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The Russian Orthodox cross is, of course, derived from Byzantium and is usually composed of a vertical post with two horizontal bars and one shorter, frequently diagonal, bar. The core represents the cross on which Christ was crucified. The top bar represents the mocking sign placed on Jesus by the Romans announcing him as "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The diagonal bar at the bottom of the cross is a stylized foot rest. Sometimes the bottom bar is straight and sometimes it is curved in a crescent shape. Sometimes level and sometimes tilted. Some say that the bottom end of the tilted foot rest points to hell and the top end points to heaven. (One of the thieves crucified with Christ repented and one did not.) The crescent shaped bar would appear to reflect ancient Middle Eastern influences.
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