ANTIQUE LARGE \"OLD BELIEVERS\" RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"SKULL\" CROSS PSALM 68 \"EXORCISM\"
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ANTIQUE LARGE \"OLD BELIEVERS\" RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"SKULL\" CROSS PSALM 68 \"EXORCISM\":
$69.00
Gorgeous, larger \"male\" version of an authentic Russian Orthodox \"Old Believers\" Cross pendant featuring massive, crown-shaped necklace loop and well preserved text of a traditional Orthodox Prayer based on the Psalm 68 of David on the reverse. Beautifully preserved, antique condition. Cast from bronze or similar brass-like copper alloy, covered with brown patina. Imperial Russian origin c. late 18th - 19th century. Authentic artifact from Europe, 100% sound, robust, and wearable. Lightly worn out likely due to devotional wearing. Could have been worn as a traditional Orthodox \"body\" (worn below all garments and underwear) pectoral Baptism cross.
The obverse of the cross pendant bears aByzantine-like Suppedaneum cross, surrounded with the Instruments of the Passion of Christ, such as the Holy Lance (spear) and the Holy Sponge attached to the end of a cane, elements of the vine, several inscriptions made with Cyrillic letters, and a tiny image of the skull, or the Adam\'s head buried below the cross. The Byzantine three-bar cross is used in the 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 Holy Lance and the Holy Sponge are the subjects of adoration together with the Cross, and therefore, are always depicted on the Russian Old Believers\' Baptism or body crosses, creating an image of Calvary (Golgotha) with the three-bar cross and Adam\'s head.
In such a cross\' depiction, the \"INRI\" inscription made by Pontius Pilate, is considered blasphemous, and is never used as the nameplate. Instead, the top end of the cross pendant bears an abbreviation in Church Slavonic which means \"KING OF GLORY\".The Kingship of Jesus is also symbolized by the shape of the necklace loop resembling the shape of a Byzantine-style crown.
The side ends of the central horizontal crossbar bear inscriptions in Church Slavonic meaning \"JESUS CHRIST (IC XC)SON OF GOD\". Just above the lower, \"footrest\" crossbar, there is ancient Greek symbol \"NIKA\" pointing to the Christ\'s victory over the Devil, sin and death.
An image of the skull, or Adam\'s head, 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 also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.
The reverse of the cross bears an abbreviated version of Psalm 68 in Church Slavonic meaning\"MAY GOD ARISE AND MAY HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED...\". The words of the prayer are well preserved and identifiable. This psalm-based prayer is traditionally inscribed on the reverse of the Old Believers\' Orthodox body (Baptism) cross pendants, meaning to provide protection of the faithful cross-bearer against the evil spirits (God\'s enemies), and thereby is considered a version of the Exorcism prayer.Also, the exorcism is still a part of Catholic doctrine and liturgy. There is the great exorcism of Pope Leo XIII (Invocation of the Archangel Michael, exorcism, Psalm 68/67, exorcism, prayer). The completion of the Great Exorcism is reserved to a priest and requires special permission from the bishop. The rite is regulated in the newly revised part of the Roman Ritual De exorcismis et supplicationibus quibusdam of 1999.
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 a measuring meter are not for sale, and are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference, and artistic background.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 LARGE \"OLD BELIEVERS\" RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"SKULL\" CROSS PSALM 68 \"EXORCISM\":
$69.00