Characteristics:
Dimensions: 21х9 mm
Average weight: 3.5 g
Composition: silver 925, gilding 999
Technique of execution: casting, gilding, blackening, handmade
The bead is devoted to the antiquated legend about the prophet Jonah who received from God command once to go to Nineveh with the sermon of repentance and a prediction for death of the city for its ungodliness if inhabitants of it don't regret. But the prophet instead of obeying God's command, got on the ship and went to Tarshish, Phoenician colony in Spain. During a sea lane the ship was overtaken by a terrible storm, and seafarers in fear cast lots to learn for whose sins they drew upon themselves God's anger. The lot fell on Jonah who confessed to the sin of disobedience to God and asked seafarers to throw it into the sea that those immediately and performed, and the storm ceased. Meanwhile, on Divine Providence, Jonah in the sea was absorbed by a whale. Having stayed in a belly whale three days and three nights, Jonah prayed to the Lord – the prayer on the back of a suspension "My God is devoted to it, salvage our souls" — and then it was cast by fish ashore. This story was often applied in ancient Christian art as the Revival prototype. Such symbolism is based on clear specifying of Jesus Christ: "Because as Jonah was in a belly of a whale three days and three nights, and the Son Chelovechesky will be in earth heart three days and three nights" (The Gospel of Matthew, XII, 40). After the disposal the prophet Jonah received again Bozhy an order to go to Nineveh where he also went. Its sermon struck with horror of heart of the Nineveh tsar and people; they regretted the ungodliness and owing to their repentance the Lord spared Nineveh.
