The National Museum of the History of Ukraine presented works of votive pendants made in the period from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. Information about this was made public on the museum's official Facebook page.
According to the Christian tradition, the faithful expressed their gratitude to God for a healing or the fulfillment of a promise through a votive gift. One of the common ways of showing respect was to make votums - small plates in the shape of different parts of the human body or those containing their images. These votives were made of precious metals, such as gold and silver, and attached to particularly revered icons.
The tradition of making votive pendants spread throughout Ukraine and especially in Poland during the 17th–19th centuries. Whether simple or elaborate, these votives expressed deep feelings of hope and gratitude that helped people overcome adversity.
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine preserves a collection of votive pendants from the 19th-early 20th century, which were previously usually studied by scientists. However, these works can now be viewed on the museum-digital digital platform created by the museum itself.
