Symbolism and Slavonic on a Russian cross

[John W.]

Can anyone help me to decipher the words in Slavonic and the symbolism on both sides of this cross?

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I'm sorry but it's the quality of the original photo I think which prevents one from being able to see the writing. I saved the pictures to my PC and magnified them but it's still not possible to see the writing.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Nina]

Yes, Father I did the same and could not. Not that I know Slavonic. Maybe you can find a higher resolution image of it? It was so blurred that the very first letters seemed Greek to me.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Yes, Father I did the same and could not. Not that I know Slavonic. Maybe you can find a higher resolution image of it? It was so blurred that the very first letters seemed Greek to me.

I think it is the original photo which wasn't focussed enough on the writing on the cross.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Seda S.]

The words in the second picture are like these words from the Canon to the Cross:

Спаси Господи люди Твоя и благослови достояние Твое, победы... (I cannot guess the rest)

(from Tropar, mode 1)


In the middle of the first picture there is, IMHO, the symbol of the cup (of the Lord's blood shed on the cross for our salvation).

[Father David Moser]

The words in the second picture are like these words from the Canon to the Cross:

Спаси Господи люди Твоя и благослови достояние Твое, победы... (I cannot guess the rest)

That would be "O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance ..." the tropar of the Holy Cross.

Fr David Moser

[John W.]

That would be "O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance ..." the tropar of the Holy Cross.

Fr David Moser

Bless, Fathers.

Dear Fr. David, Fr. Raphael, Seda and Nina,

Thank you for all of your help.

From various sources, especially An Explanation of the Russian Three Bar Cross: (http://www.standrewfoolforchrist.org/threebarcross.htm), I think I've got some things figured out.


At the top of the cross, the traditional "King of Jews" in either Greek or Slavonic.

On either end of middle bar: IC and XC - Greek abbreviation for "Jesus Christ."

On the top of the middle bar : "Son of God"

On either side of the standing bar: The Spear and The Sponge

At the bottom of the cross: skull of Adam

In the box below the skull: "NIKA" Greek: Victor

Below "NIKA": "...four Slavonic letters meaning: "The place of the skull became Paradise."

On the back of the cross: "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face." - Psalm 67 (Septuagint)

The cross itself is brass, symbolizing continuity with the "serpent of brass" of Moses. "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." (Numbers 21:9)

Unless I am incorrect in any of the above, I just have three more questions:
What is draping the middle bar?
What is written below the middle bar?
Is this an Old Ritualist (Old Believer) baptismal cross or a common Russian neck cross?

[Seda S.]

Dear John

Different crosses may have a little different inscriptions. So on the back of the cross which you have put above, it is not written, "Let God arise" etc, but what I have already posted.

At the top of the cross either "King of jews" or "King of glory" may be written.

My eyes, unfortunately, cannot see a spear, a sponge, a skull and the letters NIKA. But in the bottom of the cross, yes, they have written ÌË ÐÁ (Ìåñòî Ëîáíîå Ðàé Áûñòü) which means "The place of the skull (or, execution) became Paradise."

In the middle of the cross, as I have already mentioned, I think, they have drawn the symbol of the cup. It is a little like a crescent which may symbolize the cup, the Holy Mother of God or maybe something else.

Sorry, I could help only this much.

With love,

Seda

[John W.]

Dear Seda and Fr. David,

I'm sorry that I hurried through your earlier posts about the back of the cross and missed the tropar to the Holy Cross that you both deciphered! Please forgive me, and thank you again for all of your help.

John