Orthodox cross

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lucius_Marius
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Lucius_Marius said:
Hello,

I bought a beautiful orthodox cross that I love; but could someone perhaps explain to me the symbolism depicted on it?

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Thank you brothers and sisters, may the Lord straighten your paths!

Lucius
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The top side shows the true cross and Sts Constantine and Helena. St Helena found the true cross.

The reverse shows the Theotokos, Mother of God, and Our Lord. The top is St Michael the archangel. the other saints I can’t identify.

Did you get this cross from Galleria Byzantium? It is Greek in origin.
 
That’s quite a beautiful cross. Sorry I don’t have anything to add in interpreting it.
 
I forgot to add that at the top of the picture of the top of the cross is the Orthodox interpretation of Veronica’s veil.
I forgot the name however.
 
“Icon not made by hands”-Veronicas veil

Melchizedek hold the loaves of bread on his icon,bottom icon looks like loaves at the bottom,not sure if he is depicted holding a cross though.

View attachment 17773
 
If I were to guess that might be a Seraphim on the top of the cross from the top picture.
That might be saint Micheal the Archangel on the top of the corss from the bottom picture.
 
The cross itself is a Greek, not a Latin cross. The trefoils represent the Gospel (and the Trinity) going out to the four corners of the world.
 
Can anyone please translate the inscriptions on the cross?

Thank you,
 
Isaiah45_9 said:
Can anyone please translate the inscriptions on the cross?

Thank you,
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The top picture:

Carving of Jesus and on one side is IC and the other side is XC = Jesus Christ or in Greek Iesous Christos

On the top of Jesus I cannot read the writing.

ON the cross: IX XC NI CA = Jesus Christ conquers all

to the right of the cross is Agia Eleni = Saint Helen

to the left of the cross is Agios Konstantinos = Saint Constantine
 
Isaiah45_9 said:
Can anyone please translate the inscriptions on the cross?

Thank you,
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The second pic:

On top is Angel Gabriel

In the center is Mary with Jesus = the inscription is Mother of God and on the right side of baby Jesus is Iesous Christos = Jesus Christ

The 2 saints on the sides of Mary could be Peter & Paul but I cannot read the inscriptions of the saints names

And on the bottom it looks like Saint Constantine again

I wish I could read the saints name = perhaps the poster can post bigger pics of the cross.
 
Paul_theApostle said:
"Icon not made by hands"-Veronicas veil

Melchizedek hold the loaves of bread on his icon,bottom icon looks like loaves at the bottom,not sure if he is depicted holding a cross though.

View attachment 17773
Click to expand...
The Icon “Not made by human hands” is NOT the same as Veronica’s veil.

During the time of the earthly ministry of the Savior, Abgar, ruler in the Syrian city of Edessa, was afflicted with leprosy. Reports of the great miracles performed by the Lord extended throughout Syria (Matt. 4:24) and as far as Arabia at this time. Although not having seen the Lord, Abgar believed in him and wrote a letter requesting Christ to come and heal him. Abgar sent his court painter, Ananias, with this letter to Palestine telling him to paint an image of the Divine Teacher. Ananias was not able go to near Christ because of the great many people listening to his preaching. He attempted to produce an image of the Lord Jesus Christ from afar, but could not. The Lord called Ananias and promised to send his disciple in order to heal Abgar from the leprosy and instruct him in salvation. Then the Lord called for water and a towel. He wiped His face with the towel, and on it was His Divine Image.
The Savior sent the towel and a letter to Edessa back with Ananias. With thanksgiving Abgar received the sacred objects and started healing. He continued healing until the arrival of the disciple Thaddeus, Apostle of the 70. The Apostle preached the Gospel and baptized the Abgar and all living in Edessa.
 
First Picture
Top - The Lord God (Slavonic inscription) above the Holy Mandyion/Image Not Made by Hands with the inscription IC XC: Jesus Christ
Center - Jesus Christ Conquers (Greek)
Left - Saint Konstantine (Greek (or Gk/Sl))
Right - Saint Helena (Greek (or Gk/Sl))

Second Picture
Top - Archangel Michael (Greek)
Left - probably Saint Daniel (Prince of Moscow) - abbreviated inscription in Slavonic.
Center - Donskaya icon of the Mother of God (Standard inscriptions in Greek)
Right - inscription illegible
Bottom - Saint Vladimir (holdng a cross and a sword; Slavonic inscription)

Based on an early Russian example; Russian iconography always employs Greek inscriptions for Christ and His Mother.
IC XC NIKA is universally used.

Early Russian iconographers often used Greek inscriptions for the more ‘common’ and ‘universal’ saints and used Slavonic for local saints, sometimes retaining the Greek o agios/i agia in place of the Slavonic svjatii/svjataya, even if the name of the saint was written in Slavonic. Note that inscriptions are often heavilly abbreviated.
 
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