RARE ANTIQUE c.18th CENTURY ORTHODOX OLD BELIEVERS CROSS with JESUS PRAYER TEXT

Description: Rare antique medium-sized (approx. 1 3/8" tall with solid bale) Orthodox Cross pendant featuring an 18th century Russian "Old Believers" plain and humble right-angled design with image of the three-bar Savior's Cross with the Instruments of the Passion over the skull (Adam's head), and words of an Orthodox prayer to Jesus in abbreviated Church Slavonic inscribed on the reverse. The Cross appears to have been hand made from bronze or similar historical copper alloy of unknown composition. Origin likely c.18th century Russia (according to the available publications describing similar findings; please see the last picture for a reference). The item shows significant signs of wear consistent with its old age and devotional wearing, such as reduced quality of artwork, visible deformations of the original shape, scratches or cracks, dents and patches of patina/oxidation. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of gentle cleaning and polishing. Some pictures taken under bright illumination could give an impression that the metal is silvery, but its real color shows some yellow (brass-like) tone reflecting presence of copper in the metal alloy. The size of the Cross is shown on the photographs for this listing. The obverse bears an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross. The three-bar cross is venerated as the true Savior's Cross in the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the "INRI" nameplate, and the bottom one, a footrest. The footrest crossbeam is depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ's right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas was crucified.The top end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant bears a monogram or abbreviation in Church Slavonic "ЦС I.X." meaning "King of Glory Jesus Christ". The Kingship of Jesus is also symbolized by the shape of the necklace bale resembling the shape of a Byzantine-style crown. The left and right side ends of the horizontal crossbar bear two additional Church Slavonic monograms, "ГБ" (top line) and "МЛ" (bottom line) meaning "Golgotha was Place of the Skull". These monograms are related to a symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head, buried below the Savior's Cross. It refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the elevated site where Jesus was crucified, which the Bible says means "the Place of the Skull" in Hebrew. An ancient tradition of Catholic and Orthodox Churches held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.Parallel to the vertical crossbar, there are images of the two Instruments of the Passion (Arms of Christ, Arma Christi), the Holy Lance (spear) of a Roman soldier, and the Holy Sponge attached to the end of a cane. They are subjects to adoration along with the Cross, and are often depicted on the Byzantine-style "Golgotha" crosses worn as baptism body crosses for the entire life of a faithful Christian.The reverse is filled with abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the prayer to Lord Jesus according to the Russian Orthodox tradition translating as: "LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, BLESS, SANCTIFY AND PROTECT ME BY THE POWER OF YOUR LIFE-GIVING CROSS".Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item's description. The decorative stone and measuring meter are not for sale, and are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference. Please ask all questions before making a purchase. There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage or antique objects that are quite old. All items are sold "as is" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US. International shipping is handled by Ebay. International buyers, please ask your shipping questions, if any, prior to buying. Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer's responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer's country are paid and satisfied in full.

Price: 59 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-09-22T00:29:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD