ANTIQUE 16-18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" SMALLER ORNATE CROSS
![ANTIQUE 16-18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \](img-large/g/foEAAOSwBnZbJ400/s-l1600/ANTIQUE-16-18th-CENTURY-RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-OLD-BELIE.jpg "ANTIQUE 16-18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \")
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ANTIQUE 16-18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" SMALLER ORNATE CROSS:
$49.00
Rare, beautifully preserved, antique Orthodox \"Old Believers\" Cross featuring ornate \"budded\" design and words of an Orthodox prayer to the Holy Cross on the reverse. The cross appears to be handmade of bronze or similar copper alloy; covered with original, uncleaned beautiful green patina. The size of the pendant is shown on the photographs. Origin likely c. 16-18th century Imperial Russia. The cross is slightly deformed and worn out according to its age, and has few superficial scratches. The necklace loop is sound, in a well preserved shape. Authentic artifact of Orthodox Christianity, sound and wearable.The ends of the crossbars are \"budded\", with shapes of three circles, or \"buds\" each. In a Christian context, such a design could symbolically represent the Holy Trinity, similarly to the three-leaved clover, or Shamrock.
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.The footrest crossbeam is depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ\'s right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas was crucified.
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. Accordingly, the top end of the vertical crossbar just above the three-bar cross bears anabbreviated inscription meaning\"KING\".
A small image of the skull, or Adam\'s head, incorporated into a triangle 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.
The reverse bears a complex ornament filled with words of a heavily abbreviated Prayer, likely an Orthodox prayer before the Holy Crossin Church Slavonic meaning \"THE CROSS IS KEEPER OF ALL UNIVERSE...\".
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 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 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.
ANTIQUE 16-18th CENTURY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" SMALLER ORNATE CROSS:
$49.00