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Processional Crosses In Roman Catholic Churches

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Processional Crosses in Roman Catholic churches usually bear a corpus. Other denominations, if they use such a cross, prefer one without a corpus. Where there is a corpus, the cross-bearer (in Eastern Orthodox monasticism: Stavrophore) holds the cross so that the corpus is turned in the direction in which the procession is moving. This symbolizes Christ leading the procession. Traditional practice, still followed among churches of the Russian or other Slavic traditions, is that the use of the processional cross during the normal cycle of divine services is a primatial privilege, and will only be done when the Patriarch or First Hierarch is serving.

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