For Christians, the pectoral cross is not just a decoration, it is an external sign of the Christian faith, a symbol of the “cross" that a person undertakes to accept from God and bear his whole life courageously and meekly. Such a sacred object evokes a special attitude as a gift.
There are many folk signs regarding the giving of pectoral crosses. For example, it is believed that a pectoral cross can be presented only when the sacrament of Baptism is performed, and in any other circumstances, the person who presented the cross “will give his fate”, and this can make him unhappy and the one who accepted the gift. They say that if a person who has presented a cross gets seriously ill or some other misfortune happens to him, something bad will happen to someone who wears a gifted cross. Finally, there is a belief that by giving the cross, some people get rid of "corruption and the evil eye."
Church Position
The Orthodox Church does not accept any signs and superstitions, including those relating to pectoral crosses. All ideas about “spoilage”, “evil eye”, “transfer of fate” are absurd from the point of view of a Christian: God manages the fate of a person, and the sacred symbol cannot carry any “negative energy”, the existence of which, moreover, does not proven.
For a Christian, a pectoral cross donated by someone is not a source of mythical danger, but a precious gift full of deep spiritual meaning connected with the wish of God's blessing. A pectoral cross consecrated in some holy place will be a particularly valuable gift. To accept such a precious gift, of course, is possible and necessary.
If the person who received the cross as a gift already has a body cross, he can wear both crosses at a time, alternately or keep one of them next to the icons, and the other can be worn - neither of these options is forbidden by the church.
A delicate situation occurs only if the Orthodox Christian receives a Catholic cross as a present. You need to accept the gift, because it is dictated by love, but you should not wear such a cross.
