Mănăstirea Secu. Buletin istoric şi cultural, I, Galaţi, 2025, pp. 35-53
CÂT DE BIZANTIN ESTE ENCOLPIONUL DE LA BÂTCA DOAMNEI? DISCUŢII PE MARGINEA UNOR CRUCI-ENCOLPION RECENT DESCOPERITE ÎN JUDEŢUL NEAMŢ
AUTOR: Vitalie JOSANU
Cuvinte Cheie: Encolpion, Moldova, Mitropolia de Halici, Kiev, Bizanţ, cruci-relicvar, creştinism, ierarhii bisericeşti
Keywords: Encolpion, Moldova, Metropolitanate of Halici, Kiev, Byzantium, reliquary crosses, Christianity, church hierarchies
HOW BYZANTINE IS THE ENKOLPION FROM BÂTCA DOAMNEI? DISCUSSIONS ON RECENTLY DISCOVERED ENKOLPION CROSSES IN NEAMŢ COUNTY
(Abstract)
The present study is prompted by the discovery of two faces of Old Russian reliquary crosses, dated to the 12th–13th centuries, found in Neamţ County, in 2024 and 2025, to which the reverse of another specimen, discovered in 2025 in the commune of Vârfu Câmpului (Botoşani County), is added.
The analysis of the discovered items reveals a number of common elements and has allowed for the reopening of discussions regarding the enkolpion cross discovered during the archaeological excavations conducted in the mid-20th century at the Bâtca Doamnei fortress, in Piatra Neamţ. Initially considered by its discoverers to be a Byzantine enkolpion, this piece nevertheless contains a series of indicators – including inscriptions – as well as analogies that place it within the repertoire of old Russian enkolpia. The similarities identified in the register of Syrian-type Byzantine enkolpia only serve to suggest the sources of inspiration for the craftsmen from the Kievan workshops.