Vintage or antique solid sterling silver medium-sized (approx. 1 3/16" tall with solid bale; weight approx. 0.7 g) Orthodox Crucifix pendant featuring classic design of the Slavonic Orthodox 3-bar Savior's Cross with iconic image of the Crucified Savior over the skull with crossbones (Adam's head) and words of the Orthodox "Protection" prayer on the reverse. The reverse bears the "925" hallmark print indicating that it is made in solid sterling silver. The pendant has visible vintage or antique 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. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using a complex procedure of gentle cleaning and polishing. The size and weight of the item are shown on the photographs for this listing.

The pendant is shaped as a three-bar Suppedaneum cross. The three-bar cross 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 obverse bears an image of the Crucifixion recreated according to the ancient Orthodox iconographic tradition. The Savior is depicted with the large halo around His head. The nameplate placed on the Cross just above the head of Jesus shows the "INRI" abbreviation made in Cyrillic transliteration as "IНЦI". The left and right wider ends of the central horizontal crossbar bear Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right. 

A symbolic image of the skull with crossbones, 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. An ancient tradition of Catholic and Orthodox Churches held that it was also the burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. 

The reverse displays an inscription of the traditional Slavonic Orthodox prayer meaning "Save and Protect" incorporated into the central horizontal crossbar of the pendant. The prayer reminds us that Christ the Savior is with us to save and protect a person wearing the cross from every evil and all enemies visible and invisible.

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.