Description: Vintage or antique solid sterling silver small- to medium-sized but fine detailed (approx. 1 1/16" tall with bale and jump ring; weight approx. 1 g) Crucifix pendant featuring ornate Slavonic Orthodox design with iconic image of the Crucified Savior over the skull (Adam's head) and the traditional Orthodox "Protection" prayer on the reverse. The pendant displays floral or vine ornament that might symbolize the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross, and also refer to the preaching of Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). The large soldered jump ring of the pendant bears two punch marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity. The pendant has vintage or antique appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, scratches, dents, and patches of discoloration/patina. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of gentle cleaning and polishing. The size and weight of the item 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, 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 nameplate placed on the Savior's Cross just above the head of Jesus shows the "INRI" abbreviation made in Cyrillic transliteration as "IНЦI". In addition, the top end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows a larger Church Slavonic monogram "ЦC" meaning "King of Glory", a traditional part of the Orthodox title of Jesus inscribed on the Savior's Cross. The left and right wider ends of the horizontal crossbar bear Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. The bottom, ornate end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows a symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head, buried in a cave below the Savior's Cross. It refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the elevated site where Jesus was crucified, which the Bible says means "the place of the skull" in Hebrew. The skull is marked with two Cyrillic letters, "Г" and "A" next to it, an abbreviation meaning "Head of Adam". 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 bears an inscription of the traditional Slavonic Orthodox prayer meaning "Save and Protect" incorporated into the horizontal crossbar, whereas the vertical crossbar is filled with an exquisite floral ornament. The prayer reminds us that Christ the Savior is with us to save and protect a person wearing the cross from every evil and all enemies visible and invisible. 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 measuring meter and electronic scale are not for sale, and might be photographed with the item in order to provide a size and weight 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: 39 USD
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
End Time: 2024-02-03T15:10:17.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Material: Sterling silver
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
