5017

Russian Orthodox Bells, Lot of 4 - RARE! [132263]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,600.00 - 3,200.00 USD
Russian Orthodox Bells, Lot of 4 - RARE!  [132263]
SOLD
2,600.00USD+ (650.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 May 17 @ 08:26UTC-7 : PDT/MST
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. Shipping and handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing as it is based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping and handling costs, if required, will be re-invoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size.SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size a...
Bell ringing is a time-honored tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, and an integral part of Orthodoxy’s divine services, as well as important to the national heritage of Russian, her spirituality and culture. Bell ringing began in 988 when Rus was baptized and has always been considered a sacred function that may only be performed by a special member of the church. Different ringing is used at different moments of the service (before the service, during the most essential parts of the All-Night Vigil or Divine Liturgy, while the departed is being carried to the cemetery, etc.). Four kinds of canonical tolls are distinguished, which, rung separately or in combination, comprise all the diversity of Orthodox bell-ringing: Blagovest, Perebor, Perezvon, and Trezvon.These are 4 solid bronze bells, very heavy, adorned with traditional Russian Orthodox imagery containing spiritual icons and religious scenes, as well as ornamental decoration. Weight and sizes are approximate and in order from smallest to largest: 4.5" diameter (5" tall) 1.5kg; 7" diameter (7.5" tall) 3.5 kg; 8.75" diameter (9.25" tall) 8.0 kg; and 11.75" diameter (12.25" tall) 16.5kg. The heavy metal bell clappers are all present and easily hook on a metal ring inside each bell. These are not ornamental or souvenir bells that are easily bought and sold online. These bells are believed to be made by Armenian Bell Maker, Artyom Engoyam in Moscow between 1997 and 2000. (Deceased 2003). Likely these bells were originally part of a small set of 9 for a Church or part of a set of 13 for a Monastery or Cathedral. Bells of this quality, craftsmanship and size are rarely found for sale as they are almost exclusively commissioned to be made to order by Religious organizations for use in Churches, Cathedrals and the like. Many small congregations do not even have the luxury of owning their own set of bells. Rarely, an individual member of the Church might have the money and resources to order bells for a private or home chapel. Because bell ringing is such a sacred practice, and of great importance in Orthodox services, bells are cherished and carefully cared for and protected, often holding great historical, sentimental and spiritual value and importance to congregations. As a result they are rarely sold, although tragically, theft of church bells has been a centuries long occurrence, many melted down for other uses, especially during times of war. This set of 4 bells are treble bells; the smaller two bells are in the 3rd Octave above middle C, and the larger two bells are in the 2nd Octave above Middle C. These bells were made to be rung together in a harmonic peal, although when rung singly they still have a lovely voice. An excellent resource on Russian bell ringing, "Typikon for Church Ringing", Approved by the Synodal Commission for Divine Services and Confirmed by His All-Holiness Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was published August 26, 2002. A translation of the bell-ringer’s ustav, or typikon, graciously provided by Blagovest Bells, the only Russian bell maker in the U.S., is available online: http://www.russianbells.com/ringing/typikon-bellringing.pdf. A Special Thank you to Mark Galperin, Blagovest Bells for the assistance and information he kindly provided on these beautiful Russian bells.

Date: c1997-2000
Country (if not USA): Russia
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