VINTAGE SOLID STERLING SILVER LARGER ORTHODOX ORNATE CRUCIFIX w/ PSALM 68 PRAYER

Description: Vintage or antique solid sterling silver larger and sturdy (approx. 1 9/16" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 3.2 g) Orthodox Cross pendant featuring a traditional Slavonic Orthodox ornate design with a relief image of the Crucified Savior over the skull (Adam’s head), and abbreviated Church Slavonic text of prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68 of David the King on the reverse. Both sides of the pendant are decorated with the sprouting vine motif, which could symbolize the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross, and also refer to another preaching of Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). The centerpiece is decorated with four clear gemstones that might have a symbolic meaning as the Four Evangelists around Christ Himself. The bottom part of the reverse bears two European-style punch silver hallmarks that were normally placed on high-grade solid silver (highlighted on a picture). The "sterling" purity has been confirmed using the silver acid test. The pendant has visual vintage or antique appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, small deformations of its original shape, scratches, dents, and patches of discoloration/dark patina. The size and weight of the pendant are shown on the photographs for this listing.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 end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows a 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. A symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head, buried below the Savior's 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 the Church held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. The reverse shows abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the beginning of the Orthodox prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68 beginning with "MAY GOD ARISE AND MAY HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED...". 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.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 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: 49 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-01-03T14:35:10.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD