Orthodox baptismal cross | 24865

Material: bronze/brass/yellow metal/copper.

Cross with spear and hyssop stem on Golgotha. Inscription: “King of glory, Jesus Christ, wins”.

Back: Arma Christi (“weapons of Christ”), or the Instruments of the Passion.

The Russian cross also “Orthodox cross”, Byzantine cross or Slavic cross is a special form of the Latin cross in heraldry with two horizontal and one inclined cross arm:

The top, short cross arm represents the titulus board on which the inscription INRI could be read when Jesus was crucified, the initials for the Latin phrase Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum – “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.

The middle, longer cross arm was intended to attach the arms of a crucified person.

The lower, inclined cross arm represents the suppedaneum (supporting footplate, footstep, footstool) on which the crucified were placed.