Byzantine Cross

The Russian cross, also called Byzantine cross, and also called the eight-pointed cross, the three-bar cross is an Orthodox Cross.

In the second century both St. Irinaeus of Lyon and St. Justin the philosopher explain that only when Christ was put upon the cross did the soldiers add the bottom bar, because before that they did not know where His feet would reach to

Only when Christ turned to speak to the thief on the right-hand side did His left foot put pressure on the bottom bar and turn it up towards the right. The half moon beneath the cross is also Biblical and is taken directly from Rev. 12,1. It is found at least as early as 1461.