RARE ANTIQUE c. 15-16th CENTURY LARGE 2 1/4 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX SWORD-SHAPED CROSS
2 1/4 tall with solid bale; weight approx. 7.6 g Orthodox Cross pendant featuring an ancient sword-shaped design displaying an image of the three-bar Savior's Cross with the Crown of Thorns. A Cross shaped as a sword might refer to the preaching of Christ: "I came not to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34), and... Such a design of the Cross is characteristic of the Russian Orthodox crosses that appeared around 15th century.
It was suggested that crosses and crucifixes shaped as a sword became popular in the medieval Europe because of the Crusades. The Cross offered for sale appears to have been hand made from a historical heavy bronze or similar copper alloy of unknown composition.
Origin likely circa 15th - 16th century Russia (according to available catalogs describing similar findings; please see the last two pictures for a reference). The item shows significant signs of wear due to its old age and long devotional wearing, such as reduced quality of artwork, visible deformations of the original shape, scratches or. Discolorations, and patches of patina/oxidation.
Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of gentle manual cleaning and polishing. Some pictures taken under bright illumination could give an impression that the metal is silvery. But its real color shows yellow (brass-like) tone reflecting presence of copper in the metal alloy. The size and weight of the Cross are shown on the photographs for this listing.The obverse displays an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross which 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 bar is depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ's right hand side where the Penitent thief, St.
The Savior's Cross is depicted according to ancient tradition of Russian North with its top crossbeam attached on the top of the Cross. The Crown or a wreath on the Cross usually means that suffering or bearing the Cross of those who believe in Christ is ultimately rewarded by a crown of the eternal life in His Heavenly Kingdom. The top "boxed" end of the vertical crossbar incorporates an abbreviated inscription in.The left and right side "boxed" ends of the central horizontal crossbar of the pendant 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. The bottom pointed end has the Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") symbol made in a Cyrillic transliteration as "H? KA", an ancient symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross.
Parallel to the vertical crossbar, there are images of the two Instruments of the Passion which a. Re subjects to adoration along with the Cross, t. Of a Roman soldier and. The Holy Sponge attached to the end of a cane.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 are photographed with the item in order to provide a size reference.
There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage or antique objects that are quite old.