Antique Byzantine Catholic Russian Orthodox large Cross Tsata Golgotha patina

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Antique Byzantine Catholic Russian Orthodox large Cross Tsata Golgotha patina:
$49.00

Ancient, authentic Eastern Orthodox (Russian Empire or Poland or Ukraine), or Eastern/Greek Catholic cross. Cast from bronze or similar type of brass-like copper alloy. Covered with beautiful gray- to green patina from the past centuries. The cross is slightly deformed (bent), and mildly worn out, likely due to devotional wearing by several generations of Christians. Could have been worn as a pectoral \"body\", or baptism cross by a layman, a deacon or a priest. Exact age unknown, could have been an artifact from c. late-1700s to mid1800s.
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.
In the center of the cross, there is a crescent, or half-moon symbol known as \"Tsata\". It is a traditional, ancient Byzantine symbol of Christ as both the King and the High Priest.
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 upper end of the vertical crossbarusually incorporates an abbreviated inscription meaning\"King of Glory\" used in the Eastern Orthodox pectoral crosses as a nameplate. The letters are worn out and barely identifiable on this cross.
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. The \"XC\" part is preserved better than the other side.
A tiny 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 symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.
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 or an artistic background.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.