RARE ANTIQUE LARGE and MASSIVE ~11g SOLID SILVER \"OLD BELIEVERS\" ORTHODOX CROSS For Sale

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RARE ANTIQUE LARGE and MASSIVE ~11g SOLID SILVER \"OLD BELIEVERS\" ORTHODOX CROSS:
$229.00

Antique large and massive (approx. 2-1/8\" tall with solid bale; weight approx.11g) Orthodox Cross pendantfeaturingan 18th century Russian \"Old Believers\" ornate design with image of the three-bar Savior\'s Cross withthe \"Tsata\", anancient Byzantine symbol of Christ as both the King and High Priest, in thecenter,and abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the beginning of aTroparion (Orthodox hymn) tothe Holy Cross.The crossbar ends are shaped as simplified fleur-de-lis, or \"krinos\" (from Greek \"κρίνος\")in the Orthodox tradition, resembling the lily flowers, symbols of purity and the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.Such a design, together with floral vine-like ornament filling the crossbar ends couldbe apowerful symbol of the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross, and alsorefer to the preaching of Christ: \"I am the vine; you are thebranches\" (John 15:5).The Crossappears to have been hand made from a historical solid silver alloy.There are no visible silver hallmarks on the Cross, but it was acid-tested positive for high-grade, solid silver approximately corresponding to the old Russian \"84\" - \"90\" hallmarks (.875 to \"Sterling\" silver purity).Crosses of similar design are dated circa late 17th - early 18th century Russia (according to available catalogsdescribing similar findings; please see the last picture for a reference). Theitem shows significant signs of wear due to its old age and devotional wearing,such as reduced quality of artwork, deformations of theoriginal shape, scratches, dents and patches ofpatina/oxidation. The back side of the necklace bale shows signs of a successful professional repair that occurred at some point of the item\'s past history. Thesize and weight of the Cross are shown on the photographs for this listing.

The absence of ahallmark on Russian Imperial silver jewelry was not unusual until early 18thcentury when Russian standardized hallmarking became mandatory for mastermakers using precious metals. Tsar Peter I\'s Decree (\"Silver AssayCharter\") established four standard grades of silver purity: 62, 84, 90and 96 \"zolotniki\" (ancient Russian weight measure).

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 positioned horizontally at the bottom, which is often associated with earlier, possibly late Medieval, origin of the image (later, the footrest bar has been traditionally depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ\'s right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas was crucified).

The Savior\'s Cross is marked with abbreviated inscriptions in Church Slavonic incorporated into four \"boxes\" shaped as coronets positioned in each of the four crossbar ends.The top \"boxed\" end of the vertical crossbar has aCyrillic abbreviationmeaning \"KING OF GLORY\", a traditional title used in the Eastern Orthodox pectoral crossesas a nameplate in their top part.The \"boxed\" left and rightside ends of the central horizontal crossbar of the pendant bear the SacredName of Jesus Christ inscribed as the \"IC XC\" Greek Christogram in the Church Slavonic transliteration, the \"ICЪ\" onthe 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 abbreviated Church Slavonic inscription representing the beginning of theTroparion tothe Holy Crossmeaning\"BEFORE THY CROSS WE BOW DOWN IN WORSHIP, O LORD, AND THY HOLY RESURRECTION WE GLORIFY\".

The box in the bottom square end of the vertical crossbar just below the Savior\'s Cross displays inscription \"HIKA\", a Cyrillic version of the ancient Greek\"NIKA\" (\"VICTORIOUS\"), a powerful symbol of Christ\'s victory over sin and death.

There are four additional, diagonal crossbeams superimposed on the center of the Cross. The diagonal crossbeams usually symbolize 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\").

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 Global Shipping Program. International buyers, please familiarize yourself with the Global Shipping Program through the \"Help\" section and 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.

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