Medieval Byzantine Devotional Bronze Cross Necklace

Please Note: This is an authentic ancient Byzantine Cross, and you will receive the exact Cross in the photographs and description.

Size Including Bail: 1 1/8" Across, 2" Tall - The Width of a U.S. Half Dollar

This Byzantine Cross was formed by the hands of an artisan almost 1,000 years ago — a small, sacred object that once hung close to the heart of a believer. Crafted in bronze and carried through the rhythms of medieval life, it witnessed the challenges, hopes, and daily devotions of its first owner… and may have accompanied its wearer through a lifetime of prayer, travel, struggle, triumph or pilgrimage — a constant reminder of Christ’s protection.

In Byzantium, faith was the heartbeat of the empire. Every aspect of life — from the laws of emperors to the humblest household — echoed with devotion. And among the most cherished personal objects were simple bronze crosses like this one, worn by Crusaders, pilgrims, clergy, and everyday townsfolk seeking daily blessing.

Today, after centuries buried in the earth, it has been gently restored to life in our Conservation Lab — not altered, only revealed — so it can continue its quiet, powerful story with the next guardian who wears it. .

NOTE: We have added the bronze loops you see at the top of the Cross so you are able to wear it with chains or leather up to 5mm in width. We are happy to remove the loops if you request. Please see the description below for the size of the original bail hole. This Byzantine Cross comes complete with a 24" 3mm center-hide leather cord. 

The Medieval Byzantine Cross Pendant

• Empire: Byzantine
• Date: circa 1,000 AD
  
• Metal: Bronze
• Size Including Bail: 1/8" Across, 2" Tall - The Width of a U.S. Half Dollar
• Cord: 24" 3mm Center Hide Leather Cord with Stainless Steel Findings
• Bail: This Cross has an intact original bail with a 2mm opening. Originally it would have been attached to a loop for wearing. We have added bronze loops to the Cross which accommodate up to a 5mm chain or leather cord. These loops can be removed at your request.

April's Notes: This Cross is beautiful in hand. When we received it, it was heavily encrusted. Robert gently conserved and restored it to its original condition. When you hold it, you can see it was worn for many years by a faithful believer, possibly passed from generation to generation. It is now ready to be worn again, many hundreds of years after it was hand crafted.

Many Byzantine crosses bear the dot-in-circle design, a symbolic representation of the Five Wounds of Christ. To medieval believers, these marks were more than decoration — they were reminders of Christ’s suffering, sacrifice, and unending protection.

Each dot signified one of the sacred wounds, while the encircling ring represented eternity. To wear this symbol was to carry Christ’s love close to one’s heart, trusting His wounds to guard, guide, and sanctify the wearer. It transformed an everyday cross into a deeply personal emblem of devotion and divine shelter.

Some Byzantine Crosses end in rounded ball terminals or double-ball finials, a stylistic choice that adds both beauty and symbolic depth to these ancient devotional pieces. While not tied to a single codified meaning, these sculpted ends were deeply intentional — a way for the artisan to give the cross presence, weight, and a sense of completeness.

Symbolically, these rounded finials signified:

• The fullness of creation
Spheres were understood as symbols of wholeness and the perfection of God’s design. Adding them to the arms of a cross was a visual reminder that Christ’s protection extended to all corners of the world.

• The living, breathing nature of faith
Instead of sharp angles, these soft, rounded edges suggested gentleness, mercy, and the eternal life of the believer. They made the cross feel less like an emblem and more like a companion.

• A personal touch from the artisan
Because no two sets of ball or double-ball finials are exactly alike, these crosses show the hand of a medieval maker at work — shaping something meant to be worn, touched, and cherished.

Why these decorative ends mattered to the original wearer

In daily Byzantine life, a cross was not merely jewelry — it was a private act of devotion. These rounded finials made the cross comfortable against the chest, and their distinctive shapes allowed the owner to feel the cross even when it wasn’t visible. It became a tactile reassurance of protection and faith.

And today…

Each of these decorative crosses is a small work of medieval art — preserved, not altered — and ready to continue its life with a new guardian who appreciates its elegance, rarity, and spiritual warmth.

A Note on Patinas: Each one of these precious ancient artifacts is hand-conserved and stabilized in our Conservation Lab. Some Byzantine Crosses have a rich, green patina due to their centuries under ground, while other Crosses display the glowing bronze patina that they had while they were in use millennia ago.  

 Your Byzantine Cross Necklace Comes Complete with:

1. A detailed, three-Page, full color, Certificate of Authenticity that includes the History and Meaning of the Byzantine Cross, customized with the picture of your Cross researched and written by April Knecht
2. The Treasure Hunters Gazette
3. 24" 3mm Center-Hide Leather Cord with Stainless Steel Findings
4. A Mini Museum Display for When You are not Wearing Your Treasure
5. A Treasure Jewelry Care Card