Golden cross "The Appearance of Christ to the Myrrh-Bearing Women. Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" p02656 Onyx

Golden cross "The Appearance of Christ to the Myrrh-Bearing Women. Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"

Metal: red gold 585"
Average weight: 5.39 g 
Height (with eyelet): 3.3 cm
Height (without eyelet):2.3 cm
Cross width: 1.3 cm
Ear dimensions:0.4 x 0.4 cm

On the front side of the cross is depicted one of the icons glorifying the Resurrection of Christ - “The Appearance of Christ to the Myrrh-Bearing Women.” In the center is a majestic and light figure of the Lord, as if ascending; on both sides, small figures of holy myrrh-bearers fall at His feet. These women came to the tomb of Christ to anoint His body with incense, according to Jewish custom, but found the tomb empty. The Risen Lord appeared to them Himself and announced His resurrection. On both sides of Christ, on the side bars, there are depictions of saints who have become symbols of repentance for the Orthodox Church. This is Rev. Andrei Kritsky, who wrote the “Repentant Canon”, read in the first week of Great Lent, and St. Mary of Egypt, who demonstrated an unparalleled feat of repentance throughout the centuries. This saint, realizing the depth of her fall, secluded herself in the desert for forty years in order to ask God for forgiveness for her sins through fasting and prayer. The central place on the back of the cross is occupied by the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”, which depicts a kneeling man standing in front of the image of Hodegetria.