Eight-pointed star: meaning. Eight-pointed star in Orthodoxy

Orthodox Christianity has its own symbols. The eight-pointed star is one of them. Each of the symbols characterizes a certain way of Orthodoxy. Probably everyone at least once thought about what the eight-pointed star in religion and not only means. After all, it was in the culture of many peoples in different epochs. Surely, its meaning is manifold. To understand all this, it is necessary to trace its appearance in the history of mankind and in the symbolism of Orthodox Christianity.

Star with eight rays

In Christianity, this is the Bethlehem star or the symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ. According to the Holy Scripture, it was lit in the sky when the Messiah was born. Her eight beams were brighter than other stars. Seeing them, the ancient sages (magicians) remembered the prophecies and realized that the long-awaited Savior was born. They hurried to the east to bow to the Son of God. The star of Bethlehem pointed to the elders, moving ahead, until it stopped over the place where Jesus was born.

In the cave of the Nativity of Christ there is a Bethlehem star. How many rays on it, it is known for certain. The place where Jesus appears is indicated by a silver star with fourteen rays. This number is not accidental. It symbolizes stops on the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem.

Star of Bethlehem. History of occurrence

Today, in the Orthodox churches, there is an eight-pointed star, the meaning of which can be understood by referring to the history of its appearance.

But originally the Star of Bethlehem was with five rays, according to the number of wounds of Jesus Christ. It also symbolized health: the number of fingers, the senses. But its main meaning was in the human nature of Christ.

In the Renaissance, the star was associated with the occult. And inverted, it became the symbol of Satan. But Christians here considered this option a sign of Christ's rebirth. And even ranked by the church to the rank of saints, the Roman emperor Constantine had a seal with an inverted five-pointed star. It was he who made Christianity the state religion.

For Russia, historically, the symbol in the form of a star with five rays is foreign. It is more customary to embody with Judaism and Masonry. Although in the years of Soviet power it was the star with five rays as the state symbol that was chosen.

Eight-pointed star in Orthodoxy. Prerequisites for appearance

The five-pointed star of Bethlehem was replaced by a six-beam star in about the fifteenth century. In general, this symbol arose at the beginning of the Neolithic period. It meant six sides of the world. Everyone knows that their four (east, west, north, south), but, for example, the inhabitants of Ancient India, seeing a symbol with so many rays, understood its meaning as "six sides of the horizon."

Then, at some time, in Russia there was a seven-pointed star of Bethlehem. Once upon a time, mages wore the same symbol as a distinctive sign, but with a planet indicating each ray.

The value of the eight-ray star in Russia

And, finally, appeared eight-pointed star - a symbol, known in Russia for a long time. Long before the twentieth century, among the inhabitants of Ancient Rus, even in pagan times, it meant the presence of the main deity. The image of such a star was placed on military banners, clothes and various objects of everyday life and worship.

In the Orthodox Russia, the eight-pointed star was of no less importance. After all, it caught fire in the firmament at the time of the birth of our Savior and led the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus.

Eight-pointed star in iconography

Today, this sign is present in all Orthodox churches, symbolizing Russia. A star with eight rays can be found on all Russian icons of the Mother of God, patroness of our Fatherland. About this symbol we, in Russia, say: the star of the Virgin, the Russian, and also the Bethlehem.

As already mentioned above, the icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary depict an eight-pointed star, the significance of which is very important in Orthodoxy. This is understandable only by the fact that the symbol is located on the shoulders and head of the Virgin. On the icon "Burning bush" and at all the image of the Mother of God inscribed in the octogram (this is also called the symbol with two superimposed squares forming an eight-pointed symbol). The star is closely connected with the Virgin, its secret.

If you remember the meaning of the symbol with eight rays, then by tradition it was understood as eternity, unshakable stability and going beyond this world. Also an octogram is a sign of Paradise, Heavenly Jerusalem and the final Transfiguration.

The significance of the star in different nations

The eight-pointed star is a symbol of equilibrium, order, creation, if it is inscribed in a circle. So in ancient times we designated the calendar, the seasons (all material changes, but the main thing remains unchanged).

The eight-ray star is found in the cult of Latvians, Udmurts. In the form of a double cross or with bifurcated ends, it can be seen in folk ornaments from Finns and Karelians, as well as from northern peoples (eg Finno-Ugric). Here it means guiding and rebirth, is a symbol of light and glory.

In addition, a star with eight beams can be found on the arms of the Republic of Karelia, Likhoslavl and its region (residents of which are also Karelians), Colombia, Peru. The flags of Great Britain and the Philippines also traced the octal symbols.

The eight-pointed star, whose meaning among the Egyptians was the identity of the divine sign, is also found among the Sumerians. In their language, this symbol is the word that translates as "god, star, sky."

It is believed that the eight-pointed symbol symbolizes seven periods in the history of mankind, and the eighth ray is the life of the next century. That is, the time when the kingdom of God will come.

A Star in the Traditions of Christians

The eight-pointed Christmas star has always been the main one on the tops of festive spruce. She also served as a decoration in the houses and on the street. In Soviet times the star was replaced by a five-pointed star.

Children were given an eight-pointed Bethlehem star for prosperity and happiness.

As the church tradition says, one of the apostles before all brought the news of the Christian faith to the Russian land. Apparently, therefore, in tsarist Russia, the highest award, having the form of an eight-pointed star, bore the name of the Order of St. Andrew. Today it also has a high status, which was returned by presidential decree in 1998.

The Star of Bethlehem, how many rays it had, is of great importance in the history of Christianity. The Magi, led by her, learned where the Savior was, and told the world about his Birth. Today this symbol, as always, is guiding for believers, reminding that the material and spiritual are interconnected. But if one passes without a trace, then the other is eternal and imperishable. Aspiring to live in the kingdom of God, one must remember that in this world everyone can become a guiding light for someone, doing good deeds and thus approaching the Lord. Maybe this is the true meaning of a symbol with eight rays. Peace to you and harmony!