Orthodox cross "Crucifixion. The Prudent Thief" p01652 Onyx

Orthodox cross "Crucifixion. Prudent robber"

Metal: red gold  585"
Average weight: 9.06 g
Height with eye: 3.7 cm
Height (without eyelet): 2.8 cm
Width: 1.8 cm
Ear dimensions: 0.8 x 0.4 cm

A large pectoral cross of a traditional, strict form reveals in its images the teaching of the Orthodox Church about salvation. The very concept of “salvation” has two sides: divine and human. The divine side - everything that God has done for our salvation - is a gift, because we ourselves could not do it. Human is the effort that we need to make in order to take advantage of this gift. Therefore, the front side of this cross is dedicated to divine affairs, and the back - to human affairs.

As a result of the Fall, humanity was obliged to bear the punishment for sins in the form of death for many centuries. Death was an insurmountable barrier separating man from God. Man himself could not destroy it. The Lord Jesus Christ, being sinless, voluntarily accepted a painful death on the cross. By dying, He freed people from the consequences of the Fall, including death. Christ descended into hell along with His angels. The commander of the angelic army, Archangel Michael, bound Satan, putting an end to his undivided power over the world. The image of the powerful Archangel is placed below the Crucifix.
But the salvation of humanity in Christ cannot occur automatically, without the participation of people themselves. The salvation of every person involves changing his life. Such a change cannot be imposed, cannot be carried out apart from one’s own free choice. Righteousness, if it is not conscious and free, has no moral value before God.

Therefore, a person’s task is to strive for righteousness with all the strength of his soul, the desire to overcome his sinful nature. Helpers, mentors and intercessors for people before God in this spiritual struggle are the Most Holy Theotokos and John the Baptist. On the cross they are depicted in prayer before the crucified Christ.

An ordinary person cannot live life without sinning. Even the holy Apostle Peter, as we know from the Gospel, denied Christ three times. The consequences of sinful deviations from God can be corrected by repentance. The Lord is always ready to forgive a sincerely repentant sinner. We see examples of this in the Gospel.These are stories about the prudent thief, the apostles Peter and Paul.

The Gospel speaks of the conversion to the Lord of one of the two thieves crucified with Christ (Luke 23:39-43). Unlike his comrade, in the anger of blaspheming the Lord, he admitted that he had been condemned justly, and humbly turned to Christ: “Remember me, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom!” In other words, to say: “Remember me, Lord, when you reign.” He does not ask for glory and bliss, but asks for the least. The words of the prudent thief became an example of true, deep repentance, deserving the highest reward. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise,” the Lord told him. And the repentant thief was the first of the people to enter the open doors of heaven.

The doors opened by angels are depicted at the top of the cross. The abbreviated prayer of the thief, which became part of the church service, is written on the ear: “Remember, O God, and save me.”

On both sides of the robber are depicted the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. Peter, a simple fisherman, was called Simon before his calling. He received a new name, translated as “stone,” from Christ for his deep faith. But even such a chosen person, to whom the Lord handed the keys to paradise, denied Him three times. However, he sincerely repented and witnessed his repentance with his subsequent life and death.

Another great apostle was called Saul from birth and was a cruel persecutor of Christians. The Lord appeared to him on the way to Damascus, named him Paul and blinded him. Paul's sight returned after baptism. This miracle made a great revolution in the soul of the apostle. With even greater zeal than he persecuted Christians, Paul began to preach the Resurrection of Christ. The entire Church, the entire Christian world, was filled with the apostle’s preaching. He left behind many students. The entire theology of the Church is largely based on the messages of the Apostle Paul preserved in the Holy Scriptures.