ANTIQUE c.18th CENTURY LARGE ORTHODOX "OLD BELIEVERS" CROSS with PSALM 68 PRAYER

Antique large (approx. 1 13/16" tall with solid bale) Orthodox Cross pendant featuring an 18th century Russian "Old Believers" plain and humble right-angled design with image of the three-bar Savior's Cross with the Instruments of the Passion over the skull (Adam's head),  and  Church Slavonic text of prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68  of David the King on the reverse.  The Cross appears to have been hand made from a historical copper alloy of unknown composition .   Origin likely circa 18th 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, cracks, scratches, dents and patches of patina/oxidation. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of cleaning and polishing.  Some pictures taken under bright illumination could give an impression that the metal is silvery,  but its real color shows some yellow (brass-like) tone reflecting presence of copper in the metal alloy.  The size of the Cross is shown on the photographs for this listing.

The obverse bears an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross. The three-bar cross is venerated as the true Savior's Cross in the Eastern 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 end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant bears an abbreviated inscription in Church Slavonic meaning "KING OF GLORY".  The side ends of the central horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the Greek Christogram, as the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. The space just below the central horizontal crossbar of the Savior's Cross shows the ancient Greek "NIKA" inscription meaning "VICTORIOUS", a symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death, made in Cyrillic transliteration as "HИ" on the left and "KA" on the right side. 

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. Just below the skull, there is a "МЛРБ" ("MLRB") abbreviation meaning "The CALVARY (Golgotha) BECAME PARADISE", a symbol of the execution place becoming a place of the redemption and reclaiming of the lost paradise. An ancient tradition of the Church held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.  

The reverse shows partially worn-out Church Slavonic text of the abbreviated 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 are 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.