigned to a certain acolyte or

altar server An altar server is a laity, lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringi ...

Etymology

The term "crucifer" comes from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''crux'' (cross) and ''ferre'' (to bear, carry). It thus literally means "cross-bearer". Use of the term "crucifer" is most common in the Lutheran and Anglican churches, as well as in certain Catholic congregations. In the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, the usual term is "cross-bearer", which is employed in certain Lutheran congregations as well.Patrick Morrisroe, "Cross-Bearer" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1908)
/ref>

Role by Christian denomination

Roman Catholic Church

In the

the function of the crucifer/cross-bearer was generally carried out by a

subdeacon Subdeacon is a minor orders, minor order of ministry for men or women in various branches of Christianity. The subdeacon has a specific liturgical role and is placed below the deacon and above the acolyte in the order of precedence. Subdeacons in ...

until

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...

decreed in his ''

motu proprio In law, (Latin for 'on his own impulse') describes an official act taken without a formal request from another party. Some jurisdictions use the term for the same concept. In Catholic canon law, it refers to a document issued by the pope on h ...

'' ''Ministeria quaedam'' of 15 August 1972 that "the major order of subdiaconate no longer exists in the Latin Church". In line with that document, the functions previously assigned to the subdeacon are now entrusted to the acolyte and the reader. A seventeenth-century Council of Milan stated that a crucifer should, when possible, be a cleric and that, if a lay person be selected, that "the most worthy of the laity should be selected for the office." For more solemn processions, the cleric should be vested in

amice The amice is a liturgical vestment used mainly in the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic church, Western Orthodox church, Lutheranism , Lutheran church, and some Anglicanism , Anglican, Armenian Catholic , Armenian, and Polish National Catholic C ...

, alb, and

tunic A tunic is a garment for the torso, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the ankles. It might have arm-sleeves, either short or full-length. Most forms have no fastenings. The name deri ...

. On less solemn occasions he may just be vested in

surplice A surplice (; Late Latin ''superpelliceum'', from ''super'', "over" and ''pellicia'', "fur garment") is a liturgical vestment of Western Christianity. The surplice is in the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton fabric, reaching to the kn ...

. During the procession the staff is held with both hands such that the cross is well above the head. The cross-bearer leads the procession except when there is a thurifer and is accompanied by two servers on the more solemn occasions. Brooklyn Museum - Double-Sided Processional Cross - Master of Monte del Lago

Brooklyn Museum - Double-Sided Processional Cross - Master of Monte del Lago

Lutheran Churches

In the

es, the crucifer is an acolyte who carries the processional cross. Torchbearers stand to the side of the crucifer. During the procession and the recession, the crucifer "holds the cross in an elevated and dignified manner".

Anglican Communion

In the

, the crucifer is an acolyte who carries the processional cross.

References

Christian worship roles Minor orders Ecclesiastical titles {{christianity-stub

Etymology

Role by Christian denomination

Roman Catholic Church

Lutheran Churches

Anglican Communion

See also

References