STERLING SILVER 925 ORTHODOX MEDAL MARY OUR LADY OF VLADIMIR with SAVIOR'S CROSS

Fine sterling silver (approx. 1 3/8" tall with necklace bale and jump ring; weight approx. 3.2 g) Orthodox two-sided iconic medal pendant featuring ornate openwork design with a highly detailed artistic image of the venerated icon of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary depicted with the Child Jesus known as  Our Lady of Vladimir or Vladimirskaya   Theotokos (Mother of God).   The reverse displays an image of the three-bar Calvary or "Golgotha" Savior's Cross with inscription of the traditional Orthodox prayer in Church Slavonic meaning "Save and Protect".  The frame of the pendant is decorated with a floral vine-like ornament, a symbolic reminder of Christ's preaching according to the Saint John's Gospel: "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5).  The soldered jump ring of the medal bears two punch marks,  one of which displays the "925" hallmark indicating the "sterling" purity , and the other appears to be the maker's mark.   Gently used condition with some signs of wear, which might include small deformations, scratches and dents and few patches of silver patina/oxidation. The size and weight of the pendant are shown on the photographs for this listing.

The obverse bears a depiction of the  Theotokos of Vladimir, or the Virgin of Vladimir, a medieval Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary and a fine and early example of the iconography of the Eleusa (“Tenderness”) type, in which the Child Jesus snuggles up to His Mother's cheek.  The bottom part of the pendant displays a small abbreviated inscription in Church Slavonic meaning " Vladimirskaya Most Holy  Mother of God".  H ead of the Child Jesus is crowned with large cruciform halo. In the theology of the Orthodox Church, such an icon represents a "Window into Heaven" through which Christ Himself in heaven can be seen and communicated with. The halo around Christ’s Head is a symbol of the Uncreated Light (Greek: Ἄκτιστον Φῶς), or grace of God shining forth through the icon. The crossbars of the cross incorporated into Christ's halo bear Greek letters Ο, Ω, Ν, making up ὁὢν meaning "the Existing One", thereby indicating the Divinity of Jesus.

The reverse bears  an image of the three-bar Suppedaneum cross depicted as the Calvary Cross (with the Instruments of the Passion on top of the Golgotha hill). The three-bar cross is venerated as the true Savior's Cross in the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches. Such a cross has three horizontal crossbeams: the top one represents the "INRI" nameplate, and the bottom one, a footrest. The footrest crossbeam is depicted pointing up, toward Heaven, on Christ's right hand side where the Penitent thief, St. Dismas was crucified.  The left and right sides next to the top horizontal crossbar display the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ inscribed as the Greek Christogram, the "IC" on the left, and the "XC" on the right.  Just below the main horizontal crossbar, there is  Greek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") inscription made in a Cyrillic transliteration as "HИKA", an ancient symbol of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross.   Next to the vertical crossbar, there are images of the two Instruments of the Passion, the Holy Lance (spear) of a Roman soldier, and the Holy Sponge attached to the end of a cane. They are subjects to adoration along with the Cross, and are often positioned next to the Savior's Cross on various crosses and icons depicting the Calvary Cross. 

Please examine all photographs carefully and do your own research if necessary. Please note that photographs are an important part of the item's description. The measuring meter and electronic scale are not for sale, and might be photographed with the item in order to provide a size and weight reference. Please ask all questions before making a purchase. There are no guarantees with the listing because most items are original vintage or antique objects that are quite old. All items are sold "as is" with no returns because of a change of mind offered. Shipping and handling is free for the continental US.  International shipping is handled by Ebay. International buyers, please ask your shipping questions, if any, prior to buying.  Please note that customs regulations differ from country to country, and it is a buyer's responsibility to ensure that any customs fees or other duties collected by the buyer's country are paid and satisfied in full.