Russian bronze cross of the Patriarchs with feasts - 19th century

this bronze and polychrome enamel cross features an inner core in the shape of a Byzantine cross around which twenty scenes celebrating the feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year come to life.
In particular, these are the 16 great feasts, celebrating selected episodes from the Old and New Testaments. Of the scenes on the sides, only one differs in that it is not contained in the Scriptures, namely a depiction of St Nicholas of Bari. In the centre, Jesus is depicted in the Byzantine manner, with one arm of the cross inclined to symbolise his value as the 'Scales of Justice'. At his feet is Adam's skull, symbolising humanity redeemed from original sin through Jesus' sacrifice, while above the cross is the Byzantine cosmos with Jesus the saviour blessing with one hand and holding the world in the other, the dove of the Holy Spirit and two angels awaiting the body and soul of Jesus. Above we find Our Lady depicted as the Virgin of Signs, i.e. with her hands raised and the frontal child inscribed in a circle. On the upper part, we again find the Madonna and Child surrounded by roundels depicting the four Evangelists. On the sides of the cross are the saints in Deesis, i.e. bowed to ask for Jesus' intercession. The cross is completed by a ray decoration on the upper part that culminates in representations of six-winged angels.
Height x width x depth: 23.5 x 40 x 2 cm.
Item condition grading: **** good.