ANTIQUE c. LATE 1600s-1700s SILVER ORTHODOX \"SUN\" CROSS \"KEEPER OF ALL UNIVERSE\" For Sale

Antique medium- to larger sized and sturdy (approx. 1 11/16\"tall with solid bale; weight approx. 4.2 g) Orthodox Cross pendantfeaturing an 18th century Russian baroque-style ornate openworkdesign with rich symbolism of images, ornaments and texts. Theobverse bears an image of the three-bar Savior\'s Cross standing above the skull(Adam\'s head) with abbreviated Church Slavonic text of twoOrthodox hymns to the Holy Precious and Life-Giving Cross. Its centerpieceis surrounded with an ornamental circle making it similar to the ancient Sun orsolar cross symbol. In a Christian context, the \"Sun Cross\" designcould symbolically represent Jesus as \"the sun of righteousness\"(Malachi 4:2) and His preaching, \"I am the light of the world. Whoeverfollows me will never walk in darkness\" (John 8:12).

The Cross appears tohave been hand made from a historical billon-like silver alloy of unknownsilver purity. The reverse shows grinding marks from hand tools of the master maker.Origin likely circa late 17th – early 18th century Russia (according toavailable catalogs describing findings of similar design made in solid silver;please see the last picture for a reference). There are no visible silverhallmarks on the Cross, a characteristic feature of silver crosses produced inthis period. The absence of a numerical hallmark on silveritems produced within historical lands of the Russian Empire was common until early18th century when the standardized Imperial hallmarking became mandatory formaster makers using precious metals. Tsar Peter I\'s Decree (\"Silver AssayCharter\") established four standard grades of silver purity: 62, 84, 90and 96 \"zolotniki\" (ancient Russian weight measure).

The item showssignificant signs of wear consistent with its suggested age, such as reducedquality of artwork, visible deformations of the original shape, scratches orsuperficial cracks, and patches of partially cleaned patina and multi-coloredoxidation. It has been subjected to gentle manual cleaning and polishing. Themetal surface shows multiple tiny superficial holes representing dents orcorroded particles of metal (please see the photographs). The size and weight ofthe Cross are shown on the photographs for this listing.

The obverse bears an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross. Thethree-bar cross is venerated as the true Savior\'s Cross in the Eastern Orthodoxand some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontalcrossbeams: the top one represents the \"INRI\" nameplate, and thebottom one, a footrest. The footrest crossbeam is depicted pointing up, towardHeaven, on Christ\'s right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas wascrucified.

The Savior\'s Cross is marked with abbreviated inscriptions inChurch Slavonic incorporated into four \"boxes\" positioned in each ofthe four crossbar ends. The top \"boxed\" end of the verticalcrossbar has a two-word abbreviated inscription meaning \"King of Glory\",a traditional part of the Orthodox title of Jesus inscribed on the Savior\'sCross. The side “boxed” endsof the central horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus inscribed asthe \"IC XC\" Greek Christogram, the \"IC\" on the left,and the \"XC\" on the right.

The space within the central horizontal crossbar between the\"IC\" and \"XC\" boxed symbols of the Christogram is filledwith smaller, abbreviated Church Slavonic inscription meaning \"THE CROSSIS KEEPER OF ALL UNIVERSE…”, the beginning of the Orthodox hymn to the HolyPrecious and Life-Giving Cross: \"The Cross is Keeper of all universe, theCross is beauty of the Church, the Cross is regalia of tsars, the Cross is assertionof the faithful, the Cross is glory of Angels, the Cross is sore of demons\".

Another inscription could be found in the lower vertical cross armof the pendant positioned in the space next to the lower vertical arm of theSavior’s Cross. The Church Slavonic words \"КРЕСТУ ТВОЕМУ” are thebeginning of the Troparion (Orthodox hymn) to the Holy Cross: \"BeforeThy Holy Cross we bow down in worship, o Lord, and Thy Holy Resurrection weglorify\").

A symbolic image of the skull, or Adam\'s head shown buried belowthe Savior’s Cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the elevated site where Jesuswas crucified, which the Bible says means \"the place of the skull\" inHebrew. An ancient tradition of the Church held that it was also the burialplace of Adam, thus symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin anddeath.

In addition, the bottom “boxed” end of the vertical crossbar justbelow the skull image displays a worn-out inscription \"HIKA\", aCyrillic version of the ancient Greek \"NIKA\"(\"VICTORIOUS\"), another powerful symbol of Christ\'s ultimate victoryachieved through His death on the Cross.

There are four additional, diagonal crossbeams shapedas flower buds, superimposed on the circle surrounding the center of thecross. The diagonal crossbeams usually refer to the cross of Saint Andrewthe Apostle. Alternatively, the four flower buds on the vine could symbolizethe Four Evangelists. St. Andrew is considered the Founder and the firstBishop of the Christian Church of Byzantium, and is the patron saint of theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Saint Andrew is believed to havebeen crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, also known as\"Saltire\").

The reverse displays a worn-out text incorporated to “boxes”positioned in the crossbar ends in a way similar to the obverse. The textappears to be a continuation of the Hymn to the Holy Cross, the beginning ofwhich is inscribed on the obverse. The centerpiece displays adiamond shape also known as \"lozenge\", a characteristicfeature of ancient Russian Orthodox crosses. Lozenge ornaments appeared inEastern Europe as early as the Neolithic and Paleolithic period, and arebelieved to symbolize a sown field and fertility. Later, the lozengesymbol was used interchangeably with the symbol of the Cross, especiallyin early Byzantine art, and it has been very common in traditional dresspatterns of Slavic peoples.

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 and could be fragile. All items are sold \"as is\" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Will ship to the USA only.