The life of a Christian is a long and difficult path of spiritual growth, and the sacrament of Baptism becomes the first step on this path. In the modern world, many people are baptized in infancy, and parents have to solve a number of issues, including how to choose a body cross for the child.
In many families, before baptizing a child, they argue about what the godmother should buy and what the parents should buy, who should buy the cross, and who should buy the shirt. The church has not established any rules in this regard, and folk traditions vary from city to city and even from village to village. Who exactly will buy a body cross does not matter, as well as where it will be purchased. Buying a cross in a church shop has only one advantage over purchasing it in a jewelry store: if you buy a cross in a church shop, you don’t have to consecrate it - there they are sold already consecrated.
If the family holds a pectoral cross belonging to a grandfather or other deceased relative, it is quite possible to give it to the child. There is no need to be afraid that the child will “inherit” the fate of the deceased - such fears are among the superstitions that the Christian should not pay attention to.
Orthodox cross
The main requirement for a pectoral cross during baptism in Orthodoxy is the conformity of the Orthodox tradition. Contrary to popular belief, the Orthodox cross does not have to be eight-pointed; the Church recognizes both six-pointed and four-pointed crosses. The image of the crucifixion may be present or absent - the cross without the crucifixion also cannot be considered "Catholic".
The main difference between the Catholic pectoral cross and the Orthodox cross is the extremely naturalistic depiction of the crucifix: a sagging body, crossed legs, nailed with one nail. Such a cross is really not suitable for baptism in the Orthodox faith. If you still have doubts, it is most reliable to buy a cross in a church shop at an Orthodox church - they don’t sell Catholic crosses there.
