Exceedingly rare and important 18th Century LARGE Russian Orthodox reliquary / pectoral Cross. The cross is made of 14 karat gold and is a very large piece measuring 11.7x6.5cm (4.6”x2.6”). It is paved with superb natural ruby gems estimated to weigh approximately 10 carats. There are exactly 83 rubies of various sizes set throughout the cross, the largest one being the crown centerpiece that measures roughly 6.8x6.1x3.7mm having an estimated weight of about 1.5 carats stand alone. Being a reliquary cross makes the piece an even more of a spectacular find further bearing in mind the fact that all of the Saint’s remains have been preserved within the back compartment completely intact. The Saint's relics inside are those of Apostle Andrew (St. Andrew the First Called) and the inner wall of the gold compartment bears two engraved initials A.A that stand for Apostle Andrew. The front of the cross has an enamel over gold painting of Christ and the back is finely and richly engraved with same. The ruby paved crown atop is typical for the Greek and Russian orthodox churches and is emblematic for such antique pieces. Gross weight of cross without chain is 45 grams and about 70 grams with chain. The chain is silver gilt. Although apparently unmarked, that is considered common for an 18th century piece of the kind.

Absolutely scarce antique religious jewelry collector piece and one of the rarest 18^th century gold reliquary and pectoral crosses and church jewels. A cross of such craftsmanship, value and importance has most likely been owned by a member of the Russian Royal Family or a very high ranking Russian church official like the patriarch himself, a bishop or alike. Similar crosses are on display at the Kremlin museum collection.

Eusebius in his church history quotes Origen as saying Andrew preached in Scythia. The Chronicle of Nestor adds that he preached along the Black Sea and the Dnieper river as far as Kiev, and from there he traveled to Novgorod. Hence, he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. St. Andrew is one of the highly praised patron Saints by the Russian Church and people. According to tradition, he founded the See of Byzantium (Constantinople) in AD 38, installing Stachys as bishop. According to Hippolytus of Rome, he preached in Thrace, and his presence in Byzantium is also mentioned in the apocryphal Acts of Andrew, written in the 2nd century; Basil of Seleucia also knew of Apostle Andrew's mission in Thrace, as well as Scythia and Achaia. This diocese would later develop into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Andrew is recognized as its patron saint.

Relics of the Apostle Andrew are kept at the Basilica of St Andrew in Patras, Greece; the Duomo di Sant'Andrea, Amalfi, Italy; St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland; and the Church of St Andrew and St Albert, Warsaw, Poland. There are also numerous smaller reliquaries throughout the world.

Andrew's remains were preserved at Patras. According to one legend, St. Regulus (Rule) was a monk at Patras, who was advised in a dream to hide some of the bones. Shortly thereafter, most of the relics were translated from Patras to Constantinople by order of the Roman emperor Constantius II around 357 and deposited in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

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