Russian Orthodox Cross

Russian Orthodox cross necklace – handmade and recycled silver from rare 100 year old 50 Kopek coin.

The top bar symbolizes the sign that was hung above the head of Christ, it was written: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.  The lower bar is the foot-rest. According to the Russian Orthodox tradition the feet are depicted as being nailed not at one point but individually at the two sides of the footrest.  The slanted line reminds us of the two thieves on both sides of the cross. One of them to the right of Christ ascended to Heaven, while the other one sank to Hell. Thus bottom bar of the cross is like the scale of justice and its points show the way to the Hell and Heaven.  Other names for the symbol include the Russian cross, and Slavonic or Suppedaneum cross.

I lovingly craft each Russian orthodox cross necklace pendant from a 100 year old silver 50 Kopek coin.  The coins themselves are the perfect medium for this beautiful design, inline with a love of nature using these coins is the perfect ethical and green solution. No new silver is destructively ‘mined’ and old, uncollectible pure silver coins are saved from the ‘melting pot’ of bullion merchants. This protects the history and ensures their stories live on.  The silver coin is a reminder that money changers continue their struggle with worldly passions.  Debasing actual money and replacing it with fiat.

The 50 Kopek копейка coin is a beautiful coin in its own right, the Cyrillic script is bold and the 100 year old silver coin was obviously minted with purpose and precision.  The outside edge of the coin reads ” ЧИСТОГО СЕРЕБРА 9 ГРАММ” which translates to PURE SILVER 9 GRAM.  In Russian “PURE” is pronounced “CHISTOGO” which for our ears is beautiful and truth.

The legend around the coin reads “ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН, СОЕДИНЯИТЕСЬ! СС СР ОДИН ПОЛТИННИК”. which translates to “PROLETARIANS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE! SS SR Fifty”.  

Once the design is freehand sketched on to the coin, it is hand cut and carved using traditional hand saws, chisels and files. This traditional process allows me to have a close connection to each piece. This also gives the added bonus of each piece being completely unique.  Each cross is individually handmade and recycled in Cambridge, England.

An added bonus for this particular Russian Orthodox cross is that the donor coin, 50 kopek ‘off-cut’ is included and is polished, filed and engraved to make a second necklace pendant that can be shared with a brother or sister in Christ.

Size : Approx 20 mm * 14 mm

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