Conciliation cross

A conciliation cross was a stone cross, which was set up in place where a murder or accident had happened. These memorial crosses are mostly located in central and western Europe.

In medieval times, conciliation crosses were sometimes handmade by the murderer as a symbol of conciliation with the family of his victim. Conciliation crosses were also located in places where some accident, disaster or epidemic had happened.

In the Czech Republic, much evidence of Czech conciliation crosses is located in the town of Aš. The number of documented Czech crosses is more than 2300.

• Smírčí kříž u silnice z Růžové do Nové Olešky.jpg

  Conciliation cross close to Růžová (Děčín District), Czech Republic.

• Kleinrettbach-Grabsleber-Kreuz-2.jpg

  Conciliation cross close to Kleinrettbach, Germany.

• Стерженский.jpg

  Conciliation cross close to Tver, Russia.

• Krzyż pokutny kijowice.JPG

  Conciliation cross close to Kijowice, Poland.

See also

• Wayside shrine