Description: Vintage solid sterling silver larger and sturdy (approx. 1 13/16" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 5.6 g) Crucifix pendant featuring a traditional Slavonic Orthodox plain and humble right-angled design with high-relief image of the Crucified Savior over the skull (Adam's head) and Church Slavonic text of prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68 of David the King on the reverse. The back surface of its large solid bale bears the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity. It has been confirmed using the silver acid test. The item has visual vintage appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, scratches, dents, and patches of discoloration/patina. The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing.The obverse displays an image of the Crucifixion recreated according to the ancient Orthodox iconographic tradition. The large cruciform halo around Christ’s Head is a symbol of the Uncreated Light (Greek: Ἄκτιστον Φῶς), or grace of God shining forth through the icon. Each of the bars of the cross incorporated into Christ's halo is one of the Greek letters Ο, Ω, Ν, making up ὁὢν meaning "the Existing One", thereby indicating the Divinity of Jesus. The Savior is depicted crucified on the three-bar Suppedaneum cross that is venerated as the True Savior's Cross in the Slavonic Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the "INRI" nameplate made in Cyrillic transliteration as "IНЦI" on this Cross, 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 shows a larger Church Slavonic abbreviation meaning "King of Glory", a traditional part of the Orthodox title of Jesus inscribed on the Savior's Cross. The left and right side ends of the horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. A symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head, buried in a cave below the Savior's Cross 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 the Church held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. The reverse shows abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the beginning of the Orthodox prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68 beginning with "MAY GOD ARISE AND MAY HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED...". This psalm-based prayer is traditionally inscribed on the reverse of the Old Believers' Orthodox body (Baptism) cross pendants, meaning to provide protection of the faithful cross-bearer against the evil spirits (God's enemies), and thereby is considered a version of the Exorcism prayer. The left and right ends of the horizontal crossbar show iconic images of six-winged Seraphs (Seraphim), the highest angelic beings with a fiery passion for doing God's works, symbolizing the Gates of Heaven opened by the Savior's Cross. The bottom end of the vertical crossbar is filled with a Celtic-style knotted lace ornament. 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 measuring meter and electronic scale are not for sale, and might be photographed with the item in order to provide a size and weight 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: 2025-02-04T14:49:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Material: Sterling silver
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
