Companion Orthodox Cross Granite Headstone

The Companion Orthodox Cross Granite Headstone is a wide double-panel upright memorial designed to honor two loved ones, featuring an intricate Orthodox cross and graceful engraved tree branches. The Orthodox cross — also called the Russian cross, Eastern cross, or Byzantine cross — has three horizontal crossbars: the top shorter bar represents the titulus (title board, INRI), the main middle bar where Christ's hands were nailed, and the lower diagonal bar (suppedaneum or footrest), angled so that the left end (from Christ's perspective) rises and the right descends, echoing the theological tradition that the Good Thief crucified at Christ's right rose to paradise while the unrepentant thief at His left descended. The abbreviation IC XC NIKA (Ιησούς Χριστός Νικᾷ — Jesus Christ conquers) often appears on the cross arms and is appropriate for inscription on this memorial. The design is central to Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Coptic, and Melkite Catholic traditions.

The headstone's large polished inscription area is framed by a natural rock-pitched top that gives an artisan-stone character, with the Orthodox cross as the focal carving. The companion format accommodates two full names, two complete date spans, a shared epitaph, and individual memorial messages for each person — making it ideal for a married couple, two siblings, or any two people who shared a bond in life. Orthodox epitaph examples include "Вечная память" (Vechanaya pamyat — Eternal memory, sung at Orthodox funerals), "Со святыми упокой" (So svyatymi upokoi — Grant rest with the saints), "Requiescat in pace" in the Coptic tradition, and "Ἡ ψυχή σου ἐν ἀγαθοῖς αὐλισθήσεται" (May your soul dwell in goodness — Psalm 25:13, LXX).

The wide companion format (typically 36–48 inches) fits double-wide cemetery plots. Our cemetery coordination team verifies allowable companion-marker dimensions, confirms base-slab and setting-bed requirements for your specific cemetery, and handles installation scheduling.

Available in seven granite colors: Galaxy Black, Indian Black, Grey, Bahama Blue, Bahama Blue Light, Indian Red, and Paradiso Old. Galaxy Black and Indian Black give the best contrast for the intricate cross carving and Cyrillic or Greek lettering.

Every order includes a free 3D design proof with unlimited revisions. Memory Headstones has crafted granite memorials since 1960.