Византийский процессионный крест XI века в собрании Эрмитажа (особые литургические функции памятника)

Abstract

The leaf of the bronze processional cross kept in the Hermitage Collection has at the center the Crucifixion flanked by the busts of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel enclosed in roundels at the ends of the horizontal arms of the cross. The lower arm bears two medallions with the apostles Peter and Paul and the upper arm includes two discs with the figures of John the Baptist and the prophet Elijah. All the representations are identified by the inscriptions and the handle of the cross bears the votive inscription which refers to a certain Luke, who gave this cross in hope of God help. Based upon the stylistic and iconographic comparisons with similar crosses we should assigne the Hermitage’s item to the 11th century. It could have been used for the procession of the Lite, which usually directed to a specified church. The facts of the ecclesiastical geography could assume that probably this might be the Episcopal church of Prousa in Bithynia, because this cathedral was dedicated to John the Baptist, but originally, according to the legend, it was associated with the name of the prophet Elijah.