Pokimitza Filigree |Catalogue of altar and table crosses

Altar Cross with circular stand. Inspired by the similar altar cross from Jerusalem, Holy Land. The crucifixion is intricately hand carved in pear wood with four Gospel writers and set in silver filigree. Votive text is hand engraved on the rim of the stand and is written in Serbian, Greek, Church Slavonic and Arabic and says:

"To God Almighty and Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, from Serbian people."

"Богу вишњем и Храму Рођења Исуса Христа у Витлејему, од србскога рода."

"Πρὸς τῷ Ὑψύστῳ Θεῷ καὶ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῆς Γεννήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ Βηθλεέμ, τὸ γένος τῶν Σέρβων."

"Богy во вhшних и Ро1ждественому хра1му Хри1ста Бо1га во Витлеэмэ, t рода се1рбскаго."

"لله في الآعالي , ولكنيسة المهد في بيت لحم , هدية من الشعب الصربي."

Bottom side of the stand is made out of green onyx, cut in a shape of 14-pointed Star of Bethlehem

For decoration of the cross a total of 33 pearls, 22 garnets and 50 corals were used.

WOODEN CHEST

The altar cross is placed in wooden chest 80 x 55 x 50 cm high, which is bound from the outside with blacksmith artwork containing old padlock. The interior of the chest is cushioned with green silk decorated with gold plated tacks. The altar cross is placed over a silk cushion and secured with two leather straps. The interior of the cover is also cushioned and decorated with gold plated tacks, containing two leather straps which hold the leather parchment Charter.

CHARTER

The Charter is 100 cm long and 30 cm wide, hand written by renowned Serbian calligrapher Svetozara Pajic Dijak from Novi Sad, on goat leather - parchment with decorative flags and initials. It contains a compilation prayer to the Holy Cross in Church Slavonic, Greek and Arabic

Church Slavonic	Greek	Arabic

Кrте всечcтнhй, ґпcлwвъ похвало2, nрyжіе стrтотeрпцєвъ, сщ7eнникwвъ слaво, прпdбныхъ њграждeніе, всёхъ вёрныхъ храни1телю, сохрани2, њс™и2 вёрнw покланsющыzсz тебЁ.	Σταυρέ πανσεβάσμιε, τών Αποστόλων καύχημα, όπλον Αθλοφόρων, Ιερέων, δόξα Οσίων, περιχαράκωμα, πάντων τών πιστών ο φυλακτήρ, φρούρησον αγίασον, τούς πιστώς προσκυνούντάς σε.	ايها الصليب الكلي الوقار فخر الرسل سلاح اللابسي الظفر شرف الكهنة صيانة الأبرار وحافظ كل المؤمنين صنا وقدّسنا نحن الساجدين لك بايمان.
КrтY твоемY покланsемсz вLко, и3 с™0е воскrніе твоE слaвимъ.	Τόν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνούμεν Δέσποτα, καί τήν αγίαν σου ανάστασιν δοξάζομεν.	لصليبك يا سيدنا نسجد ولقيامتك المقدسة نمجد.
ЦRкви похвалA ты2 є3си2 чcтнhй кrте, царeй nрyжіе и3 мjру всемY ми1ра п0честь бGодёланнаz, кrте, правослaвныхъ рaдосте, вселeнныz храни1телю, сохрани2, њс™и2 тебЁ покланsющыzсz.	Τής Εκκλησίας καύχημα, σύ εί τίμιε Σταυρέ, βασιλείας όπλον, καί τού Κόσμου παντός, ειρήνης βραβείον θεότευκτον. Σταυρέ Ορθοδόξων η χαρά, τής Οικουμένης φύλαξ, φύλαξον αγίασον, τούς σέ προσκυνούντας.	أيها الصليب المكرم أنت هو فخر الكنيسة وسلاح المملكة وجوائز السلامة المتقنة من الله لكل العالم فيا أيها الصليب فرح المستقيمي الرأي وحافظ المسكونة احفظ وقدس الساجدين لك.
КrтY твоемY покланsемсz вLко, и3 с™0е воскrніе твоE слaвимъ.	Τόν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνούμεν Δέσποτα, καί τήν αγίαν σου ανάστασιν δοξάζομεν.	لصليبك يا سيدنا نسجد ولقيامتك المقدسة نمجد.
Пріиди1те поклони1мсz жи1зни нaшеz ходaтаю, kвлeнному дрeву днeсь, хrтA бGа нaшегw кrтY, и4мже смeрть ўzзви1сz, и3 воскrніе нaмъ пaдшымъ њбнови1сz ћвэ, и3збaвившему зовyще: нaсъ рaди в0лею пострадaвый, да сп7сeши всsчєскаz, б9е нaшъ, слaва тебЁ.	Δεύτε προσκυνήσωμεν, τό τής ζωής ημών πρόξενον, πεφηνός ξύλον σήμερον, Χριστού τού Θεού ημών, τόν Σταυρόν, δι' ού περ θάνατος ετρώθη, καί η ανάστασις ημίν, τοίς επταικόσιν εκαινουργήθη σαφώς, τώ ρυσαμένω κράζοντες. Ο δι' ημάς εκουσίως παθών, ίνα σώσης τά σύμπαντα, ο Θεός ημών δόξα σοι.	هلّم نسجد اليوم للعود الذي ظهر مسبّبا لنا الحياة أعني صليب المسيح الهنا الذي به جرح الموت وتجدّدت القيامة بايضاح لنا نحن الساقطين هاتفين لمنقذنا يا من تألّمت لأجلنا باختيارك لكيما تخلص الكل يا الهنا المجد لك.
Слaва nц7Y, и3 сн7у, и3 с™0му д¦у, и3 нhнэ и3 при1снw, и3 во вёки вэкHвъ. ґми1нь.	Δόξα Πατρί και Υιώ και Αγίω Πνεύματι, και νυν και αεί και εις τούς αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν.	المجد للآب والأبن والروح القدس ,الآن وكلّ أوان والى دهر الداهين .آمين.

Prayer on goat leather parchment

With the blessing of H.E. Theophylact, Archbishop of Jordan from Jerusalem Patriarchate, this gold plated silver filigree cross is placed on altar table behind iconostasis in the Nativity church in Bethlehem. Particle of the True Holy Cross is inserted in small compartment in the lower zone of wood-carved cross.

Funds necessary for manufacturing of this altar cross were collected among Serbian Orthodox believers, by efforts of Mrs. Gordana Sipka from Novi Sad and Sister Dorothea from Church of Nativity.

Precious stones were donated by grace of Mr. Dusan and Mrs. Leonora Vulovic from Belgrade.

Material:                silver 950, green agate, serpentine, MOP, fresh water pearls, gilding 23 K, wild pear-wood.
Technique:             filigree, granulation, wood-carving (Vucicevic Dobrivoje (wood carving studio Kalistrat), hand engraving
                            (Rade Lazic, Kragujevac), calligraphy (Svetozar Pajic-Dijak, Novi Sad), carpentry (Radoljub Cirica,
                             Konarevo - Kraljevo), polstry (Rade Dugalic, Mataruska Banja)
Size:                     silver cross 63×30x27 cm., chest 80 x 55 x 50 cm.
Weight:                 silver cross 2054 gr.
Year:                     2011.
Commissioned by:  Mrs. Sipka Gordana, Novi Sad.
In possession of :   Church of Nativity, Bethlehem, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.