Vintage or antique solid sterling silver smaller (approx. 1 1/16" tall with bale and jump ring; weight approx. 0.4-0.5 g) Crucifix pendant featuring fine ancient Slavonic Orthodox "budded" design with iconic image of the Crucified Savior over the skull with crossbones (Adam's head) and the traditional Orthodox "Protection" prayer on the reverse. The reverse also displays the "925" print indicating the "sterling" purity of silver. In addition, the soldered jump ring of the pendant bears the "925" punch mark. The pendant has visible antique appearance with signs of aging and wear that might include diminished quality of the artwork, deformations of its original shape, multiple scratches and dents of various size and depth, and patches of discoloration/patina. Most of the original thick patina has been removed using gentle cleaning and polishing. 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 top "budded" end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows the "INRI" abbreviation made in Cyrillic transliteration as "IНЦI". The left and right side ends of the horizontal crossbar bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the "IC XC" Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right.
The bottom
"budded" end of the vertical crossbar of the pendant shows a symbolic
image of the skull with crossbones, or Adam's head, buried in a cave below the
Savior's Cross. It 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 the Church held that it was also the
burial place of Adam, thus also symbolizing the ultimate victory of Christ over
sin and death.
The reverse bears an inscription of the traditional Slavonic Orthodox prayer meaning "Save and Protect". 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.