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Byzantine, Coptic & Early Christian · c. 300 – 1453

Encolpia & reliquary crosses

Meaning

An encolpion ('on the chest') is a hinged cross or locket holding a relic, such as a fragment of the True Cross, a saint's bone, cloth or a painted icon. It turns the holy into something worn against the body.

Intent

It gave constant protection and blessing from the relic inside and marked the wearer's devotion. Bishops wore encolpia as signs of office, and laypeople carried them into battle, travel and illness.

Significance

Encolpia are the Christian answer to the pagan amulet capsule and among the most widespread Christian objects of the Middle Ages, with thousands of bronze examples found from Kiev to Jerusalem. Orthodox bishops still wear them.

History

Encolpia appear by the 4th century (Gregory of Nyssa describes one). Reliquary crosses were widespread from the 6th century and mass-produced in bronze from the 10th to 13th centuries in Byzantium and Kievan Rus'.

Making yours
Crosses 5–12 cm in two cast bronze halves, hinged top and bottom, incised or niello-filled. Gold versions carry cloisonné enamel.
Byzantine, Coptic & Early Christian: the tradition

Early Christians inherited the full Roman amulet tradition, and church leaders fought it for centuries. John Chrysostom mocked mothers who tied bells and coins on babies, and the Council of Laodicea (c. 363) banned clergy from making phylacteries. Instead of disappearing, amulets were Christianised: Solomon became the demon-binder, saints replaced heroes, and relics, holy oil and earth from pilgrimage shrines became the most powerful protection of all. Byzantine amulets combined Greek magical formulas with the cross, the Trisagion and saints' names. The tradition fed Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Ethiopian Christian amulets and the pilgrimage souvenirs of medieval Europe.

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Bottega bizantina, reliquiario a capsella con sa giovanni crisostomo, argento, xiv secoloBottega bizantina, reliquiario a capsella con sa giovanni crisostomo, argento, xiv secoloBottega di costantinopoli o di tessalonica, reliquiario a capsula con discesa al limbo e crocifissione, xiv secolo, argentoBottega di costantinopoli o di tessalonica, reliquiario a capsula con discesa al limbo e crocifissione, xiv secolo, argentoDinogetia TreasureDinogetia Treasure4 th century AD date QS:P571,+350-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Reliquary Pendant with Virgin and ChildReliquary Pendant with Virgin and Childmid 16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Post-Byzantine)Mikulčice ArchaeoparkMikulčice ArchaeoparkPectoral relic cross, 11th-12th c, exh. Benedictines NG PraguePectoral relic cross, 11th-12th c, exh. Benedictines NG PragueArte bizantina, reliquiario della vera croce, oro e smalti, xiii secolo con piede del 1450 ca.Arte bizantina, reliquiario della vera croce, oro e smalti, xiii secolo con piede del 1450 ca.Pectoral Cross with the Virgin and Child, Saints Peter, John, and GeorgePectoral Cross with the Virgin and Child, Saints Peter, John, and George11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 ( Middle Ages era QS:P2348,Q12554 )Das Erbe von Cappenberg-EnkolpionDas Erbe von Cappenberg-EnkolpionReliquary Pendant with Virgin and ChildReliquary Pendant with Virgin and Childmid 16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Post-Byzantine)Pectoral relic cross, 11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PraguePectoral relic cross, 11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PragueVyborg Castle - Faces of the Middle AgesVyborg Castle - Faces of the Middle AgesEngolpion from GnyozdovoEngolpion from Gnyozdovo10 th century date QS:P,+950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Reliquary Pendant with Virgin and ChildReliquary Pendant with Virgin and Childmid 16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Post-Byzantine)Krzyzyk wielkomorawski WroclawKrzyzyk wielkomorawski Wroclaw10 th century date QS:P,+950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Pectoral relic cross, 1000, exh. Benedictines NG PraguePectoral relic cross, 1000, exh. Benedictines NG PragueReliquary Pendant with Virgin and ChildReliquary Pendant with Virgin and Childmid 16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Post-Byzantine)Dinogetia TreasureDinogetia Treasure4 th century AD date QS:P571,+350-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Reliquary Pendant with Virgin and ChildReliquary Pendant with Virgin and Childmid 16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Post-Byzantine)Maastricht, OLV-basiliek, Byzantijns Maria-enkolpionMaastricht, OLV-basiliek, Byzantijns Maria-enkolpion11 th century date QS:P,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Byzantijns enkolpion, OLV-basiliek Maastricht (collage voorzijde)Byzantijns enkolpion, OLV-basiliek Maastricht (collage voorzijde)Cross, encolpion (6880171857)Cross, encolpion (6880171857)Kříž z MikulčicKříž z MikulčicViking age christian cross found in Lund swedenViking age christian cross found in Lund swedenBisanzio, croce reliquiario, rame, vetro, paste vitree, XIII sec, AM11178Bisanzio, croce reliquiario, rame, vetro, paste vitree, XIII sec, AM11178Bottega bizantina, reliquiario a capsula con croce, oro, smalti e pietre preziose, xii secoloBottega bizantina, reliquiario a capsula con croce, oro, smalti e pietre preziose, xii secoloBottega forse bizantina, reliquiario a castone, xiii secolo, oro e perleBottega forse bizantina, reliquiario a castone, xiii secolo, oro e perleCroce reliquiario (enkolpion), da una tomba nella chiesa dei ss. quaranta martiri, ix secolo ca.Croce reliquiario (enkolpion), da una tomba nella chiesa dei ss. quaranta martiri, ix secolo ca.Engolpion - 12-13c - Spaso-Yevfimiyev MonasteryEngolpion - 12-13c - Spaso-Yevfimiyev MonasteryIcon with the Virgin and ChildIcon with the Virgin and ChildPL Gloger-Encyklopedja staropolska ilustrowana T.2 143-1PL Gloger-Encyklopedja staropolska ilustrowana T.2 143-1Panagia orantePanagia oranteSmolensk Historical Museum - 0298Smolensk Historical Museum - 0298Народни музеј Лесковац - стална поставка, Времеплов лесковачког краја, верски предметиНародни музеј Лесковац - стална поставка, Времеплов лесковачког краја, верски предметиArtefactsArtefactsBronze cross, 10th-11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PragueBronze cross, 10th-11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PragueByzantine enkolpion, OLV-basiliek Maastricht (collage Bock & Willemsen)Byzantine enkolpion, OLV-basiliek Maastricht (collage Bock & Willemsen)Enkolpion with the Crucifixion (front) and Saints Theodore and George (back), about 1080-1120 AD, Byzantine, Constantinople, silver gilt and cloisonne enamelEnkolpion with the Crucifixion (front) and Saints Theodore and George (back), about 1080-1120 AD, Byzantine, Constantinople, silver gilt and cloisonne enamelPectoral reliquary crosses, 10th-11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PraguePectoral reliquary crosses, 10th-11th c, exh. Benedictines NG PraguePontic Sanctification Cross and EngolpionPontic Sanctification Cross and EngolpionSmolensk Historical Museum - 0264Smolensk Historical Museum - 0264Крест тельникКрест тельникBottega fiorentina, enkolpion (reliquiario), in argento, smalti, osso e corno, 1330-60 caBottega fiorentina, enkolpion (reliquiario), in argento, smalti, osso e corno, 1330-60 caEnkolpion with the Crucifixion (front) and Saints Theodore and GeorgeEnkolpion with the Crucifixion (front) and Saints Theodore and GeorgeDas Erbe von Cappenberg-Enkolpion-WUS02787Das Erbe von Cappenberg-Enkolpion-WUS02787Hörningsholmsskatten, enkopliumHörningsholmsskatten, enkopliumKříž z Uherské HradištěKříž z Uherské HradištěMuzeum Narodowe Ziemi Przemyskiej enkolpiony 2016-12-29 pMuzeum Narodowe Ziemi Przemyskiej enkolpiony 2016-12-29 pScandinavia, enkolpion (reliquairio), 1000 dc ca, da uppakraScandinavia, enkolpion (reliquairio), 1000 dc ca, da uppakraSkara domkyrka (Sankta Maria kyrka)Skara domkyrka (Sankta Maria kyrka)Народни музеј Лесковац - стална поставка, Времеплов лесковачког краја, бронзани крстНародни музеј Лесковац - стална поставка, Времеплов лесковачког краја, бронзани крст00137 wiking, sanok00137 wiking, sanok02016 0978 Enkolpionen aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0978 Enkolpionen aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0983 Enkolpion aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0983 Enkolpion aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0984 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, Sanok 2016-03-25 13-13-33 2016-03-25 13-13-33 2016-03-25 13-1302016 0984 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, Sanok 2016-03-25 13-13-33 2016-03-25 13-13-33 2016-03-25 13-1302016 0985 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Sanok-Trepcza02016 0985 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Sanok-Trepcza02016 0986 Enkolpionen aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0986 Enkolpionen aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0987 Enkolpion aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0987 Enkolpion aus Sanok-Trepcza aus der Zeit des Mongolen-Tataren Überfalls02016 0988 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, Sanok02016 0988 Enkolpion aus archäologischen Funden in Trepcza, Sanok02016 0992 Enkolpionen aus dem 11. bis 13. Jahrhundert., Sanok-Trepcza02016 0992 Enkolpionen aus dem 11. bis 13. Jahrhundert., Sanok-Trepcza

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