A pectoral cross is not just a decoration, but also a symbol of faith, visible evidence of belonging to a church, confession of Christianity, and a means of grace-filled protection. According to the rules of the Orthodox Church, it is not recommended to remove the cross; you must wear it constantly.
If the cross is made of silver, it quickly turns black on the body, especially in the hot summer or with regular intense physical activity. The beautiful white color becomes an unattractive grayish-black. Let's consider the main reasons for this phenomenon, as well as possible ways to solve the problem.
Chemical composition
Silver, in its value, is significantly inferior to other precious metals, the price for this is a lower ability to withstand the influence of the external environment. Pure metal is not used for the production of jewelry due to its high ductility. Products made from soft silver are deformed from the slightest impact and wear very quickly, losing their original shine.
To increase strength, copper and other chemical elements are added to it; the purity content in the alloy is called fineness. The most common are 925, 875, 830. The lower the sample, correspondingly, the lower the amount of noble metal, the sooner blackening occurs.
- This is important: Why are different samples of silver needed?
Why does the cross turn black?! Evil eye? Damage? Sins?
Does witchcraft exist?
So. What does the Church say regarding the “evil eye” or “damage” and witchcraft in general? It exists for those who believe in it. For those who do not entrust their lives to God, do not follow His commandments and, through their sins, voluntarily give access to their souls to dark forces. As if he “invites” them into his heart.
People who themselves engage in fortune-telling, spiritualism, and who visit “grandmothers,” “healers,” “psychics,” and other servants of demons are especially often exposed to various witchcraft influences.
How to protect yourself from witchcraft? Believe not in him, but in God. Live according to God's commandments. Confess, receive communion and participate in other Sacraments of the Church. Never turn to fallen spirits and their servants for help.
And the cross has nothing to do with it...
The Essence of Sin
What about sins? Sin is the result of man's misuse of his God-given freedom of choice. When he chooses not virtue and the commandments of the Almighty, but vice and sin.
This is simply a person’s personal choice, as a result of which he slowly (or quickly, if the sins are mortal) destroys his own soul and separates himself from communication with God.
Sin, again, is not reflected in any way on the cross... It manifests itself in a person’s soul, and if the passion has gone too far, then in the outer appearance (remember, for example, alcoholics. The passion for drinking wine can literally be read in their red, flabby faces, shaking hands, unsteady gait, even if for a brief moment they are sober).
And sin is overcome not by “throwing” it onto a cross, coin or other objects of the material world, but exclusively by repentance and changing one’s life.
Why do the crosses darken?
As a rule, when a person says that his cross has darkened or turned black, he means a cross made of metal. And not just any one.
Wooden crosses generally retain their original color when worn. Also, you almost never hear about the “blackening” of the golden cross. If it really was made of gold, and not from a cheap metal mixture “like” a noble metal.
Silver crosses, like crosses made of other metals, tend to become covered with oxide of the material from which they are made over time. Since they interact with sweat, water, air, etc.
For such metals this is a natural process. For example, a copper cross will become covered with a greenish patina from long wear... But we don’t say that it “turns green from the evil eye.”
Original publication on the author's blog. I also recommend reading: “ The Orthodox view of loneliness .”
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Health status
The main reason for the blackening of the cross on the human body is sweating. With sweat, a huge number of chemical compounds are excreted from the body, most of them have a negative effect on silver.
The pectoral cross is susceptible to this effect more than other jewelry, for the simple reason that there are many sweat glands on the chest. The severity of sweat depends on several factors.
- Stress can seriously affect the chemical composition of sweat. At the biochemical level, stress acts like radiation and has a destructive effect on the entire body.
- Diseases can also affect metabolism, however, the most noticeable effect on the silver cross is exerted by medications, the remains of which are eliminated through sweat.
- Intense physical activity leads to increased sweat production; accordingly, the amount of harmful substances increases, which certainly affects the appearance of the pectoral cross.
How to care for silver
To prevent silver from turning black, jewelers coat the product with rhodium. This material protects silver, which is susceptible to sulfur compounds, and helps it remain shiny.
Caring for silver jewelry
In addition, in order to protect the precious metal from patina, you should properly care for your silver jewelry - clean and polish it regularly, remove it when taking a shower or washing dishes, and do not play sports while wearing your jewelry.
Silver should be stored in a special box or case with soft upholstery. It is best to fold jewelry so that they do not touch each other - this way you will avoid scratches and chips.
Source
Ways to protect silver
There are two methods of coating jewelry to protect it from the harmful effects of the environment and preserve its original appearance.
Rhodium plating is coating the surface of a product with a thin layer of rhodium, a platinum group metal with unique reflective properties and increased hardness. The use of this technology allows us to solve the problem of not only oxidation, but also the loss of shine of silver jewelry. Disadvantages of rhodium plating can be considered a change in color towards a grayer one and the wiping of the coating over time, which becomes necessary for restoration.
- This is useful: Advantages and disadvantages of rhodium plated silver
Silvering is the application of pure silver to a product, which resists blackening much better. Apart from wiping, like any other spraying, this method has no disadvantages; it is an ideal option for protecting the pristine appearance of the pectoral cross.
Another common disadvantage of all types of coatings is their complete or partial destruction during repairs using soldering and heating to high temperatures.
What to do if the silver has turned black
Do not despair if the silver has become tarnished or darkened. Unfortunately, a similar fate awaits many jewelry made from this metal - especially those that we wear without taking them off. Even if your favorite piece of jewelry has become covered with patina, it will not be difficult to clean silver from blackness at home. Choose any convenient method:
Using lipstick
Oddly enough, ordinary lipstick is one of the best silver cleaners. It contains a lot of fat and titanium dioxide, which not only help clean silver from plaque, but also give the jewelry a beautiful shine.
Cleaning silver with lipstick
Apply lipstick to the jewelry, take a brush and rub the product until it squeaks. The decoration will brighten before your eyes! However, it is worth keeping in mind that this method is only good for smooth jewelry without precious stones.
Why does a silver or gold cross turn black?
The cross is the most recognizable symbol of Christianity, a sign of acceptance of God's mercy and gratitude to Christ for his sacrificial deed. We receive our first crosses during the sacrament of baptism, usually at a very tender age. Religious dogmas require wearing the symbol of faith at all times.
Although the pectoral cross is filled with spiritual content, its embodiment is quite material: it is an object made of wood, stone, and more often, metal. And therefore it is able to change depending on external and internal factors.
If a silver cross has turned black, this is not a reason to look for an explanation among a heap of superstitions and understand religious dogmas. Most likely, this phenomenon has a completely scientific explanation.
Why silver turns black on the human body: signs
One of the most common precious metals is silver. It has special energetic properties, so the darkening of the metal causes many concerns. From this article you can find out what suddenly blackened silver promises.
Many people prefer silver jewelry over gold jewelry. Silver looks elegant, it is cheaper than gold, and in addition, this metal has special energy properties. Of course, not everyone can wear silver. However, if you are not one of the people for whom this metal will be harmful, then silver will serve you well - for example, it will protect you from negative energy.
Surely you have noticed more than once that the jewelry on your body periodically turns black. And even cleaning does not help get rid of the darkening: after some time, the silver changes color again. It is not necessary that the impurities present in the precious metal are to blame. Perhaps there is simply a lot of negativity directed in your direction. There are several old signs associated with this.
Bad thoughts
Any negative emotions, especially if they are experienced by a strong personality, can be directed without much effort and even accidentally towards the person who causes them. Surely you yourself have noticed that many of the wishes you say in your hearts sometimes come true. It's all about the negative energy that was splashed out on the person annoying you. However, this energy is not strong enough, and silver jewelry is quite capable of absorbing it without allowing it to reach the owner. Therefore, if your silver chain, ring or earrings have darkened, it means you managed to avoid trouble.
Damage or evil eye
Silver reacts to any negative energy directed at the owner of the jewelry. If these are not just bad thoughts, but a strong evil eye, damage or even a curse, then silver is unlikely to cope. But it will definitely warn its owner about the effect that they are trying to produce on it, and it will darken. The darker the color, the stronger the damage or evil eye. You yourself can feel changes in yourself: if the world becomes dull and boring, nothing makes you happy, and melancholy seems to have settled in your heart, most likely you have been jinxed. In this case, cleaning the jewelry will help little - it will immediately return to its dark “appearance” and will lighten only when the damage is removed. You can protect yourself from the evil eye with the help of amulets, but first you need to understand what exactly you are dealing with. Your decoration will again help you with this.
- Pectoral cross . The worst thing is if your pectoral cross darkens. This means a strong curse. Think about who you have angered so much and try not to delay in getting rid of the unhappiness directed at you. A blackened cross is a very bad sign, and if you do not take action, serious dangers may await you: for example, health problems.
- Ring . Most often, rings are worn by women. If the decoration has darkened, it means that a crown of celibacy is being sent to its owner. In this situation, everything is not so scary: the crown of celibacy can be removed independently and without much effort. Most likely, the unpleasant wish came from one of your envious friends, so you should take a closer look at your surroundings.
- Earrings or chain with decoration . These decorations warn the owner of an attempt to cast the evil eye. To avoid problems in love and financial spheres, it is necessary to get rid of negative influences.
Disease
Another sign says that silver darkens when the owner falls ill. In fact, this phenomenon even has a scientific explanation. The fact is that the sweat of a sick person is different from the sweat of a healthy person. Therefore, when silver comes into contact with the body of a person affected by one or another ailment, it begins to oxidize and darken. If you notice that your silver jewelry has darkened, even if nothing is bothering you yet, pay increased attention to your health. Better yet, visit a doctor and get tested. Sometimes a disease can remain hidden in the body for a long time without manifesting itself. And the sooner you diagnose it, the better.
Darkening of silver on your body is a bad sign. This means you can’t hesitate. Prepare for the fact that something may go wrong: go to the doctor and start timely treatment. And if you are sure that they want to put the evil eye on you, it is recommended to protect yourself. To do this, you can put on yourself an unbreakable amulet from the evil eye, envious people and problems that can protect you. Also be sure to clean your silver.
