cross of lorraine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

They are very similar in form (both have two crossbars), but the Patriarchal Cross is primarily an ecclesiastical symbol used in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. The Cross of Lorraine is specifically tied to the region and Duchy of Lorraine and its later historical uses.

It was chosen to distinguish Free French forces from the Vichy French, who used the traditional single-barred cross. The Cross of Lorraine also evoked the historical figure of Joan of Arc, who was from Lorraine, symbolising national rebirth and resistance.

Yes. It appears on war memorials (e.g., the Charles de Gaulle Memorial in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises), on the flag of the region of Lorraine in France, and in various corporate logos and cultural references, such as in the movie 'The Da Vinci Code'.

Its origins are partly religious, as a variant of the Christian cross. However, its most prominent meaning in the 20th and 21st centuries is secular and political, representing French patriotism and resistance.

A heraldic cross with two crossbeams, the upper shorter than the lower, historically associated with the Duchy of Lorraine and later with the Free French Forces during World War II.

Cross of lorraine is usually formal, historical, academic in register.

Cross of lorraine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɒs əv lɒˈreɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɔs əv ləˈreɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.