www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Help w/ Greek/Cyrillic (?) Translation

I'm hoping you very knowledgeable people out there could help out this ignorant soul .... in our local department store I bought a sterling silver prayer box pendant that has a 3-bar cross and the Greek letters IC XC (which I know stands for Jesus Christ). But it also has the letters/numbers CHL 614 under the center bar and HHKN below that. Also on the top is what LOOKs like UGBb. Who are our scholars out there who are willing to help ..... ?

Unless the numbers are cyrillic letters masquerading as numerals I would guess that's just a serial number..it's on the back right?

You don't get N like this in cyrillic..it's backwards, in which case it would be an I. You alsso don't get Gs in CYrillic, SO maybe not cyrillic... My greek isn't as good, but it doesn't look like greek..it could be some Belarussian variant cyrillic...but probably not..

That's the best I can do I'm afraid.

Ned

Any chance you could post a close-up picture?

All the lettering and numbering is on the front (the only thing on the back is the "925" sterling silver stamp). My guess is CHL 614 is the Gosopel reading John 6:14 ? Unfortunately I don't know how to attach the photo in the forum posts, but I could email it to you if you give me your email address. You can email me at dhvasta@cox.net. Thank you, again, for any assistance.

I must be really tired ... my correct email address is "diane.hvasta@cox.net". Sorry about that.

My email bounced. To host it, go to this website: http://imageshack.us/
Hit the browse button and find the picture on your computer.
Tell it to resize for message boards
Click "Host It."
Copy the URL it gives you.

Come here and enter the URL of the image like this:
[img]Put URL Here[/img]

Everyone will be able to see it!

Thank you! This was great to find out how to attach images! I found out today from our priest (duh! should've waited to ask him) it is called the Old Believer Cross. He gave me a printed description. "The decorative motif on the perimeter represents the wings of the seraphim. "King of Glory" is the Slavonic abbreviation at the top of the cross. IC XC is on the upper cross bar and "Sn Bzhi" (Son of God) on the lower cross bar, NI KA (conquers) appears on the lower upright and the skull of Adam at the base. To the left of the upright is a spear and to the right is a staff with a sponge. Tradition teaches that when the Apostle Andrew preached in southern Russia he placed a life-size three-bar cross at his side. While explaining the Last Judgment he tilted the foot plate to signify that those on the right side of Christ will go up into heaven and those on the left will go down to hell." Father said the lettering and images are blurred on this piece due to the molten process.

[Linked Image] [img233.imageshack.us]

You found this in a department store? That is astounding in itself! Thanks for sharing the answer with us.

Oh my! That is a copy of the Cross worn by the Trans Baikal Cossacks, most of whom were Old Rite. I have not seen one this side of the pond. I am indeed curious as to which "Department Store" carries such crosses?

Alexandr


p.s. The cross was always worn on a cord of cloth or leather, never a chain.

And it's not a simple cross -- it's a hinged box. The card reads "Prayer Box". Father says it was likely originally designed to contain a relic. There is no company or any indication of it's source. The store is Kohl's and what's more surprising ... I'm in Arizona and, as you know, ethnic means Native American or Mexican in this part of the country .... nothing to do with Eastern Europe or Russia, so we're doubly surprised they would carry such an item! lol My friend and I wiped out each of the Kohl's in our area as they were on sale at 60% off -- but now you can get them in our church's gift shop!

I found clearer photos of a cross similar to yours:

[Linked Image] [Linked Image]

[Linked Image]