The Crucifix, a cross with the corpus (Body of Christ), is an ancient symbol used within the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, in contrast with some Protestant groups, which use only a simple cross.

A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for "body"),^[1][2] as distinct from a cross with no body.

The crucifix is a principal symbol for many groups of Christians, and one of the most common forms of the Crucifixion in the arts. It is especially important in the Catholic Church, but is also used in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic, as well as Anglican, and Lutheran churches, (though less often in other Protestant churches), and it emphasizes Jesus' sacrifice — his death by crucifixion, which Christians believe brought about the redemption of mankind. Western crucifixes usually have a three-dimensional corpus, but in Eastern Orthodoxy Jesus's body is normally painted on the cross, or in low relief. Strictly speaking, to be a crucifix the cross must be three-dimensional, but this distinction is not always observed. A painting of the Crucifixion of Jesus including a landscape background and other figures is not a crucifix either.

Large crucifixes high across the central axis of a church are known by the Old English term rood. By the late Middle Ages these were a near-universal feature of Western churches, but are now very rare. Modern Roman Catholic churches often have a crucifix above the altar on the wall; for the celebration of Mass, the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church requires that, "on or close to the altar there is to be a cross with a figure of Christ crucified".^[3]

Description[link]

Cimabue's Crucifix, 1287-1288, Panel, 448 × 390 cm (176.4 × 153.5 in)
Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence.

The standard, four-pointed Latin crucifix consists of an upright post or stipes and a single crosspiece to which the sufferer's arms were nailed; but there may be a short projecting nameplate, showing the letters INRI (Greek: INBI). The Russian Orthodox crucifix usually has an additional third crossbar, to which the feet are nailed, and which is angled upward toward the penitent thief Saint Dismas (to the viewer's left) and downward toward the impenitent thief Gestas (to the viewer's right). The corpus of Eastern crucifixes is normally a two-dimensional or low relief icon that shows Jesus as already dead, his face peaceful and somber. They are rarely three-dimensional figures as in the Western tradition, although these may be found where Western influences are strong, but are more typically icons painted on a piece of wood shaped to include the double-barred cross and perhaps the edge of Christ's hips and halo, and no background. More sculptural small crucifixes in metal relief are also used in Orthodoxy (see gallery examples), including as pectoral crosses and blessing crosses.

Western crucifixes may show Christ dead or alive, the presence of the spear wound in his ribs traditionally indicating that he is dead. In either case his face very often shows his suffering. In Orthodoxy he has normally been shown as dead since around the end of the period of Byzantine Iconoclasm.^[4] Eastern crucifixes have Jesus' two feet nailed side by side, rather than crossed one above the other, as Western crucifixes have showed them for many centuries. The crown of thorns is also generally absent in Eastern crucifixes, since the emphasis is not on Christ's suffering, but on his triumph over sin and death. The "S"-shaped position of Jesus' body on the cross is a Byzantine innovation of the late 10th century,^[5] though also found in the German Gero Cross of the same date. Probably more from Byzantine influence, it spread elsewhere in the West, especially to Italy, by the Romanesque period, though it was more usual in painting than sculpted crucifixes. It's in Italy that the emphasis was put on Jesus' suffering and realistic dettails, during a process of general humanization of Christ favored by the Franciscan order. During the 13th century the suffering Italian model (Christus patiens) triumphed over the traditional Byzantine one (Christus gloriosus) anywhere in Europe also due to the works of artists such as Giunta Pisano and Cimabue. Since the Renaissance the "S"-shape is generally much less pronounced. Eastern Christian blessing crosses will often have the Crucifixion depicted on one side, and the Resurrection on the other, illustrating the understanding of Orthodox theology that the Crucifixion and Resurrection are two intimately related aspects of the same act of salvation.

Another, symbolic, depiction shows a triumphant Christ (Latin: Christus triumphans), clothed in robes, rather than stripped as for His execution, with arms raised, appearing to rise up from the cross, sometimes accompanied by "rays of light", or an aureole encircling His Body. He may be robed as a prophet, crowned as a king, and vested in a stole as Great High Priest.

On some crucifixes a skull and crossbones are shown below the corpus, referring to Golgotha (Calvary), the site at which Jesus was crucified, which the Gospels say means in Hebrew "the place of the skull."^[6] Medieval tradition held that it was the burial-place of Adam and Eve, and that the cross of Christ was raised directly over Adam's skull, so many crucifixes manufactured in Catholic countries still show the skull and crossbones below the corpus.

Very large crucifixes have been built, the largest being the Cross in the Woods in Michigan, with a 31 feet (9.4 m) high statue.^[7]

Usage[link]

An enshrined crucifix amidst the cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, Austria.

Prayer in front of a crucifix, which is seen as a sacramental, is often part of devotion for Christians, especially those worshipping in a church, and also privately. The person may sit, stand, or kneel in front of the crucifix, sometimes looking at it in contemplation, or merely in front of it with head bowed or eyes closed. During the Middle Ages small crucifixes, generally hung on a wall, became normal in the personal cells or living quarters first of monks, then all clergy, followed by the homes of the laity, spreading down from the top of society as these became cheap enough for the average person to afford. By the 19th century displaying a crucifix somewhere in the general reception areas of a house became typical of Catholic homes.

Roman Catholic (both Eastern and Western), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and other Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Christians generally use the crucifix in public religious services. They believe use of the crucifix is in keeping with the statement by Saint Paul in Scripture, "we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God".^[8]

In the West altar crosses and processional crosses began to be crucifixes in the 11th century, which became general around the 14th century, as they became cheaper. The Roman Rite requires that "either on the altar or near it, there is to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, a cross clearly visible to the assembled people. It is desirable that such a cross should remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations, so as to call to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord."^[9] The requirement of the altar cross was also mentioned in pre-1970 editions of the Roman Missal,^[10] though not in the original 1570 Roman Missal of Pope Pius V.^[11] The Rite of Funerals says that the Gospel Book, the Bible, or a cross (which will generally be in crucifix form) may be placed on the coffin for a Requiem Mass, but a second standing cross is not to be placed near the coffin if the altar cross can be easily see from the body of the church.^[12]

Eastern Christian liturgical processions called crucessions include a cross or crucifix at their head. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the crucifix is often placed above the iconostasis in the church. In the Russian Orthodox Church a large crucifix ("Golgotha") is placed behind the Holy Table (altar). During Matins of Good Friday, a large crucifix is taken in procession to the centre of the church, where it is venerated by the faithful. Sometimes the soma (corpus) is removable and is taken off the crucifix at Vespers that evening during the Gospel lesson describing the Descent from the Cross. The empty cross may then remain in the centre of the church until the Paschal vigil (local practices vary). The blessing cross which the priest uses to bless the faithful at the dismissal will often have the crucifix on one side and an icon of the Resurrection of Jesus on the other, the side with the Resurrection being used on Sundays and during Paschaltide, and the crucifix on other days.

Exorcist Gabriele Amorth has stated that the crucifix is one of the most effective means of averting or opposing demons. In folklore, it is believed to ward off vampires, incubi, succubi, and other evils.

Modern iconoclasts have used an inverted (upside-down) crucifix when showing disdain for Jesus Christ or the Catholic Church which believes in his divinity.^[13] According to Christian tradition, Saint Peter was martyred by being crucified upside-down.^[14]

Controversies[link]

Hanging rood on Gotland in Sweden, where numbers of medieval roods survive in place.

Early Protestants generally rejected the use of the crucifix, and indeed the unadorned cross, along with other traditional religious imagery, as idolatrous. Martin Luther did not object to them, and this was among his differences with Andreas Karlstadt as early as 1525. Calvin was violently opposed to both cross and crucifix. In England the Royal Chapels of Elizabeth I were most unusual among English churches in retaining crucifixes, following the Queen's personal conservative preferences. Under James I these disappeared, and their brief re-appearance in the early 1620s when James' heir was seeking a Spanish marriage was the subject of rumour and close observation by both Catholics and Protestants; when the match fell through they disappeared.^[15]

In 2005, a mother accused her daughter's school in Derby, England of discriminating against Christians after the teenager was suspended for refusing to take off a crucifix necklace.^[16]

British Airways has faced legal action and calls for a boycott by Christians after it ruled an employee could not display a crucifix on her necklace (a rule it has now relaxed).^[17] A British prison ordered a multi-faith chapel to remove all crucifixes, presumably to avoid offending Muslims.^[18]

In 2008 in Spain, a local judge ordered crucifixes removed from public schools to settle a decades-old dispute over whether crucifixes should be displayed in public buildings in a non-confessional state.^[19] A 2008 Quebec government report recommended that the crucifix of the National Assembly be removed to achieve greater pluralism, but the local Liberal party refused.^[20]

On 18 March 2011, the European Court of Human Rights ruled, in the Lautsi v. Italy case, that the requirement in Italian law that crucifixes be displayed in classrooms of state schools does not violate the European Convention on Human Rights.^[21][22][23]

Crucifixes are common in most other Italian official buildings, including courts of law.

On 24 March 2011, the Constitutional Court of Peru ruled that the presence of crucifixes in courts of law does not violate the secular nature of the state.^[24]

Gallery[link]

• 

  Detail from a carved portal, 6th century, Basilica of Santa Sabina all'Aventino, Rome.

• Krucifix.jpg

  Crucifix in front of the Holy Spirit Church in Košice, Slovakia

• 

  A handheld crucifix

• 

  A crucifix in a church, with votive candles.

• 

  Russian Orthodox crucifix, brass

• 

  Orthodox crucifix in Vilnius

• 

  Russian Orthodox crucifix. Mary and John the Beloved are depicted on the footrest

• 

  Old crucifix in Żukowo, Kashubia

• 

  Jose Rafael Aragon's "The Crucifix" at the Brooklyn Museum

See also[link]

• Cloisters Cross
• Christian symbolism
• Cross necklace
• Crucifixion
• Crucifixion in the arts
• Holy Face of Lucca
• INRI
• Master of the Blue Crucifixes
• Papal cross
• Rood

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Crucifixes

• Archæology of the Cross and Crucifix
• The Cross and Crucifix in Liturgy
• Crucifix carving

v t e Catholic prayers and sacramentals for protection against evil Prayers Holy Name of Jesus · Chaplet of St. Michael · Prayer to St. Michael · Vade retro satana Sacramentals Crucifix · Holy water · Little Sachet · Scapular of St. Michael · St. Benedict Medal Catholicism Portal

Bubba Sparxxx
Cologne/Germany 2002
Background information
Birth name	Warren Mathis
Also known as	Bubba
Born	(1977-03-06) March 6, 1977 (age 35) LaGrange, Georgia
Genres	Hip hop, Southern rap, Country rap
Years active	1993-present
Labels	New South Entertainment
Associated acts	Attitude, Ying Yang Twins, Timbaland
Website	www.bubbasparxxx.com

Warren Anderson Mathis (born March 6, 1977), known by his stage name Bubba Sparxxx, is an American Southern rapper. His biggest hit is "Ms. New Booty" featuring The Ying Yang Twins which peaked at #7 in the United States. He is also noted for his hit singles "Deliverance" and "Ugly".

Personal background[link]

Born Warren Anderson Mathis on March 6, 1977, Sparxxx is of French descent, and grew up in a rural area north of LaGrange, Georgia, a town 65 miles southwest of Atlanta.^[1] His father was a school bus driver, and his mother was a grocery store cashier.^[2] His closest neighbor, who lived half a mile away, introduced Mathis to rap music through mixtapes mailed from New York City. The music of 2 Live Crew was his introduction to hip-hop; he began listening to West Coast gangsta rap such as N.W.A and Too Short and the Atlanta duo OutKast. With rapping as a hobby, Mathis was a tight end and linebacker for his high school's football team and earned All-Region honors in his senior year.^[1] Steve Herndon, a former offensive lineman for the NFL teams Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos, played football with Mathis during high school, according to an interview with Down-South.com.^[1][2] In 2007, he moved from Atlanta to Tampa.^[3]

Music career[link]

After high school Sparxxx moved to Athens, Georgia in 1996. In Athens, he met industry veteran (and now manager and business partner) Bobby Stamps. Stamps noticed Sparxxx rapping after a University of Georgia football game. Stamps arranged for Sparxxx to work with many artists in Athens and Atlanta to complete his first CD. His first commercial CD release saw some success in Georgia, and the album Dark Days, Bright Nights caught the attention of Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records. Sparxxx signed to Interscope Records and began working with record producers Timbaland and Organized Noize.^[1] The major-label reissue of Dark Days, Bright Nights, released via Timbaland's Beat Club Records imprint, which now included five collaborations with Timbaland and two with Organized Noise, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. In 2002, he had a minor hit being featured on Archie Eversole's "We Ready", which became popular for being played at sport events, such as football and basketball games. His 2002 London debut was described by Caroline Sullivan, Guardian music critic, as the worst gig she had been to.^[4] In late 2003, he returned with his second album, Deliverance, which was critically acclaimed but sold poorly.^[1]

Sparxxx signed a recording contract with Virgin Records in 2004; under Virgin, Sparxxx released The Charm with singles "Ms. New Booty" and "Heat It Up". He left Virgin to establish his own label, New South Entertainment, which is distributed by E1 Records. In 2007, he released a mixtape with DJ Burn One titled Survive Till Ya Thrive. He stated in an interview that he planned on releasing an album to be called Miracle on Gamble Road, in 2012. He is supposed to appear on Lil Wyte's album Still Doubted.

Non-musical work[link]

Sparxxx has also appeared in the video games Def Jam: Fight for NY and Madden NFL 2004. His song "Back in the Mud" was used by ESPN's "College Gameday" as the 2003 and 2004 theme song. He has participated in a number of television productions and collaborated with the popular "Girls Gone Wild" brand to shoot two DVDs detailing life as a rap star. Sparxxx has featured on MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen (Kristy Landers episode) and was a mentor in MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar. He has been a guest on each major late-night show, including Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2003, Sparxxx donated his time to travel to Kuwait and Iraq to perform for U.S. troops along with Blink-182, Wayne Newton and Kid Rock amongst others.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

Guest appearances[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bubba Sparxxx on Myspace
• Bubba Sparxxx discography at Discogs
• Bubba Sparxxx discography at MusicBrainz
• Ms New Booty Video & lyrics

Nappy Roots is an American alternative Southern rap quintet that originated in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1995, and is best known for their hit singles "Po' Folks", "Awnaw", "Roun' The Globe" and "Good Day". They were the best selling hip hop group of 2002.^[1]

The group consists of Milledgeville, Georgia native Fish Scales and Kentucky natives Skinny DeVille, B. Stille, Ron Clutch, and Big V(who officially left the group to pursue a solo career on May 22, 2012). Oakland, California native R. Prophet has recently left the group to pursue a solo career.^[2]

Biography[link]

Nappy Roots' debut independent album Country Fried Cess was released in 1999, which led to the group being signed by Atlantic Records. Their first album on Atlantic Records was 2002's best selling hip-hop album, "Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz". The multi-platinum album featured the hit-singles "Headz Up", "Awnaw", and "Po' Folks". The "Awnaw (Remix)" featuring Marcos of P.O.D. appeared on Madden 2003. In their home state, Paul E. Patton the governor of Kentucky, sanctioned September 16 as "Nappy Roots Day".^[3]

Their next and last album with Atlantic Records was Wooden Leather, released in 2003, featuring the singles "Roun' the Globe" which was featured on Madden 2004 and "Sick and Tired" (featuring Anthony Hamilton). This critically acclaimed, major label follow up album, "Wooden Leather" featured production from Kanye West, David Banner and Lil Jon. In 2004 they were also featured on three songs for the movie soundtrack to The Ladykillers starring Tom Hanks that was released on Sony Music.^[4]

Since the release of Wooden Leather they are back to being independent artists, and have started their own label, N.R.E.G (Nappy Roots Entertainment Group) with distribution through Fontana/Universal Music Group. On July 31, 2007, they released their first album as independent artists, Innerstate Music featuring singles "Good Day" and "Keep It Real". This was actually an internet album, similar to a modern day mixtape. It was intended to be a precursor to their 2008 album, The Humdinger which was released on August 5, 2008.^[5]

In 2008 Nappy Roots returned to the spotlight with an internet campaign targeting the mega-popular hip-hop sites such as AllHipHop.com, HiphopDX, SOHH, 2dopeboyz, Dubcnn, XXL Mag and BallerStatus, etc.^[6] The critically acclaimed album, The Humdinger features guest appearances from Anthony Hamilton, Greg Nice, Greg Street and Slick & Rose, with production from Sol Messiah, James "Groove" Chambers, Big Al, Joe Hop and more. The Humdinger entered the Billboard Rap Charts at #7 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at #13.

In 2009 the single "We're Gonna Make it" by Skinny and Scales was released through Nappy Roots Entertainment Group.^[7]

Nappy Roots kicked off 2010 with their highly anticipated new album, "The Pursuit of Nappyness", released June 15, 2010. The album features songs by a production duo from Atlanta, GA by the name of Phivestarr Productions.^[8]

In 2011, Nappy has teamed up with legendary hip hop producers Organized Noize to create "Nappy Dot Org". The first single "Congratulations" made its way into cyberspace on July 13, 2011 by way of XXL Magazine and 2DopeBoyz.

On October 11, 2011 Nappy Roots released their new album "Nappy Dot Org" that was entirely produced by Organized Noize.

Singles[link]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Featured Tracks[link]

Mixtapes[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

2002[link]

• 2002 MTV Video Music Award nomination for the MTV2 Award for "Awnaw" - shared nomination with Jazze Pha^[10]

2003[link]

• 2003 American Music Award nominations for Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Hip-Hop/R&B and Favorite New Artist - Hip-Hop/R&B^[11]
• 2003 Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Po' Folks" - shared nomination with Anthony Hamilton and Best Long Form Music Video for "The World According to Nappy" - shared nomination with Gloria Gabriel, director; David Anthony ^[12]
• 2003 Soul Train Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist for "Awnaw"^[13]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Official Nappy Dot Org Site
• Nappy Roots at Myspace

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Paul Begley is a Gaelic football player from Laois in Ireland.

He plays for the Stradbally club. He usually plays in defence for the Laois senior football team.

Paul emerged on to the inter county GAA scene in 2001 as part of the Laois minor squad.

He went on to play for the Laois Under 21 team in 2002, 2003 and 2004 before earning a call up to the senior squad for the 2005 National Football League campaign

At club level, Paul was named Laois Junior B Footballer of the Year as a 17 year old in 2000.

He won two Under 21 titles with Stradbally Parish Gaels and in 2005 was a prominent player as Stradbally won the Laois Senior Football Championship.

He is an older brother of ex Brisbane Lions and current Laois star Colm Begley

Links[link]

• Paul Begley's league debut v Wexford 2005
• NFL v Cork 2009
• NFL v Kildare 2009