VINTAGE STERLING SILVER LARGER ORTHODOX "SUN CROSS" CRUCIFIX with ST. NICHOLAS

Description: Vintage solid sterling silver larger (approx. 1 9/16" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 3.1 g) Crucifix pendant featuring a traditional Slavonic Orthodox ornate openwork design with the center of the Cross surrounded by ornamental openwork circle similar to a "Solar", or a "Sun" cross. In a Christian context, the "Sun Cross" design could symbolically represent Jesus as "the sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2) and His preaching, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness" (John 8:12). The obverse bears a relief iconic image of the Crucified Savior over the skull (Adam's head) with the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God) and Ever-Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist on the sides, whereas the top part displays the Holy Face of Jesus (icon "Not Made by Human Hand"). The reverse displays an icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The back surface of its large solid bale bears two punch marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity. It has been confirmed using the silver acid test. The item has visual vintage 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. 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 top part of the vertical crossbar above the Savior's Cross bears a smaller image of the Holy Face of Jesus ("Savior (Spas) Not Made by Human Hands"), which is considered to be the oldest known Christian icon, and also the oldest known portrait of Jesus. The space just below the icon bears the the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram.According to the Eastern Church tradition, Jesus made an imprint of His face by wiping it with a linen cloth, which was sent to King Abgar of Edessa to cure his leprosy. The image of the Holy Face of Christ on the cloth was preserved for centuries in Edessa as the most sacred treasure. In 944, the Byzantines brought it with a great veneration to Constantinople. It remained there until the capture of the city by the Crusaders in 1204, when it was lost. However, by that time, numerous copies of the image were painted as the Holy Icons, preserving the sacred image to this day. This icon is called in Greek "Achieropoietos", meaning "not made by human hands". In the Byzantine tradition, the image was sometimes called the Mandylion, meaning "small handkerchief". The left and right side crossbar ends show smaller icons of grieving Most Holy Mother of God and St. John the Evangelist showing the way to salvation by pointing hands at Jesus on the Cross. Their names are inscribed in abbreviated form next to the icons: the icon of Mary displays Greek abbreviation "MP ΘY" meaning "Mother of God", whereas the St. John's side has an abbreviated Church Slavonic inscription meaning "Saint John". The bottom end of the vertical crossbar has the Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") inscription made in a mixed Cyrillic transliteration as "NИKA", an ancient symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross. The power of sin and death defeated by Jesus is also visualized using a symbolic image of the skull, or Adam's head, buried in a cave below the Savior's Cross. The image refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the elevated site where Jesus was crucified, which the Bible says means "the place of the skull" in Hebrew. According to ancient tradition of the Church, it was also the burial place of the first man, Adam. The reverse bears an icon of Saint Nicholas (Slavonic: Nicolay or Nicola/Nikola), one of the most renowned and venerated Christian saints, and a 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra. The Saint is depicted as an Orthodox Bishop wearing the Omophorion (Bishop's vestments), holding the book of the Gospels in his left hand, and giving his blessing with his right hand. The top and side crossbar ends around the icon incorporate an abbreviated inscription in Church Slavonic meaning "St. Nicholas". Because of many miracles attributed to his intersession, this popular Saint is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. His legendary habit of secret gift giving gave rise to the traditional figure of Santa Claus. He is a patron saint of sailors, merchants, students, children, repentant thieves, and many countries and cities, including Greece, Russia, Moscow, Amsterdam, Liverpool, and others. 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: 59 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-11-11T05:18:13.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD