View source for Crucifer

{{Short description|Cross-bearer in church's processions}}
{{For|the vegetable family|Cruciferae}}
{{Redirect|Cross-bearer|other uses|Cross-bearer (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Crucifer.jpg|thumb|A crucifer carrying a cross]]

A '''crucifer''' or '''cross-bearer''' is, in some Christian churches (particularly the [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Lutheran Church]]es, [[Anglican Communion]], and [[Methodist Church]]es), a person appointed to carry the church's [[processional cross]], a [[Christian cross|cross]] or [[crucifix]] with a long staff, during processions at the beginning and end of the service.<ref name="Armentrout1999">{{Cite encyclopedia
| publisher = Church Publishing, Inc.
| isbn = 0898697018
| last = Armentrout
| first = Donald S.
|author2=Robert Boak Slocum
| title = Crucifer
| encyclopedia = An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-friendly Reference for Episcopalians
| year = 1999
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=y_RpbmWNfHcC&q=procession%20crucifer&pg=PA131
}}</ref> In these Christian denominations, the crucifer is a role assigned to a certain [[acolyte]] or [[altar server]].

==Etymology==
The term "crucifer" comes from the [[Latin]] ''crux'' (cross) and ''ferre'' (to bear, carry). It thus literally means "cross-bearer". Use of the term "crucifer" is most common in the Lutheran and Anglican churches, as well as in certain Catholic congregations.<ref name="Concordia2025">{{cite web |title=The Duties of Acolytes |url=https://blog.cph.org/worship/the-duties-of-acolytes |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |access-date=28 January 2025 |language=en-us}}</ref> In the [[Catholic Church]], the usual term is "cross-bearer", which is employed in certain Lutheran congregations as well.<ref name="ce">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04539a.htm Patrick Morrisroe, "Cross-Bearer" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1908)]</ref>

==Role by Christian denomination==
===Roman Catholic Church===
In the [[Latin Church|Latin]] [[Catholic Church]] the function of the crucifer/cross-bearer was generally carried out by a [[subdeacon]] until [[Pope Paul VI]] decreed in his ''[[motu proprio]]'' ''Ministeria quaedam'' of 15 August 1972 that "the major order of subdiaconate no longer exists in the Latin Church". In line with that document, the functions previously assigned to the subdeacon are now entrusted to the [[acolyte]] and the [[Reader (liturgy)|reader]].<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/p6minors.htm Pope Paul VI, ''Ministeria quaedam'']</ref>

A seventeenth-century Council of Milan stated that a crucifer should, when possible, be a cleric and that, if a lay person be selected, that "the most worthy of the laity should be selected for the office." For more solemn processions, the cleric should be vested in [[amice]], [[alb]], and [[tunic]]. On less solemn occasions he may just be vested in [[surplice]]. During the procession the staff is held with both hands such that the cross is well above the head. The cross-bearer leads the procession except when there is a [[Thurible|thurifer]] and is accompanied by two servers on the more solemn occasions.<ref name=ce/>
[[File:Brooklyn Museum - Double-Sided Processional Cross - Master of Monte del Lago.jpg|thumb|Brooklyn Museum – Double-Sided Processional Cross – Master of Monte del Lago]]

===Lutheran Churches===
In the [[Lutheran Church]]es, the crucifer is an [[acolyte]] who carries the processional cross.<ref name="Concordia2025"/> Torchbearers stand to the side of the crucifer.<ref name="Concordia2025"/> During the procession and the recession, the crucifer "holds the cross in an elevated and dignified manner".<ref>{{cite web |title=Crucifer Instructions |url=https://stlukeslutheran.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/crucifer-instructions.pdf |publisher=St. Luke's Lutheran Church |access-date=28 January 2025 |language=English}}</ref>

===Anglican Communion===
In the [[Anglican Communion]], the crucifer is an [[acolyte]] who carries the processional cross.<ref name="Armentrout1999"/>

==See also==
* [[Acolyte]]
* [[Altar cross]]
* [[Altar server]]
* [[Processional Cross]]
* [[Thurifer]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Lutheran Divine Service}}
{{CatholicMass|collapsed}}

[[Category:Christian worship roles]]
[[Category:Minor orders]]
[[Category:Ecclesiastical titles]]


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