The upside down cross, often referred to as the St Peter Cross, is a symbol with deep historical and religious significance, particularly within Christianity. It is intrinsically linked to the martyrdom of St. Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s apostles and the first Pope. Tradition recounts that when St. Peter was sentenced to crucifixion, he requested to be crucified upside down. This request stemmed from his profound humility; he felt unworthy to be executed in the same manner as Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, this powerful symbol of humility and sacrifice has been misinterpreted by some groups. Certain anti-Catholic factions mistakenly claim the inverted cross, prominently featured in Papal symbolism, as a satanic emblem, falsely associating the Pope with the Antichrist and devil worship. This interpretation is a gross misrepresentation of Christian history and the true meaning behind the St Peter Cross.
To understand the authentic significance of this symbol, we must delve into the biblical and historical context surrounding St. Peter’s death and the early Church’s understanding of his martyrdom.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus alludes to the manner of Peter’s death, saying:
“Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:18-19 NIV)
The phrase “stretch out your hands” in ancient Christian writings and traditions was widely understood as a direct reference to crucifixion. Jesus’ command, “Follow me,” further underscores Peter’s ultimate imitation of Christ, even unto death on a cross, mirroring Christ’s obedience “to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). As the appointed chief shepherd of Christ’s flock, Peter was destined to follow the Good Shepherd in all aspects, including the manner of his ultimate sacrifice. By the time the Gospel of John was written, Peter’s martyrdom was a well-established event, familiar to the Gospel’s intended audience.
The historical accounts of St. Peter’s upside-down crucifixion are not limited to scripture. Early Christian writers, who lived closer to the time of Peter and the apostles, consistently documented this event. These include highly regarded figures such as Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea, St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Irenaeus, and Tertullian. Their writings provide a strong historical basis for the tradition of Peter’s martyrdom.
Tertullian, writing around A.D. 200 in De Præscriptione 36, stated:
“If you are near Italy, you have Rome, where authority is readily available. How fortunate is that church, on which apostles poured out their whole doctrine along with their blood, where Peter had a passion like the Lord’s, where Paul was crowned with the death of John [the Baptist].”
Again, in Scorpiace 15 (c. A.D. 204), Tertullian reiterates the account of Peter’s crucifixion:
“And if you wish to rely upon the public records, the archives of the empire will speak, as would the stones of Jerusalem. We read the lives of the Caesars: Nero was the first who stained with blood the Christian faith in Rome. It was then that Peter was girded by another, when he was fastened to the cross. It was then that Paul obtained a birth suited to Roman citizenship, when in Rome he was born again, ennobled by martyrdom.”
Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastical History (c. A.D. 325), further corroborates this historical detail:
“Peter seems to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion. Finally, coming to Rome, he was crucified head downwards; for he had requested that he might suffer in this form. … Origen says in the third book of his Commentaries on Genesis, that Peter was crucified with his head downwards at his own request.
Thus publicly announcing himself as the chief enemy of God, [Nero] was led on to the slaughter of the apostles. Paul is, therefore, said to have been beheaded at Rome itself, and Peter to have been crucified likewise. And this account of Peter and Paul is further corroborated by the fact that their burial-places are named in that city even to the present day.” (II.25.5).
Based on these historical accounts and the tradition of St. Peter’s humble request, the Church adopted the upside down cross – specifically without the corpus of Christ, distinguishing it from a crucifix – as a symbol representing St. Peter himself, not Christ. The Pope, as the successor to St. Peter, utilizes the St Peter Cross as a potent symbol of St. Peter’s humility and courageous martyrdom. It serves as a constant reminder of the foundational apostle’s selfless sacrifice.
It is crucial to distinguish the St Peter Cross from an inverted crucifix, which is sometimes employed as a symbol of anti-Christian sentiment or Satanism. The St Peter Cross, in its proper context, is devoid of any satanic meaning. It is a symbol of humility, martyrdom, and the legacy of St. Peter, a cornerstone of the Christian faith. Understanding its true origin and purpose allows us to appreciate its profound religious significance and dismiss any misinformed interpretations.
