Vintage or antique solid
sterling silver small but sturdy (approx. 1" tall with bale and jump
ring; weight approx. 0.8-0.9 g) Crucifix pendant featuring a Slavonic
Orthodox design with iconic image of the Crucified
Savior and Church Slavonic text of prayer to the Holy Cross based on Psalm 68 of David the King on the reverse. The larger soldered jump ring of the pendant bears two punch
marks, one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the
"sterling" purity. The pendant has 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 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 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 central part of the cross just above Savior's shoulders bears 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 space below His arms shows Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS")
inscription made in a Cyrillic transliteration as "NИKA", an ancient
symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross.
The reverse shows abbreviated Church Slavonic text of the 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.