Description: Vintage or antique solid sterling silver medium-sized but sturdy (approx. 1 1/2" tall with bale and jump ring; weight approx. 2.7 g) Orthodox Crucifix pendant featuring a wood texture design of the Savior's Cross with relief iconic depiction of the Crucified Savior incorporated into a "footed cross" shape of the pendant, and the traditional Orthodox "Protection" prayer on the reverse. The large soldered jump ring of the pendant bears two punch marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity. The pendant has visible vintage appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, scratches, dents, and patches of discoloration/patina. The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing.The pendant shape resembles images of an ancient "footed cross" (with arms narrow in the center and flared in a straight or curved line to become broader at the perimeter) that appear on a number of early Christian objects in Northern Europe, including the runestones displayed in the Gotlands Museum (Visby, Sweden). Such a design of the crosses became abundant during the Kyivan Rus period of Orthodox Christianity when Kyiv was a major station on the trade route called "From the Varangians to the Greeks" connecting Scandinavia, Baltic countries, Kyivan Rus and the Byzantine Empire.The obverse displays an image of the Crucifixion recreated according to the ancient Orthodox iconographic tradition. The Savior is depicted crucified on the three-bar Suppedaneum cross that is venerated as the True Savior's Cross in the Slavonic Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the "INRI" nameplate inscribed on this Cross with smaller Cyrillic letters as "INЦI", 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 wide end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows a larger Church Slavonic abbreviation meaning "King of Glory", a traditional part of the Orthodox title of Jesus inscribed on the Savior's Cross. The left and right side ends of the horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. The bottom end of the vertical crossbar shows Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") inscription made using a partial Cyrillic transliteration as "NИKA", an ancient symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross. The reverse bears an abbreviated inscription in Church Slavonic representing a longer form of the traditional Slavonic Orthodox "Protection" prayer meaning "Lord, Save and Protect". The prayer reminds us that Christ the Savior is with us to save and protect a person wearing the cross from every evil and all enemies visible and invisible. 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 measuring meter and electronic scale are not for sale, and might be photographed with the item in order to provide a size and weight 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: 39 USD
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
End Time: 2024-11-21T11:45:10.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Featured Refinements: Orthodox Crucifix pendant
Material: Sterling silver
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
