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Throughout
time, the myth and the tale of the Vampire has wandered in and out of
our consciousness. Tales of the dead coming back. Strange unaccounted
for incidents of missing persons. Sudden unexplained illnesses or
sicknesses.
 The
Vampire is probably second only to Witchcraft in being blamed for all
the supernatural mysteries that have plagued the general populous. In
fact, there have been more than a few times when a witch was also
believed to BE a Vampire, which of course, only doubled the fear and
superstitious myth.
The
crucifix is a major symbol of the Christian faith. Whether it is
presented with or without the figure of Jesus suspended from it, it has
always been connected with the representation of "holiness"
and "Sacred," in the Judeo-Christian World.
In
almost all "classic" Vampire tales and movies, the crucifix is
seen as an important weapon or deterrent against the Vampire. In Bram
Stoker's "Dracula", Jonathan Harker is given a rosary by a
woman, when she learns of his intentions to travel to Castle Dracula. It
is later used as a weapon by Van Helsing in his battle with the Count.
It is from Stoker's novel that the power of the crucifix became a very
popular weapon against Vampires and their attack. The Vampire, being
seen as an "agent of Satan" was therefore immediately cowed
when confronted by the Holy Church's symbol of "righteousness"
and "good".
However,
while the crucifix, and other Christian symbols were being used as icons
of "Good vs. Evil," many other non-Roman Catholic and
Christian cultures challenged it, as for them, the Cross held no
significant meaning. Some modern authors, like Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and
Anne Rice, chose to incorporate the cross into their writings, and
attributing it with the symbolism of holiness, but stripped it of any
powers to combat the Vampire. Yarbro's vampire, St. Germaine began his
existence considerably before Christianity was born, and Rice's LeStat,
although born into a Christian family, was an atheist before being
transformed into a vampire. Therefore these two vampires did not
recognize nor feel any threat from the crucifix.
It
has become more of an understood acceptance, with modern vampire tale
writers, that for the Crucifix to hold any power, the Vampire, himself
must view it as a true symbol of a power opposite his own, but if
the vampire was not Christian, the cross would have little or no
negative affect upon him.
Be careful.... your neck is in danger
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