ANTIQUE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" CROSS \"JESUS PRAYER\" INLAID with ENAMEL
![ANTIQUE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \](img-large/g/~CsAAOSwYUBa2zIm/s-l1600/ANTIQUE-RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-OLD-BELIEVERS-CROSS-JESUS.jpg "ANTIQUE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \")
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ANTIQUE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" CROSS \"JESUS PRAYER\" INLAID with ENAMEL:
$59.00
Beautifully preserved antique authentic Russian Orthodox \"Old Believers\" Cross pendant with the text of Orthodox version of the \"Jesus Prayer\" on the reverse, and massive crown-shaped necklace loop. Cast from bronze or similar copper alloy inlaid with light-colored enamel, covered with original, uncleaned brown patina. The enamel appears to be originally blue colored; it is partially worn out and discolored, but largely preserved. Origin likely c. late 18th - 19th century Imperial Russia. The cross is slightly bent and worn out likely due to age and 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, 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 a four-letter abbreviation in Church Slavonic \"ЦС IХ\"which means \"KING OF GLORY JESUS CHRIST\".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 another four-letter abbreviation in Church Slavonic \"ГБ МЛ\"meaning \"LORD GOD\" and \"PLACE GOLGOTHA\".
A small symbolic image of the skull, or Adam\'s head, below the image of the Suppedaneum cross also refers to \"Place 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 bearsfilled with the text of the abbreviated prayer to the Lord Jesus according to the Russian Orthodox tradition in Church Slavonic meaning approx.: \"LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, BLESS, SANCTIFY AND PROTECT ME BY THE POWER OF YOUR LIFE-GIVING CROSS\". The Cyrillic letters of the words of the Prayer are very well preserved and identifiable.
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 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX \"OLD BELIEVERS\" CROSS \"JESUS PRAYER\" INLAID with ENAMEL:
$59.00