1 7/8" Prayer Cross Antique Vintage Model CR738

1 7/8" Cross, Orans Figure – 4th Century Replica (48mm)

This Cross, Orans Figure measures 1 7/8 inches (approximately 48mm) in height and is an exact replica of an early Christian cross dating to the 4th century, available in sterling silver and gold bronze.

The cross has a broad, slightly flared form with squared arms and a strong, vertical silhouette that gives it a grounded and monumental appearance. Engraved at the center is a figure in the ancient Orans posture—arms outstretched in prayer, standing in reverence before the divine.

The Orans (Latin for “one who is praying”) is one of the oldest known gestures of Christian prayer. Found in catacomb frescoes and early Christian mosaics, this posture symbolizes the soul reaching toward God, interceding, and surrendering in complete devotion. In early Christian funerary art, it represented the soul of the faithful departed and their spiritual resurrection.

The figure is rendered in a simple and iconic style, with a rounded halo encircling the head and parallel lines representing flowing robes. The facial features are minimal, evoking the sacred abstraction common in 4th-century Christian art, where symbolic meaning was emphasized over naturalism.

The surface of the cross pendant is textured and softly irregular, preserving the character of hand-wrought objects crafted for prayer and protection. The relief engraving stands out against a recessed background, giving the figure presence and dimension.

The style of this antique cross reflects primitive early Christian devotional art, embodying the clarity and sacred power of the faith’s earliest visual language. It is a faithful replica of devotional objects used by the first generations of Christians following the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

The Cross, Orans Figure includes a strong integrated bail for wearing as a pendant, adding to a prayer necklace, or incorporating into a sacred jewelry collection.

This cross charm is a profound emblem of prayer, hope, and the eternal bond between the soul and the Divine. Choose sterling silver for a bright, classical finish, or gold bronze for a warm, ancient patina that echoes the spiritual heritage of early Christianity.