Altar cross

An altar cross, made of gold-toned metal, with trilobed arms and a handle. On the front is a relief depiction of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on an eight-pointed cross. On the upper straight crossbar are the letters "INRI" ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"); on the second crossbar, the letters "IC XC" ("Jesus Christ"). Above the crucifixion is a bust-length depiction of God the Father, with long hair, a long mustache and beard, his arms spread to the sides, with a triangular halo around his head. At the end of the left arm is a depiction of the Mother of God, dressed in a maphorion, her hands directed toward Christ, with a round halo around her head, and above her shoulders the Church Slavonic inscription: "MR ΘA" ("Mother of God"). At the end of the right arm is a depiction of John the Theologian, dressed in flowing robes, his hands raised to chest level and directed toward Christ, with a round halo around his head, and above his shoulders the Church Slavonic inscription: "IŌN BGSLV" ("John the Theologian"). The images of the Mother of God and John the Theologian are surrounded by a winding floral ornament. Beneath the crucifixion is the skull of Adam with two crossed bones. The entire reverse of the cross is decorated with a winding floral ornament with flowers and five round medallions at the ends and in the center (now lost). A cylindrical handle is attached to the cross.

The cross was donated to the museum by a resident of Kharkiv in 1972.