Silver Orthodox cross "Crucifixion. The Prudent Thief" 132399 Onyx

Silver Cross

Metal: silver 925"
Average weight: 6.3 g
Height with eye: 3.8 cm
Dimensions of the cross: 2.7 x 1.8 cm
Ear dimensions: 0.7 x 0.4 cm

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. 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 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 the supreme apostles Peter and Paul are depicted. 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.