Gold cross made during the reign of tsar ivan vasilyevich iv in 1560 (kept in the moscow archangel cathedral) this cross in the moscow archangel cathedral is made of chased gilded silver with cast from the same metal overlays of a crucifix and images of the mother of god, john the theologian and other saints; it is 2 quarters 1/4 inches long, decorated in places with large angular pearls and precious stones. At its foot is the following inscription indicating the depositor, the time and place of construction: in the year of april, on a day by the command of the blessed tsar ivan vasilyevich of all russia, this cross was erected in the year of his state for the famous church and cathedral of the archangel michael, in the god-saved city of moscow. On the reverse side of the cross is another inscription in ligature, knotted, in several circles, as stated in the old inventory of the cathedral sacristy, depicted in large french letters; it contains the names of those saints whose relics are placed in this cross. The slavic letters are called fryazhskie from their handwriting, or style, also known as the "fryazh alphabet", which consisted of knotted letters connected to each other and was used in inscriptions and in red lines. Since precious sacred utensils were mostly arranged by sovereigns by promise and to commemorate happy events, then, probably, this cross was made by tsar ivan vasilyevich in gratitude to god for his victories in livonia, where in 1560 the russians took 11 cities, and for the successes of his arms in the crimea. Another altar cross, in the sacristy of the archangel cathedral, is chased gold, almost the same size as the first; it is decorated with precious stones and large pearls. Its workmanship is distinguished by its purity. From the inscription on it it is evident that it was granted to the cathedral by tsar feodor alekseevich in 1677 for the eternal remembrance of his parent. Date: 1846—1853.
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