rosaries and chaplets
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS?
CRUCIFIXES, SEALS, PRAYER COUNTER
PARTS
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~ RARE 18c GREEK ICON CRUCIFIX ? ~
Can you tell me what type of cross this is? I do
believe it is from the 1700s from Greece and is handmade. It was passed
down through my family for healing. It has a double skull and bones
and symbols I cannot seem to find anywhere. Can you help me? I will
send more information but it is very hard to photograph.
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In the world of rosaries and chaplets there are many mysteries! We thought it would be fun to ask you if you have any thoughts on the age, origin of some of these mysterious religious items. As this site grows, we hope you will come back and view how many of these treasures there are in the world. + Each helps to patch in a bit of what we know and don't know about the history of crucifixes, rosaries and chaplets. Remembering that for many years confraternities and 3rd orders had special crucifixes, chaplets and rosaries with various bead configurations - long since lost in time - and that many broken rosaries were put back together by unknowing hands, we have a lot of curious prayer bead counters out there. With this in mind, we will collect and show you an adventurous few as they come in. 18c GREEK 'ICON' CRUCIFIX - FATHER JOE'S RESPONSES 18c GREEK ORTHODOX 'TREE(N)' CRUCIFIX |
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"It was passed down in my family and was used for healing. It was dipped in a tea - then the patient would drink the tea. My family was the holder of the cross but had to call another family to use it. When a baby, my Aunt Alice had an enlarged heart and was told she would die. She was treated with the crucifix dipped in the tea daily then taken to the hospital (Cleveland Ohio) about a year later. The doctor told my Grandfather this was not the same child for all was well with her, She lived a long life and died just a few years ago." |
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"When I was about 6 I found the cross. My grandfather told me it was very special and I was never, never to ever touch it as it was not a plaything. I am now 60 and have never touched it. It is kept in a hand carved box with symbols on it. (the box is kept in a vault at a bank). The cross was to be handed down through the oldest male in the family and was never to leave the Zorba family, ever. (His last name was shortened when he came to America). Out of 10 children, all the males died early leaving my mom as caretaker and now me." . "About 30 years ago we took the cross to the Cleveland History Museum and they took a small piece from it at that is how I know it is of wood that is petrified. The museum wanted to keep it but Grandfather said it was not to leave our hands. My grandpa was from Greece and lived in a small town at the foot of the Acropolis (Athens). I don't think the town is there any more. He also said the trees the wood came from is no longer on earth." Sharon Polkow |
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~ RESPONSE FROM FR JOE ~ |
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The reverse of the crucifix is the festival icon of the baptism of Christ. The right hand figure on the cross is an angel. This is a baptismal cross. Fr. Mark who is a Coptic Christian says this small cross was blessed by the priest and given by the God parents to the child. He says all Copts hold the baptism cross they wear and pray for healing because all blessings of salvation flow from Christ's cross. ... DOUBLE SKULLS
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... DIPPING CROSS
INTO WATER ...
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The thickness of the 18c Greek Orthodox Icon Cross is because the originals were carved from wood. Our small Greek Icon Cross in metal below has the image of Mary holding the child Jesus on the reverse but the ones I see are more like yours as described above by Father Joe who confirms that traditional icons show this very scene of the baptism of Christ. Re dipping cross into water, I also read that daily, during the 12 days of Chistmas, the mother of the family will rest basil leaves in water, then dip the cross into this 'tea' and sprinkle it in the house to protect the family from the bad spirits who are especially active during this time! And on St Basil's day (Jan 1) the "renewal of waters" takes place, when all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new 'St. Basil's Water.' (Basil was believed to hold healing properties!) |
Greek Icon Cross - CRX.13 |
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~ GREEK ORTHODOX 'TREEN' ICON ~
AS SEEN ON EBAY |
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A beautiful example of a Greek Icon Cross or Crucifix called a 'TREEN' (TREE) or hand carved wooden icon cross with two sides. OBVERSE: Crucified Christ surrounded by unidentified saints. REVERSE: Baptism Icon of Christ with Holy Spirit above his head. See Father Joe's RESPONSE (above) for more information showing thickness of the Treen Cross (3.5 x 2.25 - .5 inches thick) FOR AVAILABILITY OR FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE
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antique rosary museum index history index FOR MORE ROSARIES AND CHAPLETS: Filigree Rosaries - Various Chaplets - Identify Misc Parts Cleric Rosaries - Visitors Open Gallery HUNT MUSEUM COLLECTION |
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