Snowflake Cross
This page introduces an alternative use of the word.
A snowflake photographed by Wilson Bentley in 1902 (Click image for more)
Kyiv Church
When water freezes, its molecules stack together to form a regular crystalline ice lattice, which has six-fold symmetry. It is because of this hexagonal crystal symmetry that practically all snowflakes have six arms. Most crosses have four main arms, but some have such a delicate, filigree appearance, that they remind us of snowflakes.
The Snowflake Cross is mainly seen as a jewellery item. However, we noticed in the photo on the right, a fine example one atop an old wooden church situated in the outskirts of the capital city Kiev in Ukraine.
This is an interesting example because usually crosses in this area have the Slavic Ukraine Orthodox design.
The Snowflake Cross is a cross adorned with a symmetrical arrangement of smaller crosses. The three small crosses on the top symbolise the Trinity and the three crosses of Calvary. The pairs of small crosses on the main crossbeam are the outstretched hands of Christ. The central 'X' cross, which also appears in the Baptismal Cross and St. Andrew's Cross, points to Christianity's spread to the four corners of the world.
The spiky style also makes a useful lightning conductor.
Perhaps one reason the cross on this old wooden Kyiv church has survived so long, is because the intricate design prevents heavy eagles (orel) from using it as a perch.
That was until February 2021, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
On 5 August there is a festival Mary ad Nives (Our Lady of Snow), to remember how the Mother of God is believed to have founded a church on the spot where snow miraculously fell one summer.
A sculpture is carried to the chapel in Kukljica by boat and the community's flag bears a Snowflake Cross to symbolise this.
Ekklisia Evaggelismos
A fine example of a Snowflake Cross used to be visible atop the famous Greek Orthodox cathedral Church of the Evangelismos in Rhodes. Some time between 2011 and 2013, it was replaced by a less decorative Budded Cross.
Basilica di San Marco a Venezia
(Click photo to enlarge)
Gracanica Monastery
Other examples can be seen atop Saint Mark's Basilica, the Byzantine cathedral of Venice (photo on the left), and 2,000 kilometres away on the 14th century Gracanica Monastery in Kosovo (photo on the right), which didn't look so pretty after the US-led NATO 'humanitarian' bombing during the Easter of 1999.
As mentioned above about the wooden Kyiv church's defence against eagles; such massive birds are not a burden. But thousands of cruise missiles and thousands of tons of explosives? Not so robust.
And the snowflake connection to this reference to war? World leaders give the same excuse as the snowflake does in an avalanche... "It's not my fault."
And finally...
- Ivan: "Did you know, that no two snowflakes are alike?"
Alexei: "Wow! You've been busy this winter!" - Way back in the 40s, before Moscow became a modern, throbbing city, when life was hard and pleasures simple, people used to go out for relaxing evening strolls.
One cold winter's night, a couple of Muscovites were walking down the street, when the man felt something splash on his nose. "I think it's raining." he said to his wife.
"No, that felt more like snow to me." she replied.
"No, I'm sure it was just rain." he said.
Well, they were about to have a major argument about whether it was raining or snowing, when they saw a Red Army colonel walking towards them. "Let's not fight about it," the said man, "let's ask Colonel Rudolph whether it's officially raining or snowing."
As the officer approached, the man said, "Tell us, Colonel Rudolph, is it officially raining or snowing?"
"It's raining, of course!" he replied, and walked on.
But the woman insisted: "Well that certainly felt like snow to me!"
The man quietly replied: "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear."
humanitarian bombing: a politically expedient euphemism
