Ethiopian Iron Blessing Cross
Ethiopia
#A-71
Priests of the Tewahedo (Ethiopian Orthodox) church carry brass or iron hand crosses to bless the faithful. Iron blessing crosses are much scarcer than brass ones. This example, dating to the 18th - 19th c., would have been used in exorcisms as iron is believed to vanquish evil forces.
length - 9"
width - 2 7/8" at widest
length - 9"
width - 2 7/8" at widest