Alexievsky cross, Stone wayside cross at Saint Sophia Cathedral, Russia.
The Alexievsky cross is a stone wayside cross with four widening ends displayed on the cathedral wall. Its arms feature relief carvings with biblical motifs that make it an important sculptural element inside the sanctuary.
An archbishop named Alexei commissioned this cross during the 14th century, likely to commemorate an important event. The lower section suffered damage in the 20th century and was later restored with modern materials.
The cross displays carved religious scenes that draw people to pause and pray before it. This artistic focus makes it a personal place of devotion within the cathedral.
The cross stands inside the cathedral in a clearly visible position and is easy to find. Visitors should remember this is a fragile historical object that deserves respectful viewing.
Much of the cross was destroyed and lost during World War II. In the following decades, craftspeople reconstructed the missing lower half using modern plaster, making it an example of how historic objects survive and are remade.
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