Precious triad Cross-Anchor-Heart
Faith, hope and love – three Christian virtues, mentioned in the first letter to the Corinthians from the Apostle Paul: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13)” These virtues are of great importance for Christianity. Three signs of triad – Cross – Anchor – Heart, according to historians, for thousands of years are an allegory to describe the three main Christian virtues: faith, hope and love. Together, they symbolize the Holy Trinity. In Europe, you can meet these designations in architecture, ornaments, patterns. Sometimes artists portray the Virgin and angels that keep the allegorical subjects. Precious triad Cross-Anchor-Heart was often depicted in the works of jewelers of the late 18-19 centuries. It is believed that the jewelry with symbols of the Cross – Anchor – Heart came into vogue in the 1830s, and for decades remained in favor.
On today’s global market for antiques, Precious triad Cross-Anchor-Heart can still be found in the jewelry category, but as a rule, they are of a later period. It is rare to find a little piece of the first half of the 19th century. Precious triad Cross-Anchor-Heart is a distinctive feature of Victorian or Edwardian period (1860 – 1920).
The cross is a symbol of the Faith. One of the oldest symbols of human civilization. It is a Latin cross, or sometimes referred to as a long cross, traditionally depicted on the triad. In the Middle Ages the Western priests labeled with a cross a passage in the book, where they had to cross.
Anchor – a symbol of hope. Sacred items that were sacrificed, for sailors it was very often only anchor, the symbol of salvation. The anchor as a symbol of hope was cast on ancient coins of Greece, Syria, Phoenicia, Carthage and Rome. The value of the anchor has been borrowed from the Christian culture of the Romans, as in the art of ancient Rome anchor symbolized the joy of returning home after a long journey.
An anchor became the key symbol of Christianity in times of Roman persecution. The early Christians portrayed the anchor instead of a cross on the walls of the catacombs, next to the word “peace”, and the fish – a symbol of Christ.
Heart – a symbol of love. It was later added to the triad (late 17th century), after Catholicism finally established the cult of “Sacred Heart of Jesus.” It was this cult that categorically was not taken by Russian Orthodox Church, that’s probably for this reason that the allegory Cross – Anchor – Heart has not become widespread in Russia.
All the decorations have different designs and materials used in them. They differ in skill performance, beauty and elegance. Consequently, such ornaments were worn by ladies of different consistency and material possibilities, but they all were loved, and they were exposed to great change for current fashion.
In Russia, these symbols of virtue are rare, usually in architecture, when architects were invited Europeans. Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov) has made a Christian Catechism of three parts. About faith in God and the sacraments, which he opens, Filaret interprets Creed and tells the story of the seven sacraments. About hope in God and the means to establish yourself in it – Filaret explains the prayer “Our Father” and the Sermon on the Mount. About the love of God and of all that He commanded to love – the author tells the story of the Ten Commandments.
The Russians don’t see the triad like anchor, cross and heart. Instead, they see it as three saint women named Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov (faith, hope and love), still popular female names. The Day of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov and their mother Sophia is celebrated on the 30th of September.