Michael Simon, a Latvian immigrant and devout member of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Old Believers wore this Orthodox Cross as he labored in Pennsylvania coal mines during the 1890s. The Russian Orthodox Cross has three bars, the top represents the plate with INRI (Latin initials for Jesus, King of the Jews) and the bottom bar is a slanted footstool.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.