Vintage Sterling Silver Russian Orthodox Skull RELIQUARY LOCKET CROSS Necklace

Chain is marked 925 Italy as well as the spring ring clasp Byzantine or Russian Orthodox Reliquary (locket) pectoral cross pendant 1" Sterling silver 925 marked Opens and closes Byzantine three-bar cross used in the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Three horizontal crossbeams: top one represents the "INRI" nameplate, and the bottom one, a footrest. Ends of the crossbars are made in the shapes of domes resembling the domes of a Byzantine church. The upper dome incorporates the two-word abbreviated inscription meaning "King of Glory". The side domes of the cross bear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the Greek Christogram, as the "IC" on the left and the "XC" on the right just above central horizontal crossbar. Below this crossbar there is an abbreviated inscription in Church Slavonic meaning "SON OF GOD". Parallel to the vertical crossbar there are images of the two Instruments of the Passion (Arms of Christ, Arma Christi), the Holy Lance (spear) of a Roman soldier, and the Holy Sponge attached to the end of a cane. Above the bottom horizontal crossbar there is the "NIKA" ("The Victor") inscription in Cyrillic letters. A small image of the skull, or Adam's head, below the image of the Subpedaneum cross refers to Golgotha (Calvary). Good condition 18" chain Weighs 10g