ANTIQUE 18-19th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" LARGE CROSS PENDANT
![ANTIQUE 18-19th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \](img-large/g/aIEAAOSwT3haDuSt/s-l1600/ANTIQUE-18-19th-CENTURY-RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-OLD-BELIE.jpg "ANTIQUE 18-19th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \")
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ANTIQUE 18-19th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" LARGE CROSS PENDANT:
$49.00
Well preserved, antique authentic Eastern Orthodox (Russian Empire), or Eastern/Greek Catholic cross. A version of a larger \"Old Believers\" Orthodox Cross with a solid and massive necklace loop. Handmade, cast from bronze or similar brass-like copper alloy. Origin likely circa 18-19th century Imperial Russia. Slightly bent, scratched on the surface, and worn out (mostly on the reverse) as a result of devotional wearing as a pectoral, \"body\" cross, probably by several generations of Christians. Has original, dark patina from the past centuries. Authentic artifact from Europe. 100% sound, robust, and wearable.The obverse of the cross pendant bears aByzantine-like Suppedaneum cross. The Byzantine three-bar cross is used 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 crossbarincorporates the larger, two-word, abbreviated inscription meaning\"KING OF GLORY\" used in the Eastern Orthodox pectoral crosses as a nameplate in their top part.The side ends of the central horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the Greek Christogram, as the \"IC\" on the left, and the \"XC\" on the right.
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, or a stick. They are subjects to adoration along with the Cross, and are often depicted on the Byzantine-style \"Golgotha\" crosses worn as baptismal, body crosses for the entire life of a faithful Christian.
Just below the central horizontal crossbar, there is the \"NIKA\" inscription in Church Slavonic meaning \"VICTORY\" of Christ over sin and death.
A small, worn out image of the skull, or Adam\'s head, below the image of the Suppedaneum 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 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.
In the bottom end of the vertical crossbar, there is a four letter abbreviation in Cyrillic letters meaning \"THE CALVARY (Golgotha) BECAME PARADISE\", a symbol of the execution place becoming a place of the redemption and reclaiming of the lost paradise.
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 U.S. quarter coin 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 artifacts 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 buyers, please ask me for a shipping quote 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.
ANTIQUE 18-19th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" LARGE CROSS PENDANT:
$49.00