The Cross of Christ

Saint Augustine said: I know three crosses: A cross that saves. It is the cross of Christ. A cross through which man is saved. It is the cross of the good thief, the one crucified at the right hand of Christ. I also know a third cross, which makes you perish for eternity. It is the cross of the thief crucified on the left side of Christ. These types of people, the two robbers, represent all of humanity. He takes the cross of the robber from the right, he takes the cross of Christ and is saved. The cross of the left-handed robber represents that portion of people who do not accept the cross of Christ and are lost. In general, however, we cannot avoid the cross in any way.

Fr. Dimitrios Staniloae (†)