History and Symbolism behind the Crosier

A crosier, also known as a Bishop staff, is a ceremonial decorated staff that is carried by high-ranking members of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and other Orthodox churches. In Western Churches, the staff resembles a shepherd’s crook that has hooks for fastening an animal. The historical background of its origins is not well known but some compare it to the Staff of Moses. The Western Church references the use of a staff to Christ as the Good Shephard. It is usually bestowed onto Bishops at the time of their consecration.  The most well known crosier is the papal ferula which is the pastoral staff carried by the Pope. This crosier differs quite a bit from the traditional staffs that Bishops use. This staff contains a single cross at the top and has been used since Pope Paul VI.

Intricate design and style of the pastoral staff

The Bishop staff is symbolic of how shepherds lead their flock, or in this case is a reminder that the bishop leads his procession during the Gospel. The crosier can be made of either metal or wood. They are either gold or silver plated and can be adorned with precious stones. The crosier carried by the Bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Churches differ in design from their Western counterpart. The Western crosier is usually curved or hooked at the top. The Eastern Orthodox one is commonly tau-shaped. The top is usually curved down with a small cross at the center.  Another more intricate design is one where a pair of sculpted serpents face each other with a small cross surmounted at the center of the serpent heads.

Where you can get a handmade crosier

With the advance of online ecommerce platforms, it is possible for you to find a Bishop staff for sale. Some online vendors work with very talented craftsmen that source and make these staffs with high-quality materials. To give a more stylized finish to the staff, the top ornament is made of brass and gold plated. Some are delicately hand painted and a religious symbol is welded onto the top to give a smooth finish. The rich symbolism behind the staff plays an important role in the creation of the crosier. Reputed church goods suppliers understand this and deliver stylized staffs to bishops so that they may lead their followers through mass.