19th Century Old Believer Cross with Crucifixion Group (Старообрядческий крест XIX века Распятия). A mid to late 19th century brass and enamel casting. The reverse is covered with detailed florid ornamentation. 9" (22.8cm) x 5¾" (14.6cm). 1lb, 4oz (567gr). Excellent condition. 1 only.
At the top end is the icon of the Holy Face with the inscription "Image Not-Made-By-Human-Hands" ("Образ Нерукотворный"). Ministering to Christ are two descendent angels, with the inscription "Angels of the Lord" (Ангели Господни"), and just below them the inscription "King of Glory" ("Царь Славы"). The top of the bar of the cross has Slavonic initials: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", "Son of God", "Sun", "Moon", and "We worship Thy Cross, O Master and we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection" ("Кресту Твоему поклоняемся, Владыко, и Святое Воскресение Твое славим"). Further down the horizontal bar is the Lance and the Sponge, Instruments of the Passion.
On the bottom cross bar, the city of Jerusalem is depicted in the background, as the Crucifixion occurred outside the city walls. By the foot of the Cross are the letters: "Г Г" standing for 'Mount Golgotha' (in Slavonic: Гора Голгофы). This is the hill outside the city gates upon which Christ was crucified. Below are four Slavonic letters with abbreviation marks: "М.Л.Р.Б.", meaning: "The place of the skull, where Adam was" ("Место лобное рай бысть"). Hidden in a cave under the earth is 'the skull of Adam' (by tradition Christ was crucified where Adam was buried), identified with the letters: "Г А" (in Slavonic: глава Адамла).
To either side of the image of Christ Crucified in rectangular medallions are the Witnesses of Calvary, St. Martha and the Mother of God on the left and St. John the Evangelist and the martyr St. Longinus the Centurion on the right with their corresponding inscriptions.
