Russian icon from the late 19th century.
"Christ Crucified".
Painting on wood in the form of an Orthodox cross.
Xylophagous. It presents lack of polychromy and cracks.
Measurements: 39 x 20 x 1.5 cm.
Russian Orthodox polychrome cross representing the Crucifixion of Christ and numerous iconographic motifs. The upper part shows the image of Gospod' Savaof, Lord Sabaoth, who is God the Father represented as an old man with a white beard. He raises his right hand in blessing. Immediately below is the Dukh Svyatuiy, the Holy Spirit shown in the form of a dove. Below them are two angels whose hands are covered with a cloth, a practice that shows reverence in the Orthodox Church. The image of the crucified Christ dominates the scene, and at the end of the arms is a round circle with a human face, the sun. At the opposite end of the crossbeam is another circle with a red face with painted icons, the moon. Under the arms of Christ is an explanatory phrase: "The sun is darkened, the moon becomes like blood". This is an apocalyptic image from the Bible, taken from Acts 2:20: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord" (King James Version). The slanting crossbeam at the bottom of the Cross has a meaning: its highest part leans towards Christ's right hand, indicating the ascent of believers to heaven, and it leans downwards on its left side, indicating the descent of believers to hell. The crossbar is decorated with buildings representing the walled city of Jerusalem. Below Christ's feet, the skull symbolises Adam's head (according to tradition, Adam was buried on Golgotha). The feet of Christ (crucified with four nails, as is the tradition in the Orthodox Church).