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

Many articles have appeared claiming that five-pointed stars, including the inverted one, are Orthodox symbols, moreover, that they “symbolize” the Mother of God(?) and even Jesus CHRIST.(?!) And this statement is based on the fact that, they say that these symbols are found in Christian architecture, decor, and even on icons.

Let's look into this issue.

1. The stars were worshiped as “gods” by pagans in the ancient world (Egypt, Babylon, Persia) and, of course, they were depicted in some way. On clay objects found by archaeologists, there are images of five-pointed stars made 3.5 thousand years before the birth of Christ.
Therefore, to claim that the five-pointed star is a Christian symbol is, at the very least, unlawful.

2. Since ancient times, an inverted pentagram, its outline very reminiscent of the face of a goat - a symbol of Baphomet (the devil), was used by pagan Satanists for ritual actions and to designate an idol.

3. Christians did not practice either black or “white” magic, did not worship the stars, and therefore, in the first 10 centuries of their existence, they did not make much difference in the image of stars - a wide variety of stars, including five-pointed and inverted ones, are found on icons and in the architecture of that time.

4. The attitude towards the stars in general has always been positive, since they shine in the darkness; sailors and travelers used them to calculate time and travel. They were associated with angels (Star of Bethlehem). Jesus Christ calls Himself the “bright morning star.” “I am... the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). Although, naturally, what is meant is not the morning planet Venus, nor the frivolous “goddess” Venus, identified with this planet.
The Bright and Morning Star means that the Light of the World - CHRIST - shone at the Dawn of Creation.

5. Of course, some stars had a special meaning.

5.1. So the six-pointed star, since Old Testament times, was perceived as a symbol of the entire Created world (6 rays - 6 Days of Creation).
In Orthodox iconography – on the “Transfiguration” icons of Theophan the Greek and Andrei Rublev, the six-pointed one (and not the inverted five-pointed one, as some “specialists” ignorant in iconography claim!) symbolizes the Created World transfigured by Jesus CHRIST. The upper ray is thinned and obscured by the Face of CHRIST, who, being a GOD-man, being transformed on Mount Tabor before the disciples, by His incarnation and Resurrection transforms the entire created world and elevates it to GOD.

On the icon of Adrei Rublev, the end of the sixth ray, crowned with a cross, is visible above the halo of CHRIST, and above the shoulders of the Savior is the base of this ray. Subsequently, icon painters, repeating this plot, sometimes completely replaced the sixth ray with the Face and figure of CHRIST. On the icon of Theophanes the Greek, the sixth ray of a clearly depicted six-pointed star is also partially obscured by the Face of CHRIST.

The six-pointed star was on the seal of King Solomon, and therefore it is sometimes called the “Seal of Solomon.” It can also be seen on icons, in ornaments, in architecture, along with other stars.

5.2. The Eight-Pointed Star is of particular importance in Orthodoxy. Depicted as two, most often, intersecting crosses.
This is the Star of Bethlehem as a symbol of the Glory, Truth and Passion of Christ on the Cross. These are the stars on the shoulders of the Virgin Mary, as symbols of light and purity. Eight-pointed stars predominate in Orthodox iconography, although others also occur.

5.3. Since ancient times, the five-pointed star has been revered by all nations as a protective, protective sign, a sign of truth, power, spirituality, and perfection.
It was highly revered by the Jews as a symbol of the Pentateuch of Moses, given to him by GOD Himself. It is in the Old Testament that there are numerous predictions of the birth of CHRIST the Savior and the Anointed of GOD (the Messiah). Therefore, in Bethlehem you can find the image of five-pointed stars, as a symbol of the Old Testament star, pointing to the Birth of CHRIST. Although the Star of Bethlehem itself at the site of the Birth of CHRIST is depicted with 14 rays.

Five-pointed stars were widespread in the Catholic world. Since Catholics are accustomed to looking for some secret meaning in everything, these stars personified for them the “five joys” of the Virgin Mary, the five wounds of Christ, etc.
And this continued until the beginning of the Inquisition, when it suddenly became clear that all magicians, “witches”, sorcerers, as well as the Templars (Masonic order) use a five-pointed star, most often inverted, in their secret magical rituals. After this, the inverted pentagram (“witch’s leg”) began to be identified specifically with dark forces, the devil, and its use in Christian Temples sharply decreased.

In the 20th century Satanists openly admitted that the inverted pentagram is a symbol of Satan and the Satanic Church, used by them to summon dark forces. After which, the inverted pentagram is not perceived differently in the popular consciousness. And then the communists came to the rescue, with their red stars and atheistic hatred of the Church. By the way, they planned to erect a monument to Judas Iscariot, at least not to Satan.

The inverted pentagram as a symbol of the devil is currently widely used by neo-pagans. Based on this fact, we can conclude who they pray to. However, they claim that they also have from 365 to 33,000,000 “gods” (demons or demons?), but this is not enough for them. This is probably why some of the neo-pagans are trying to prove, based on a perverted understanding of the Transfiguration icon, that the “symbol” of CHRIST is an “inverted pentagram”. That is, they blaspheme and blaspheme, equating the DIVINE with the devilish. It's hard to think of a bigger lie. However, the usual demonic trick is to replace good with evil and equalize their rights. So, everything is clear with the meaning of the inverted pentagram.

Of course, no one is now trying to erase and break out the inverted five-pointed stars from ancient Christian icons, frescoes and ornaments. Everyone understands perfectly well that in those distant times the image of these stars did not have today’s meaning, and was associated with a positive perception of stars in general, and was also, along with other various stars, a generally accepted decorative decoration.

Regular five-pointed stars were used extremely rarely in Orthodoxy in Russia, much less often than eight-pointed, six-pointed and multi-pointed ones, and even more so after the revolution.

The pentagram is widely used in the USA, Israel, and Islamic states. And to say that the five-pointed star is an Orthodox symbol, again, is impossible.

In Russia, the secular use of Regular five-pointed stars is widespread. Moreover, five-pointed stars are a symbol of Victory and the heroic feat of the peoples of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. That is why for the people of Russia they have their own high historical meaning and special significance, and are not at all associated with religious overtones.

Some signs and symbols of various eras - for example, the image of a fish, by which some communities of the first Christians recognized each other - have sunk into oblivion. Others live on icons and books, in a living church tradition. There are many mysterious symbols in Orthodoxy. This is not surprising, because the teachings of Christ go back more than two thousand years. The culture and worldview of people changed. Only the word of God remained unchanged.

One such symbol is the five-pointed star, also called a pentagram or pentacle. Today it is associated, first of all, with the period of Soviet power in Russia. It can be seen on many European and Russian houses. Many claim that this is a satanic, witchcraft, Masonic sign. However, five-pointed stars can also be found on icons, icon cases, and in the decoration of Orthodox churches. It is not just a decoration, the pentagram has a number of meanings in Orthodoxy.

Pentacle in Christianity

A star with five rays is one of the ancient symbols. Initially, it does not carry the meaning of evil. Along with the six-pointed star of David and the eight-pointed star - the octogram, the star of the Virgin Mary - is a biblical symbol. The five-pointed star refers to the symbolism of the Old Testament, which is still used today in both Christianity and Judaism.

The pentagram is associated with the Pentateuch, called the Torah in Judaism - the biblical books written by the prophet Moses. They are also revered by all Christians.

Also, the five rays of the star mean the five wounds of the Lord Jesus on the Cross (the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed to the Cross, the fifth wound is the wound from the spear).

The five ends mean, like the sign of the cross, the symbolism of the Trinity. The correct sign of the cross is made with the right hand, with the thumb, index and middle fingers clenched. They symbolize the power and omnipotence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - the Indivisible Holy Trinity. The little finger and ring finger pressed to the palm signify the joining together of the human and divine natures in Christ.

The association of the star and the Lord is based on the words of the Book of Revelation of John the Theologian (Apocalypse), where Christ says: “I am the descendant and root of David, the morning and bright star” (chapter 22, verse 16).

Where they draw and depict a five-pointed star in Orthodoxy

The symbol of a five-pointed star is not common, but can be used in the design of the exterior and interior of temples, and in the carving of icon cases (large floor frames for icons).

• The pentagram is used in the interior and exterior decoration of the walls of the Cathedral of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
• A forged five-pointed star is installed above the cross of the Bethlehem Temple, and at night it is illuminated.
• In the Bethlehem Cathedral of the Nativity itself, above the miraculous image of the Nativity, a golden five-pointed star is embroidered on velvet in an icon case.
• In the Church of St. John the Theologian in Moscow, five-pointed fiery stars are depicted on the walls of the temple.

The sign of the five-pointed star was theologically interpreted on the icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord, becoming a sign of the power of the Tabor light and the grace of Christ.

The five-pointed star, along with the eight-pointed one, denotes the Nativity or Bethlehem star. It is historically testified that at the time of the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ there was a certain new star in the sky, a celestial phenomenon - perhaps a comet. However, it lit up in the sky as a sign of the coming into earthly life of the Messiah, Christ the Savior. The Star of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, showed the way to the Magi, who, thanks to it, came to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him. There is no sin in using it in home decoration for Christmas; on the contrary, it is a very pious and beautiful custom. You can make it yourself by gluing, for example, a paper icon of the Nativity of Christ in the center.

The star reminds us of the power of God, and of the radiance of the Kingdom of God, and of our life path, along which we must follow the Bethlehem guiding star, like the Magi towards the Infant Christ. You need to be able to become a guiding star for people in this world with the help of good deeds.

Pentagram on the icon of the Transfiguration

On the icons of the “Transfiguration of the Lord,” the most famous of which is the image painted by the great icon painter Andrei Rublev, the image of the Lord Jesus Christ is inscribed in a five-pointed star, signifying the light of the Transfiguration of the Almighty and His coming to the earthly world from Heaven. Therefore, on the icon of the Transfiguration, the five-pointed star is inverted with the upper ray downward.

Transfiguration is one of the twelve main holidays of the Orthodox Church. It is celebrated annually on August 19. In terms of its significance, it is on a par with the Nativity of Christ and the feast of the Holy Trinity - Pentecost. On this day, the event of Jesus Christ’s revelation of His Divine nature to ordinary people—his disciples—is remembered. Three of them witnessed the Transfiguration of a seemingly ordinary Man, Whom they knew as Their Teacher named Jesus, into Almighty God, illuminating everything around with unearthly Light.

The holiday is celebrated in accordance with the word of the Gospel, where this great event is described in detail. Christ ascended Mount Tabor (which still exists in Israel) and before his three closest disciples - the apostles Peter, James and John - revealed His Divine nature, which appeared visibly in the fact that the Lord’s clothes became dazzlingly white, emitting light - the evangelist compares them with a shining under the sun and snow. His face shone with an unearthly light. The long-dead prophets Moses and Elijah appeared next to Christ, and the Lord began to talk with them. The apostles were amazed, in modern terms, shocked by what they saw.

Prayers on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord are an appeal to the Lord for the enlightenment of every person with the Light of Christ's Truth, directing him on the right path. Each of us follows the path of life in a certain direction, making our choices every day and even every minute: what job to take, who to marry, when to have children... It is necessary to ask the Lord to prompt the right choice for our heart, the right path for our soul . This will be evidenced by inner peace and joy about the choice made.

The Feast of the Transfiguration is also called the Apple Savior - on this day Orthodox Christians bring part of the new harvest to churches, asking the Lord to bless and multiply the fruits of the earth. Of course, this holiday was especially important before the revolution, when the majority of the population were peasants working on the land. It is still widely celebrated today in Orthodox countries with a developed agrarian culture. Transfiguration is one of the most beloved holidays by the people. This is the day when each of us remembers that it is worth asking, praying - and our lives will be illuminated by the Light and advice of Christ. Do not neglect the conversation with the priest: the Lord, according to your faith, will tell you exactly His will through the priest.

May the Lord protect you with His grace!

What is a pentagram?

The modern word Pentagram apparently comes from the Greek " pente" - five and " gramma" - letter (meanings of “line or line” are also possible), its other names are also known, such as, for example, pentalfa and pentageron. In general, the pentagram has many names - almost every nation or magical tradition had its own name for it, or even several, for example, the Egyptians called it “ Star of Isis" or " Star of the Dog-Headed Anubis", and the Pythagoreans - " Pentalpha" Like a geometric figure - a pentagram, it is a star formed by the intersection of the extended sides of a pentagon (regular pentagon). A pentacle is a pentagram inscribed in a circle. Today, the pentagram is perhaps one of the most famous magical symbols. At the same time, it is one of the most ancient, significant and powerful.

History of the pentagram and its meanings

Unfortunately, it is now impossible to say for certain how exactly the pentagram symbol originated. The first reliable archaeological sites of symbols having pentagonal symmetry, date back to the first ten thousand years BC, but it is possible that the pentagram existed earlier. One of the possible versions is that it appeared as a result of astrological observations of the planet Venus and began to be used by the priests and magicians of Mesopotamia. The fact is that when observed from the earth, Venus passes through all the signs of the zodiac in the sky in 8 years, while making 5 “curls” of the trajectory. If you draw a classic astrological circle with the signs of the zodiac, mark these “curls” on it and connect them, you will get a clear pentagram.

One way or another, with the advent of written sources, we can say more about the meaning of this symbol. In ancient civilizations (Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian, etc.) the pentagram had a dual meaning. Firstly, it was considered the strongest symbol of help and protection, which was depicted on amulets, house doors (to protect the home from various harms), clothing and religious objects. Secondly, for initiates it was a symbol of secret power and might. We can say that it was a symbol of magic itself in a broad sense in those days. Also in ancient Egyptian writing there was a hieroglyph in the shape of a five-pointed star. There are opinions that it meant “enlightenment, learning” or “enlightened, blissful spirit” (however, there are other interpretations).

After this, the pentagram was widely used in various spheres of human life - in addition to all of the above, it could be found on state symbols, seals and coins, it was used as an element of coats of arms and banners, and depicted on shields. The pentagram begins independently of each other use different peoples - for example, it appears in India and China. To describe all the meanings that have ever been given to the pentagram, it is necessary to write a separate huge work (if at all possible), in this article we will outline only the main milestones of its history.

In Ancient Greece, the pentagram was also called " pentalpha", since it was obtained by intertwining five Greek letters " alpha" The pentagram played an important role in the teachings of Pythagoras. He calculated that it contained the golden ratio and therefore came to the conclusion that it was the geometric embodiment of mathematical perfection. Subsequently, it will become an important symbol for his followers. The Pythagoreans called the pentagram Hygieia (also the name of the ancient Greek goddess of health) when they used it as a symbol of bodily-spiritual harmony and perfection. At the same time, they used it as a symbol of their community, which also symbolized the five years of silence before initiation. The Pythagorean school, perhaps, was the first to present, now a classic, the concept that the world consists of five elements - fire, earth, water, air and ether (although Empedocles is considered the first to develop the concept of elements). Based on it, the pentagram, on the rays of which these five elements are located, is a symbol of the universe in a state of perfection and harmony. Subsequently, this interpretation will be reflected in Hermeticism and alchemy. The pentagram was also used by the Pythagoreans when teaching geometry and arithmetic directly as a geometric figure and has since been included in a number of training courses. And we can still see their echoes even in modern courses and textbooks.

The peoples of ancient India and China also came to the use of the pentagram, and probably independently of other civilizations. In VI BC. e. In China, the concept of Wu Xing arose, which means “five movements” or “five transformations,” which was a logical continuation of the Yin-Yang concept. According to them, the interaction of the universal principles of Yin and Yang gives rise to five elements, or otherwise - five elements, of which the world visible to us consists and thanks to the interaction of which it exists. These five elements are different from the five elements of the European tradition - according to Wu-sin, they are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The interaction pattern of these elements forms a pentagram. This scheme formed the basis of ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine (for example, acupuncture, where it is successfully used to this day), and was widely used in numerology, fortune-telling practices and martial arts.

The pentacle was revered in ancient (and not only) Japan, as well as among the American Indians.

For the Jews, the pentagram was a symbol of the sacred Pentateuch, which, according to legend, was received by Moses from God.

The symbol of Islam is considered to be a five-pointed Star with a Crescent (although this symbol, of course, existed before Muhammad, whom Muslims consider their prophet). In Islam, the pentagram symbolizes the five main pillars of this religion, and sometimes the five daily prayers.

Next, it would be logical to talk about the use of the pentagram in Christianity, however, due to trends that have arisen recently, we will temporarily skip this topic and cover it in detail a little later, but now we will talk about the later use of the pentagram. In the twelfth century, Hildegard of Bingen, a nun and abbess, wrote works in which she considered the pentagram as a symbol of man (this was partly motivated by the fact that pentagonal symmetry is characteristic of man - the pentagram can serve as a schematic representation of him, we have five limbs, five senses, etc.). And since man, according to Christian beliefs, was created in the image and likeness of God, the pentagram for her became his personification.

This story, long forgotten in wide circles, as well as the works of Hildegard herself, could have long been consigned to general oblivion, but perhaps it was her ideas that formed the basis for the further development of the pentagram as a symbol among mystical Christianity, Hermeticism, alchemy and the occult. They gradually developed a tendency to associate the pentagram with a person. Perhaps this is also influenced by the emerging Humanism. Sometimes the image of a person was simply inscribed in the pentagram, as was done, for example, by Cornelius Agrippa in his “Occult Philosophy”. As a result, the classic Pythagorean pentagram of Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Ether with a person inscribed in it began to symbolize the Microcosm and the spiritual work of man manifested in the material world. Drawing parallels with alchemy, we can say that in it such a symbol could mean the “Great Work,” although the alchemists themselves often used their own symbol to designate the “Great Work,” which is largely due to their tradition.

After this, the pentagram was used by various occult-religious and other movements and orders - Gnostics, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, Martinists, etc. Nowadays, the pentagram, among other things, is also a symbol of the Wiccan tradition and neo-paganism (especially in Western countries). This is one of the most common signs that can be found almost anywhere - from state flags to ritual objects.

Are the pentagram and inverted pentagram a symbol of evil?

Recently, the opinion has spread significantly that the pentagram or the so-called “inverted pentagram” (with one end pointing down and two points up) is in one way or another connected with some negativity, evil, dark forces, etc. Basically, something similar can be heard from some (though by no means all) Christian hierarchs, seen in various mystical thrillers and “horror” films, and sometimes even heard from some unenlightened magicians who have little understanding of the history of this issue.

To expose this misconception, it is best to turn to perhaps the most unexpected, at first glance, source - namely, Christianity itself, its symbolism, architecture, iconography and history. This may surprise some, but Christians themselves actively used both the pentagram and the inverted pentagram. As we have already written, these symbols existed long before the emergence of Christianity, but it adopted them from previous magical traditions and gave them a new meaning.

Thus, the “inverted pentagram”, which is now so actively reviled, along with the usual one, already for the early Christians became a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. The explanation for this is simply banal and is connected with the biblical parable about the wise men who, following a star, found Jesus and They brought him gifts - with her beam directed downward, she pointed them to the place where Jesus would be born, because according to scripture, she moved across the sky from east to west and stopped right above the cave with the baby’s cradle. Sometimes in the images, to emphasize this idea, the beam was extended to the ground. Not to mention ancient monuments, such images can be found even in modern religious literature, although their use has significantly decreased due to the spread of the mentioned misconception.

In an effort to be objective, it is necessary to make a digression here and mention that the Star of Bethlehem has gone through a long historical path - at different times and in different areas of the planet it was depicted in different ways, and with different numbers of rays, since the number of its rays is not limited by the Christian canon, however, it can be confidently stated that the pentagram was also widely used as the Star of Bethlehem. Actually, in this capacity, it has survived to our times, for example, in the form of the tradition that came to us from Europe to decorate the Christmas tree top with a pentagonal star.

Early Christians wore an “inverted” pentagram precisely as a guiding amulet, to gain spiritual guidance and protection - so that higher powers would protect and guide them. The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine I the Great, who stopped the persecution of Christians and, in fact, made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, placed an “inverted” pentagram on his personal seal.

Gradually, the inverted pentagram became a symbol of the transfiguration of Christ, as well as his descent into the world (that’s why it is directed downwards). In particular, one can recall the famous icon of Andrei Rublev “The Transfiguration of the Lord,” painted by him at the beginning of the 15th century, where Christ is depicted against the background of a clearly visible inverted pentagram. Here it must be emphasized that Andrei Rublev is one of the most famous and most revered Orthodox icon painters, who, by the way, was canonized. He was the author of many rules that later became the canons of icon painting and the contribution that he made can still be felt in icon painting. An inverted pentagram, along with an inverted cross in Christianity, can also symbolize the Apostle Peter, since, according to biblical legends, he was crucified on an “inverted” cross - upside down.

In general, it should be said that in the Christian tradition the symbol of the pentagram developed and acquired new meanings and applications, which, in the end, accumulated quite a lot. As we have already written, it was used by Christians as an amulet of protection and spiritual guidance (later the cross began to play this role), and was a symbol of transformation and the descent into the world of Christ. It also symbolized the 5 wounds of the crucified Jesus, the 5 joys of the Virgin Mary, etc. It was also a symbol of the Savior himself - the five ends symbolized the holy trinity, as well as the divine and human nature of Jesus. Subsequently, this scheme will become one of the foundations of the occult concept of the Pentagrammaton. The association of the Savior with a five-pointed star was also sometimes justified by quotations from the Bible, for example: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you this in the churches. I am the root and the descendant David, the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). Among cabalistic Christianity one could find the following explanation of the pentagram as a symbol of Jesus: “...the inverted pentagram is “Zeir Anpin”, Microprosopus or “Small Face” of the Lord, which is formed on the Tree of Life by six lower Sephiroth: Hesed-Geburah-Tiferet-Netzach-Hod-Yesod, separated by an Abyss from the three Higher Sephiroth. However, “Zeir Anpinom” is also one of the names of Tifiret, the Divine Son, through the union with which our world (lower Sephira - Malchut) could be saved. By identifying Christ with Tiphiret, Christian Kabbalists could quite logically identify the entire inverted pentagram as a whole with him.»

As in antiquity, the pentagram and inverted pentagram were actively used by Christians in heraldry. For example, we can consider the coat of arms of the ancient German family Wieser. At the same time, the pentagram was also used spiritual orders of knights. Here, as an example, we can consider the Order of the Knights of Bethlehem (or as it was also called the “Order of Bethlehem” or “the Order of the Crusaders of the Red Star on Blue” - “Betlemitani o Ordine militare" And " Ordine crociferi con stella rossa in campo blu"Italian). It arose as an order of crusaders during the first crusade. It is interesting to us because, as its name suggests, its coat of arms was a red pentagram on a blue field.

Pentagrams can also be found on medieval robes of priests, drawings, stained glass windows, mosaics, bas-reliefs of temples, churches and cathedrals. So the bas-relief in the Church of St. Peter and Moses in Solina (Croatia), IX-XI centuries. contains a very obvious pentagram. In the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul (XIII century) in the Estonian city of Kaarma (Saaremaa Island) you can see a painting in the form of an inverted pentagram. The window of the north nave of the Amiens Cathedral in France (it was built between 1220 and 1410) is made in the form an elaborate stained glass window depicting an inverted pentagram. If you find yourself in Hannover, then you can see a huge inverted pentagram (adjacent to the hexagram) on the so-called “Market Church” (MarktkircheGerman) St. George and St. Jacob, built in the 14th century. In St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, built between 1359 and 1511 there is a bas-relief depicting the adoration of the Magi, on which there is a pentagram symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. In the northeastern part of the Bethlehem Basilica of the Nativity (according to Christian tradition, it was built on the site where Jesus was born) near the northern exit from the Cave of the Nativity, there is an Armenian altar on which you can distinguish a clear relief pentagram, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. The Moscow Theological Church, built in 1805, is also capable of surprising the unenlightened with a bas-relief with a pentagram on its wall. And the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg is simply replete with various images of pentagrams. And all of the above are by no means exceptions, but only vivid and well-known examples. In general, in most large temples, churches or basilicas you can, in one form or another, find an image of a pentagram.

Thus, the myth that the pentagram or an inverted pentagram has since ancient times been considered symbols of some kind of evil or something similar can be considered debunked. Quite the contrary - all historical facts indicate the opposite. There are several versions of the origin of this misconception and several key events associated with it. There are versions that the beginning of the negative perception of the pentagram was the rise of the Inquisition or the massacre of the Templar Order. However, the author of this article has not yet been able to find any significant arguments in favor of the first version; the second was argued mainly by the fact that many Templars had pentagrams as part of their coats of arms. However, this was a common practice both before and after the Templars. In addition, as we have already shown, pentagrams were actively used later, in Christian iconography, painting and architecture.

Perhaps the first to associate the inverted pentagram with the devil was the French occultist Alphonse Louis Constant ( Alphonse Louis Constant fr.), better known under the pseudonym Eliphas Levi Zahed, who lived in the 19th century. In his work “The Teaching and Ritual of High Magic,” he wrote that a pentagram with two rays facing upward is a symbol of Satan. However, it should be noted here that in the millennia of history of this symbol, this was perhaps the first documented statement of this kind. Previously, there was no such information either in Christian sources or anywhere else. Thus, this opinion was first expressed in the middle of the 19th century. As for the very source of this opinion, everything is not so simple here either. Despite the fact that Eliphas Levi has some authority as an occultist (albeit sometimes questioned), his opinion can hardly be considered the only correct one. Them moreover, given the age of this symbol and the numerous traditions, cults and esotericists of the past who did not adhere to such an opinion. It must also be taken into account that at that time Levi’s interpretation did not become some kind of sensation that turned the world of occultism upside down - it existed, but it existed quietly and peacefully along with other interpretations of the pentagram symbol that contradicted it. It did not change the perception of the pentagram by the broad masses (most of whom, it must be admitted, had no time for these matters at that time). Finally, a number of modern occultists, who, perhaps, to some extent, can be considered descendants and continuers of the tradition, into the formation of which Eliphas Levi made a significant contribution, point out that in this case his words must be interpreted not literally (speech, in this case, we are talking about the Order of the Eastern Templars).

For the perception of the pentagram in Russia, an important milestone was the coming to power of the Bolsheviks - because one of their main symbols was the red five-pointed star. The hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church admit that before the revolution the pentagram was actively was used by the church and the turning point in this sense came precisely as a result of the persecution of the Soviet government against the church. This was one of the key factors for changing the perception of the pentagram by Russian believers. The second important milestone was an event that occurred in the USA in 1966 - then Howard Stanton LaVey (also known as Anton Szandor LaVey) founded the so-called Church of Satan and (being familiar with the works of Eliphas Levi) made a stylized inverted pentagram with inscribed in it is a goat's head and a number of signs, the symbol of this organization. Subsequently, the shocking effect that attracted attention and detailed coverage of this organization in the Western media became the reason for the spread of associations of the pentagram with Satanism among the broad masses. To top it off, the release of various films and other mass media products began, which, being historically unreliable, also contributed to the strengthening of these associations.

Thus, as we see, the opinion about the connection of the pentagram with something negative arose only in the second half of the 19th century, and became truly widespread only in the second half of the 20th century. And the foundation of this opinion is very shaky - in fact, everything is based only on the mystical experience and experiences of Eliphas Levi.

It is noteworthy that the indiscriminate denunciation of this symbol (as well as some others), which was quite common among church hierarchs of a certain quality, soon hit them themselves - numerous pentagrams and hexagrams in churches now serve as grounds for accusing the church itself, that it is mired in Satanism or that it is controlled by Jews (a version popular among nationalists). Here we can only shrug our shoulders and note that the desecration of one’s own (and the world’s) spiritual and cultural heritage could hardly have ended differently.

Why did the Bolsheviks make the star a symbol of the USSR?

The five-pointed star became a symbol of Soviet Russia thanks to one of the Bolshevik leaders, Leon Trotsky. When it was officially approved by the order of the People's Commissar of Military Affairs of the Republic Leon Trotsky No. 321 dated May 7, 1918, the five-pointed star received the name “Mars star with a plow and hammer.” The order also stated that this sign “is the property of persons serving in the Red Army.”

Trotsky was seriously immersed in esoteric sciences and knew that the five-pointed pentagram has a strong psychological effect and is one of the most striking And memorable characters. It must be said that the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries was a time of “triumph of occultism” - almost every educated person went through a passion for mysticism. And the star in those days was a very fashionable symbol.

Igor Avdeev.

Is one of them. Each of the symbols characterizes Orthodoxy in a certain way. Probably everyone has thought at least once about what an eight-pointed star means in religion and more. After all, it was found in the culture of many peoples in different eras. Surely its meaning is diverse. To understand all this, you need 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 Star of Bethlehem or a symbol. According to the Holy Scriptures, it lit up in the sky when the Messiah was born. Its eight rays were brighter than other stars. Seeing them, the ancient sages (magi) remembered the prophecies and realized that the long-awaited Savior had been born. They hastened to the east to worship the Son of God. The star of Bethlehem showed the elders the way, moving ahead until it stopped over the place where Jesus was born.

In the Cave of the Nativity there is the Star of Bethlehem. How many rays there are on it is known for certain. The place where Jesus was born is indicated by a silver star with fourteen rays. This number is not random. It symbolizes the stops on Jesus' Way of the Cross in Jerusalem.

Star of Bethlehem. History of origin

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

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

During the Renaissance, the star was associated with the occult. And inverted, it became a symbol of Satan. But Christians considered this option a sign of the rebirth of Christ. And even canonized by the church, Constantine had a seal with an inverted five-pointed star. It was he who made Christianity the state religion.

For Russia, the symbol in the form of a star with five rays is historically alien. It is more commonly associated with Judaism and Freemasonry. Although during the years of Soviet power it was the star with five rays that was chosen as the state symbol.

Eight-pointed star in Orthodoxy. Prerequisites for the appearance

The five-pointed Star of Bethlehem was replaced by a six-pointed one around the fifteenth century. In general, this symbol arose at the beginning of the Neolithic period. It meant the six cardinal directions. Everyone knows that there are four of them, 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, in some period, in Russia there was a seven-pointed star of Bethlehem. Once upon a time, magicians wore the same symbol as a distinctive sign, but with a planet indicated next to each ray.

The meaning of an eight-pointed star in Rus'

And finally, an eight-pointed star appeared - a symbol known in Rus' since ancient times. 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, clothing and on various household and religious objects.

In Orthodox Rus', the eight-pointed star was no less important. After all, it lit up in the sky at the moment of the Birth of our Savior and led the Magi to the place where Jesus was born.

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, the patroness of our Fatherland. Here in Russia they say about this symbol: the star of the Virgin Mary, Russian, and also the star of Bethlehem.

As mentioned above, the icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary depict an eight-pointed star, the meaning of which is very important in Orthodoxy. This is understandable only from one fact that the symbol is located on the shoulders and head of the Virgin Mary. On the “Burning Bush” icon, the image of the Mother of God is inscribed in an octogram (this is also the name of a symbol with two squares superimposed on each other, forming an eight-pointed symbol). The star is closely connected with the Virgin Mary, her secret.

If we recall the meaning of the symbol with eight rays, then according to tradition it was understood as eternity, unshakable stability and transcendence of this world. Also, the octogram is a sign of Paradise, Heavenly Jerusalem and the final Transfiguration.

The meaning of the star among different peoples

An eight-pointed star is a symbol of balance, order, and creation when inscribed in a circle. This is how in ancient times they designated the calendar and the seasons (everything material changes, but the main thing remains unchanged).

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

In addition, a star with eight rays can be found in Karelia, Likhoslavl and its region (whose residents are also Karelians), Colombia, and Peru. The flags of Great Britain and the Philippines also display octal symbols.

The eight-pointed star, the meaning of which among the Egyptians was the identity of the divine sign, is also found among the Sumerians. In their language, this symbol was used to denote a word that translates as “god, star, sky.”

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

Star in Christian traditions

The eight-pointed one has always been the main one on the tops of holiday trees. It also served as decoration in houses and on the street. During Soviet times, the star was replaced with a five-pointed one.

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

As church tradition says, one of the apostles was the first to bring the news of the Christian faith to the Russian land. Apparently, this is why in tsarist Russia the highest award, shaped like an eight-pointed star, was called the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Today it also has a high status, restored by presidential decree in 1998.

The Star of Bethlehem, no matter how many rays it has, is of great importance in the history of Christianity. The Magi, led by her, found out where the Savior was and told the world about his Birth. Today, this symbol, as always, is a guide for believers, reminding that the material and spiritual are interconnected. But if one passes without a trace, then the other is eternal and imperishable. As we strive to live in the kingdom of God, we must remember that in this world everyone can become a guiding star for someone by doing good deeds and thereby drawing closer to the Lord. Maybe this is the true meaning of the symbol with eight rays. Peace and harmony to you!

As soon as they do not call the symbol in the shape of a star with six rays. They say that this is a sign of sorcerers, Jews. But how much of this is true? What is the significance of the Star of David in Christianity? There are a lot of questions. Let's try to find answers to them.

Origins of the symbol

Researchers have found that the star appeared in India earlier than in Europe and the Middle East. Even from this fact it is already clear that the Star of David was not originally a symbol of Judaism and Jews, which it is now considered to be.

But the use of the sign by these people since ancient times is evidenced by the fact that a hexagram was discovered on a Jewish seal dating back to the seventh century BC in Sidon. And the name “Star of David” comes from the story of a shield that was made in the form of this symbol and protected the famous king and his entire army.

In 1354, Jews from Prague were given the opportunity to have their own flag, which was a six-pointed star on a red cloth, as well as a seal with the same sign. Only then did the hexagram begin to be considered a national symbol.

Initially, the Star of David was depicted as one piece; the division into two triangles superimposed on each other occurred later.

Russian roots

The meaning of the Star of David symbol can be better understood if you understand where and when people first began to use it.

In scientific circles, various facts about the use of the sign with six rays are known. For example, the researcher of the Russian North Vyacheslav Meshcheryakov wrote in his publication about a discovery in those places where, in addition to other interesting things, they found a six-pointed silver star on a stone stand. The scientist is confident that in times before the ice age in northern Russia the climate was warmer. And the territory was inhabited by the ancient Aryans - a highly developed civilization.

It is too early to draw a conclusion about where, from India or from the territory of Russian lands, the Star of David came into the culture of other countries. After all, the point has not yet been made on this issue.

Star of David: symbolism, meaning

This topic is also controversial. The symbol itself consists of two triangles combined with each other. So, most likely, one of them means heaven, the second - Earth, or God and man, or man and woman, and perhaps also the four elements (fire, water, earth, air) - in different cultures to your own. But the meaning in any case is the connection of the principles that make up the Universe.

In India, this symbol means human essence, the eternal struggle of the spiritual and carnal principles. The six-pointed star is still used today in yoga as a yantra - a sign of the chakra responsible for the heart center.

The Star of David symbol, the meaning of which is not so easy to understand, is used more often in Christianity than in Judaism. It can be found in Freemasonry, magic, alchemy, in the practice of sorcerers, etc.

Star of David: meaning in Christianity

Each direction of human activity interprets the meaning of a star in its own way. There is even an opinion that the hexagram means the number of the beast - 666.

During early Christianity, a sign with six rays meant the Star of Bethlehem, and was also a symbol of the six days of creation.

There is a reason why this symbol is inscribed in the cross of the Orthodox faith. It is believed that the Star of David has a very important meaning - the union of the Divine nature with the human in Christ. This is a symbol of Jesus.

It should be noted that in Christianity the Star of David began to be used much earlier than in Judaism. Therefore, it would be wrong to assert that Orthodox believers do not have the right to use it in decorating churches, in icon painting and on crosses crowning domes. Although this is a controversial question, and only the Lord knows the correct answer. The main thing is how you feel about this symbol yourself, and not what others say about it.

Why is the Star of David primarily associated with Judaism and Jews?

This was influenced by the period of Nazi rule. In order to distinguish Jews from local residents, the fascists used the yellow Star of David in European cities. A photo revealing the meaning of the symbol can be seen in this article.

Such a mark, but with triangles of different colors, was sometimes used by the Nazis in concentration camps as a distinctive sign of certain categories of prisoners. Political - red triangle, emigrants - blue, people of non-traditional orientation - pink, deprived of the right to a profession - green, antisocial elements - black.

During the same period, residents of Great Britain and the United States depicted the Star of David on the graves of Jewish soldiers from the armies of allied countries, considering it a symbol of Judaism. This was done in the same way that Christians mark the tombstones of the dead with a cross.

The Star of David is of great importance in Israel. It is used on the state flag, on the emblems of organizations (for example, Emergency Medical Services) and the army. But still it cannot be argued that this is entirely a symbol of Judaism and Jews.

Another version

Another version of the symbol was mentioned above. It was solid without division into triangles. There is an opinion that the replacement of the original star with the one that is used everywhere today occurred at the suggestion of Satan and signifies his imaginary victory over God. Priest Oleg Molenko also shares this opinion. He also writes that the coming of the Antichrist will be accompanied by a seal in the form of this symbol.

The true Star of David had the following meaning: five rays - the five feelings of a person, and the sixth ray, directed upward, symbolized the desire for the Heavenly Father, to whom everything should obey. It is this kind of solid image that is found on ancient icons. This star is truly Christian.

Star of David in the occult

It is no secret that the symbol, used even in Christianity, is used by magicians and sorcerers. The Star of David has a different meaning in magic: the combination of triangles turned in different directions is understood as the interaction of two opposites. It is necessary for the continuation of life.

For Jews, the Star of David had a meaning far from magical. The influence of Kabbalah led to the imparting of occult properties to the symbol. The hexagram is used for fortune telling in Tarot cards, as well as in various magical objects. In addition, the Star of David is widely used by adherents of the occult in rituals to summon demons.

In connection with all of the above, Father Oleg Molenko strongly recommends not wearing this symbol in any form.

Of course, the understanding of the signs of Christianity is always changed, especially by opponents of the faith. And today, the symbol of the Star of David, the significance of which in Christianity is great (after all, it is the identity of Jesus), seems to be not the one that was originally used by believers. But still there is no need to condemn the church for using the hexagram. The main thing to remember is that everything is God’s will. You should use things with the image of a star carefully, but not going to a temple where this symbol is present can hardly be called a reasonable decision. God bless you!