Today is the Feast of the Great Virgin Martyr St Catherine, who, after confessing the Christian Faith, was scourged for a long time with scorpions and suffered martyrdom by beheading A.D. 250 under the tyrant Maximin Daza, Emperor.
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A pectoral cross or pectoral (from the Latin pectoralis, "of the chest") is a cross, usually relatively large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain that reaches well down the chest. It is worn by the clergy as an indication of their position and is different from the small crosses, that have no special significance, worn on necklaces by many Christians.
In Eastern Church practice the rules for wearing the cross differ with various traditions. The pectoral cross is worn by all bishops, but not necessarily by all priests. In the Greek tradition, the pectoral cross is only given to specific priests for faithful service; in the Slavic tradition, a cross is worn by all priests.
The cross worn by priests depicts the crucified Christ, whether in painted form as an icon, or in relief. On the Eastern crucifix the body of Christ is not in full three-dimensional form, but in no more than three-quarter relief. It also bears the inscription INRI (the title that Pontius Pilate placed above the head of Jesus at the crucifixion) and the letters IC XC NIKA (meaning Jesus Christ Conquers) around the four arms of the cross. Eastern pectoral crosses are almost always on chains of either silver or gold, sometimes with intricately worked links. Priest's crosses will often have an icon of Christ "Made Without Hands" at the top. This is the icon before which Eastern Christians usually confess their sins. In Russian practice, the back of a priest's cross is usually inscribed with St. Paul's words to St. Timothy: "Be an example to the believers in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12).
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