ANTIQUE X-LARGE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX EASTERN CATHOLIC CROSS PENDANT 17-18th CENTURY

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ANTIQUE X-LARGE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX EASTERN CATHOLIC CROSS PENDANT 17-18th CENTURY:
$89.00

Gorgeous, ancient, authentic extra large Eastern Orthodox (Russian Empire or Poland or Ukraine), or Eastern/Greek Catholic cross. Handmade from bronze or similar type of brass-like metal alloy (cast, soldered and struck by hand of a master coppersmith). Has a unique, dark brown- to black patina with smaller patches of green color. The cross is mildly worn out on its surfaces, likely due to devotional wearing by several generations of Christians, but is very sound and robust structurally. Could have been worn as a pectoral \"body\" cross by a layman, a deacon or a priest. Exact origin unknown, could be an artifact from 17th -18th century of Imperial Russia.
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. There is a small image of a skull, or Adam\'s head buried below the three-bar cross.
The ends of the crossbars are made in the shapes of little hearts, or domes resembling the domes of a Byzantine church.
The side \"domes\" of the cross bears the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the Greek Christogram, as the \"IC\" on the left, and the \"XC\" on the right. The letters are worn out and barely visible on this cross.
There are four additional, diagonal crossbeams, or \"droplets\", superimposed on the circle surrounding the center of the cross.
The circle around the centerpiece makes the style of this cross close to the Celtic or Northern Europian \"Sun\" or \"Solar\" cross.
The diagonal bars usually symbolize the cross of Saint Andrew the Apostle. St. Andrew is considered the Founder and the first Bishop of the Christian Church of Byzantium, and is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopole. Saint Andrew is believed to have been crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross).
The reverse of the cross bears rich elements of a floral ornamental design, with a large flower resembling a Solar Celtic design in the middle.
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.