Processional Cross (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The kingdom of Aksum, centered in northern Ethiopia, adopted Christianity during the 4th century and was the first state in Christendom to mint coins bearing an image of the cross. This distinction was telling, as the Ethiopian church later became known for its elaborate and diverse crosses. In practices that continue today, priests carry hand crosses as a way to bless the faithful, and processional crosses held aloft on long poles confer blessings on congregants. Adorning a processional cross with a cloth attached through the lower side loops add visual drama to a procession.
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