VINTAGE STERLING SILVER ORTHODOX "SUN" CROSS CHRIST ALMIGHTY and GUARDIAN ANGEL

$89.0
Material
Sterling silver
Country/Region of Manufacture
Unknown
condition
Used

Vintage solid silver medium-sized but thick and sturdy (approx. 1 1/4" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 7.8 g) Cross pendant designed according to medieval Russian North tradition and featuring a combination of a Celtic-style "Sun" cross shape with a traditional Orthodox set of icons known as "Deesis". It is centered around the Christ Pantocrator (Greek: Χριστὸς Παντοκράτωρ meaning Christ the Almighty) icon with the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God) and Ever-Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist (sides), and Archangels Michael and Gabriel (top and bottom, respectively). The reverse displays icons of the Holy Face of Jesus the Savior "Not Made by Human Hands" (top), Holy Guardian Angel (centerpiece), and Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker and Sergius of Radonezh (sides). The back panel of the large solid necklace bale of the pendant bears the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity. It has been confirmed using the silver acid test. The pendant has visual vintage appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, scratches and small dents, and patches of discoloration/patina. The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing.

The center of the Cross surrounded by ornamental 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). Such a design follows an ancient tradition of the Novgorod Cross that can be traced back to the 14th - 15th century Russian Novgorod land. The frontal side of the circle is decorated with a vine-like ornament that might symbolize the life-giving nature of the Christian Cross and refer to the preaching of Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). The back side bears an abbreviated inscription of an Orthodox prayer in Church Slavonic "LORD, SAVE YOUR PEOPLE AND BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE" (Psalm 28:9). The verse is also a part of the Orthodox "Troparion of the Holy Cross" and is sung during the Orthodox Divine Liturgy.

The obverse bears an icon of Christ Pantocrator (also known as the Pantokrator meaning "The Almighty" or "The Ruler") holding the Book of Gospels in His left hand, and giving His Blessing with His right hand. The Savior's head is crowned with large, cruciform halo. In the theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church, such an icon represents a "Window into Heaven" through which Christ Himself in heaven can be seen and communicated with. The halo around Christ’s Head is a symbol of the Uncreated Light (Greek: Ἄκτιστον Φῶς), or grace of God shining forth through the icon. Each of the bars of the cross incorporated into Christ's halo is one of the Greek letters Ο, Ω, Ν, making up ὁὢν meaning "the Existing One", thereby indicating the Divinity of Jesus. The left and right sides just next to Christ's head bears the Sacred Name of Jesus inscribed as the ancient "IC XC" Greek Christogram.

The left and right side crossbar ends show smaller icons of the Most Holy Mother of God and St. John the Baptist showing the way to Jesus by pointing hands at His image. 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 "John the Forerunner" (title of St. John the Baptist used in Eastern Orthodox Churches).

The icons positioned within the top and bottom crossbar ends bear images of the two Archangels, St. Michael (top) and St. Gabriel (bottom) depicted with their spears and "Crystal Balls", the angelic instruments of seeing God and His Holy will.

The reverse bears a larger icon of Holy Guardian Angel holding a Cross and a sword. The abbreviated Church Slavonic inscription just above Angel's head translates as "Holy Guardian Angel".  

According to ancient tradition, a Guardian Angel is an angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group, kingdom, or country. The concept of guardian angels also has deep Scriptural roots: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34 of David).  Belief in both the East and the West is that guardian angels serve to protect whichever person God assigns them to, and to present prayer to God on that person's behalf. In the New Testament, Christ set a seal upon the Old Testament teaching: "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10). Other example in the New Testament is the angel who delivered St. Peter from prison (Acts 12:12-15). Hebrews 1:14 says: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" In this view, the function of the guardian angel is to lead people to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The top end of the vertical crossbar just above the Holy Guardian Angel image bears an icon of the Holy Face of Jesus known as the "Spas (Savior) Not Made by Human Hands" with His name is inscribed as the IC XC Greek Christogram. It is considered to be the oldest known Christian icon, and also the oldest known portrait of Jesus. 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 side end of the horizontal crossbar displays 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 Saint's name is inscribed next to his image in abbreviated Church Slavonic. 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.

The right side end of the horizontal crossbar bears an icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh giving his blessing with his right hand and holding a Scripture scroll in his left hand, with his name is inscribed next to his image in abbreviated Church Slavonic. St. Sergius was a 14th century hegumen of the Russian Church, monastery founder, spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia, and is one of the most highly venerated Russian Orthodox saints.  

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.