VINTAGE STERLING SILVER ORTHODOX CRUCIFIX BAPTISM OF JESUS with JOHN THE BAPTIST

Description: Vintage solid silver medium-sized but sturdy and exquisitely detailed (approx. 1 1/8" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 8.5 g) Crucifix pendant featuring venerated Orthodox icons of the Crucifixion with the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God) and Ever-Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist (obverse), and the Theophany depicting Son of God coming to receive water baptism from Saint John the Baptist (reverse). The Baptism of Jesus and His Crucifixion, "Alpha and Omega", mark the Beginning and the End of the earthly work of the Savior as the preacher of God's Kingdom and miracle-working Healer. Such a combination of icons on a pectoral cross follows an ancient tradition of Slavonic Orthodox cross design that can be traced back to the late medieval Russia. The top panel of the large solid necklace bale of the pendant bears three punch marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity, and the other two appear to be maker's and silver assay marks. It has been confirmed using the silver acid test. The pendant appears to have been originally decorated with vermeil or gold plating over sterling silver. The Crucifix has visual vintage appearance with significant signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, multiple visible scratches and dents, partially worn-out gold layer, and patches of discoloration/patina. The inside and edges of its necklace bale shows signs of wear consistent with many years of continuous wearing on a chain. The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing. The obverse bears an iconic image of the Crucifixion according to the Orthodox 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 bar of this Cross bears the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram. The top wide end of the pendant just above the Savior's Cross bears an image symbolizing the Second Coming of Jesus and the Holy Trinity according to the ancient Orthodox tradition: the empty Heavenly Throne (also symbol of God the Father), the Book of Scriptures or the Word (symbol of God the Son), and a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The image is known in the Orthodox tradition as "Hetoimasia", or "The Prepared Throne" of the Second Coming.The left and right side crossbar ends show smaller icons of grieving Most Holy Mother of God and St. John the Evangelist. 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 space just below Savior's hands displays a larger Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") inscription made in a Cyrillic transliteration as "HИKA", 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 an 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 skull is marked with the four-letter "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. The reverse bears an icon of the Baptism of Jesus also known as the Theophany, with a full-length portrait of the Savior standing naked in the Jordan river, with His image marked with the "IC XC" Christogram. He is extending His right hand with a blessing gesture towards His future Cross crushing the head of a serpent below His feet. The serpent symbolizes the Devil defeated by the Cross. At the left hand of the Savior, there are images of fish, a reference to the miracle of Christ called "Feeding the multitude". The two miracles of this nature are described in the Gospels as miraculous feeding of thousands of people following Christ with five or seven loaves of bread and fish. At the right hand of Jesus, there is an image of St. John the Baptist. His name is inscribed next to St. John's image as an abbreviated Church Slavonic symbol meaning "John the Forerunner" (title of St. John the Baptist used in Eastern Orthodox Churches). He is depicted placing his right hand on Christ's head while watching in awe the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven upon Jesus as a dove. At the left hand of Jesus, there is an image of an Angel of God bowing his head before Jesus, thus symbolizing the Divine nature of the Son of God. The top wide crossbar end just above the descending dove bears an inscription in Church Slavonic meaning "Theophany". 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: 2024-11-21T13:39:42.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD