Symbols · Emoji 1.0
☦️Orthodox Cross Emoji
Generally, the ☦️ emoji simply means “I’m Orthodox Christian.” It's used to identify with the Eastern Orthodox faith and its traditions.
The ☦️ emoji represents the Orthodox Cross.
- Unicode
- U+2626 U+FE0F
- Released
- 2015
- Shortcode
- :orthodox_
cross: - Skin tones
- No
01 — Meaning
What does the ☦️ Orthodox Cross emoji mean?
One character, many names — these are the wordings people actually type, all 4 of them.
02 — Platforms
Orthodox Cross emoji on iPhone, Android, WhatsApp and X
The character is always U+2626 — but every vendor draws it their own way. This is what your orthodox cross looks like to the person on the other side.
See the whole set the way each system draws it — iPhone emojis, Android emojis, WhatsApp emojis and Discord emojis.
03 — Copy & codes
Orthodox Cross emoji copy and paste
Tap any value to copy it. The emoji itself works everywhere, the escapes are for your code, and the shortcode Slack and Discord expect is :orthodox_cross:.
All emoji copy and paste →In your code
Escapes for the languages people actually paste this into. Every one of them produces the same character, and that character is U+2626.
04 — How to type
How to type the ☦️ Orthodox Cross emoji
Where the emoji key lives on each system — and the codes for when there is no picker at all.
05 — Download
Orthodox Cross emoji PNG and SVG
Transparent PNG and SVG for thumbnails, decks and design files — one file per vendor, which makes 9. Artwork belongs to whoever drew it, so check the licence before commercial use.
Emoji PNG library →
Apple
Google
Twitter / X
Facebook
Microsoft
06 — Combinations
Orthodox Cross emoji combinations
Ready-made combos built around orthodox cross for bios, captions and comments. Tap to copy.
All combinations →Want two emojis fused into one sticker instead of set side by side? Emoji Kitchen does that for every pair Google has drawn, and there are more ready-made pairs in emoji combinations and aesthetic emoji combos.
07 — In conversation
What ☦️ means from a girl or a guy
Same emoji, different intent depending on who sent it and what came before.
08 — Around the world
What ☦️ means in other countries
The Orthodox cross marks Eastern Orthodox Christianity specifically, distinct from the Latin cross in both shape and audience.
Used across Russia, Greece, and the Balkans for faith identity and holidays.
Also carries national and cultural weight beyond strictly religious use.
Occasionally used like the Latin cross to mark a death, though less common.
Before you send it: Use it for Orthodox faith or holiday context, not as a casual death marker outside that setting.
09 — Apps
What ☦️ means on TikTok, WhatsApp and Discord
One code point, several readings — where the orthodox cross lands changes how it is taken.
11 — Difference
☦️ vs ✝️ — what is the difference?
Two emojis that get mixed up constantly. They are different characters with different names.
Unicode name: Orthodox Cross
Code: U+2626 U+FE0F · added 2015
Shortcode: :orthodox_cross:
Generally, the ☦️ emoji simply means “I’m Orthodox Christian.”
Unicode name: Latin Cross
Code: U+271D U+FE0F · added 2014
Shortcode: :latin_cross:
Generally, the ✝️ emoji means religious faith, specifically Christian faith.
12 — History
Where the ☦️ Orthodox Cross emoji came from
It arrived with the 1.0 release of the standard, which dates the orthodox cross to 2015.
Orthodox Cross was approved as U+2626 U+FE0F and shipped in Emoji 1.0 (2015). Phones usually get new artwork about a year after approval, in a system update.
Every vendor keeps its own artwork, so ☦️ is redrawn by Apple, Google, Twitter / X, Facebook, OpenMoji, Samsung, Microsoft, WhatsApp, JoyPixels. The character you send never changes — only the picture does.
13 — FAQ