ANTIQUE c.18th CENT. OLD BELIEVERS ORTHODOX "SUN" CROSS "THE KEEPER OF UNIVERSE"

Description: Antique fine medium-sized (approx. 1-3/16" tall with solid bale) Orthodox Cross pendant featuring traditional "Old Believers" ornate design with the center of the pendant surrounded by ornamental openwork circle similar to a "Solar", or a "Sun" cross and image of the three-bar Savior's Cross over the skull (Adam's head) with abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the beginning of an Orthodox hymn to the Holy Cross. In a Christian context, the "Sun Cross" design could symbolically represent Jesus as "the sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2) and His preaching, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness" (John 8:12). The Cross appears to have been hand made from a historical metal alloy of unknown composition. Origin likely c.18th century Russia (based on similar items listed in available catalogs; please see the last two pictures for a reference). The item shows significant signs of wear consistent with its suggested age, such as reduced quality of artwork, visible deformations of the original shape, scratches or superficial cracks, dents, chipped off or corroded particles of metal, and patches of patina/oxidation. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of 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 incorporates a 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 inscribed as the ancient Greek Christogram IC XC in a Church Slavonic transliteration, the "ICЪ" on the left, and the "XCЪ" on the right.The space within the central horizontal crossbar between the "ICЪ" and "XCЪ" symbols of the Christogram is filled with smaller, abbreviated Church Slavonic inscription representing the beginning of the Prayer before the Holy Cross meaning "THE CROSS IS KEEPER OF ALL UNIVERSE; THE CROSS IS BEAUTY OF THE CHURCH; THE CROSS IS REGALIA OF TSARS; THE CROSS IS ASSERTION OF FAITHFUL; THE CROSS IS GLORY OF ANGELS; THE CROSS IS SORE OF DEMONS." 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. A symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head buried below the image of the three-bar 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.In addition, the bottom square end of the vertical crossbar just below the skull image displays inscription "HIKA", a Cyrillic version of the ancient Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS"), another powerful symbol of Christ's ultimate victory achieved through His death on the Cross.There are four additional, diagonal crossbeams superimposed on the circle surrounding the center of the cross. The ornamental, openwork circle makes it similar to a Celtic-style "Solar", or "Sun Cross". The diagonal crossbeams usually symbolize to the cross of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Alternatively, they might depict the rays of light coming from the glorious Holy Cross of the Savior. 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 Constantinople. Saint Andrew is believed to have been crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, also known as "Saltire"). The reverse displays a complex floral or vine ornaments symbolizing the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross, and also referring to the preaching of Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). The ornament has a larger rhomboid or "Lozenge"-like shape in the centerpiece. The lozenge ornaments appear as early as the Neolithic and Paleolithic period in Eastern Europe, and symbolize a sown field and female fertility. The ancient lozenge pattern often shows up in Diamond vault architecture, in traditional dress patterns of Slavic peoples, and in traditional Ukrainian embroidery. The lozenge pattern also appears extensively in Celtic art. 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 might be 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: 79 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-04-18T12:20:38.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD