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Metal · Church plate

Cypress cross in a metal frame (restored)

Inv. no. М-73 · Metal

Project: Sloboda Ukraine Code. Church Antiquities

A four-armed cypress cross, carved, in a metal frame, with a handle. On the wooden front of the cross is a depiction of the "Crucifixion." On the cross, above Christ's head, is an unfurled scroll with the letters "INRI" ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"). Full description

Date
18th century
Material
Wood, metal
Technique
Carving, stamping, soldering
Dimensions
20 × 7 × 2 cm

Photo: M. F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum · CC BY 4.0

Description

A four-armed cypress cross, carved, in a metal frame, with a handle. On the wooden front of the cross is a depiction of the "Crucifixion." On the cross, above Christ's head, is an unfurled scroll with the letters "INRI" ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"). On the side arms are the letters "IC" and "XC" ("Jesus Christ"). At the top, amid clouds, is a triangular halo — a symbol of God Sabaoth. At the end of the left arm is a depiction of a ladder, and at the end of the right, a "column." At the bottom of the cross are depictions of city buildings and the skull of Adam at Golgotha. On the reverse of the cross, at the center, is a depiction of the Virgin Mary, her hands crossed in a gesture of prayer, standing on "steps," dressed in a long tunic and maphorion, with a round halo around her head. To the left and right of her halo are the letters: "MR ΘU" ("Mother of God"). Above her head are clouds and a depiction of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. At the end of the left arm is a depiction of a ladder, and at the end of the right, Noah's Ark in a boat. At the bottom of the cross is a depiction of the entrance to a cave. The metal frame of the cross is decorated on both front and back with an engraved ornament of flowers with leaves and "chevrons." Between the crossbars are radiating rays, with small balls at the ends. The cross has a faceted handle, finishing in a ball.

The cross belonged to the pre-war collection of the Sloboda Ukraine Museum named after H. S. Skovoroda. During the Second World War it was evacuated and returned to Kharkiv in November 1944.

Record

Inventory number
М-73
Title
Cypress cross in a metal frame (restored)
Collection group
Metal · Church plate
Date
18th century
Material
Wood, metal
Technique
Carving, stamping, soldering
Dimensions
20 × 7 × 2 cm
Digitisation
Project “Sloboda Ukraine Code. Church Antiquities”, 2026
Tradition
Orthodoxy

Updated 15 Oct 2026

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