RARE ANTIQUE 18 - 19th CENTURY LARGE " OLD BELIEVERS " ORTHODOX " SUN " CROSS PSALM 51
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4419901 | Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown |
| Featured Refinements: Antique Orthodox Cross | Material: Bronze or similar copper alloy |
| Type: Pendant |
Gorgeous, beautifully preserved rare large version (over 2" long) of antique Orthodox Cross pendant featuring traditional ornate "Old Believers" design with the center of the cross surrounded by openwork circle similar to a "Sun", or a Celtic cross, the three-bar Orthodox Cross over the skull (Adam's head), and words of prayer in Church Slavonic that appears to be the "Repentant" Psalm 51 (50 in the Orthodox Bible) of David the King inscribed on the reverse. Cast from bronze ...or similar copper alloy. The Cross is slightly bent and mildly worn off as a result of devotional wearing, has few small dents and superficial scratches, and covered with patches of rare multi-colored (mostly gray) patina. The inside of the solid necklace bale shows signs of wear consistent with decades-long continuous wearing. Origin likely c. 18-19th century Imperial Russia. The size of the Cross is shown on the photographs for this listing. Authentic antique symbol of Orthodox Christianity.
The obverse of the cross pendant bears an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross venerated 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 bears 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 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. 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.
Just below the central horizontal crossbar, there is the "NIKA" inscription in Church Slavonic (as "NI" on the left and "KA" on the right side) meaning the "VICTORY" of Christ over sin and death.
A small, symbolic image of the skull buried below the Savior's cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the hill, or 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.
Just below the skull image, there is a a four-letter Cyrillic abbreviation "MLRB" meaning "THE PLACE OF THE SKULL BECAME PARADISE", a symbol of the execution place becoming a place of the redemption and reclaiming of the lost paradise.
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 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 Constantinople. Saint Andrew is believed to have been crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "Saltire").
The reverse bears text of a prayer that appears to be a fragment of the "Repentant" Psalm of David (Psalm 51, or 50 of the Russian Orthodox Bible) in Church Slavonic meaning "HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVING KINDNESS...". The Psalm often serves as a prayer request for God's cleansing and pardon, as "a Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba".
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, decorative stone 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 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 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.
The obverse of the cross pendant bears an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross venerated 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 bears 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 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. 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.
Just below the central horizontal crossbar, there is the "NIKA" inscription in Church Slavonic (as "NI" on the left and "KA" on the right side) meaning the "VICTORY" of Christ over sin and death.
A small, symbolic image of the skull buried below the Savior's cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the hill, or 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.
Just below the skull image, there is a a four-letter Cyrillic abbreviation "MLRB" meaning "THE PLACE OF THE SKULL BECAME PARADISE", a symbol of the execution place becoming a place of the redemption and reclaiming of the lost paradise.
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 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 Constantinople. Saint Andrew is believed to have been crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "Saltire").
The reverse bears text of a prayer that appears to be a fragment of the "Repentant" Psalm of David (Psalm 51, or 50 of the Russian Orthodox Bible) in Church Slavonic meaning "HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVING KINDNESS...". The Psalm often serves as a prayer request for God's cleansing and pardon, as "a Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba".
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, decorative stone 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 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 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.
