The illustration presents a black-and-white image of a Karawaka. A  caravaca Cross  i polish Karawaka is a two-armed cross, also known as the Cross of St. Zacharias or the Cholera Cross. It was used as a protective amulet against epidemics. The cross consists of one vertical and two horizontal beams, with the upper beam being shorter. Its edges are richly decorated with floral ornamentation.

Above the cross, there is an inscription in Latin, which in Polish means: “By the power of this sign Tau, with which the men of the sons of Israel were marked, deliver us from the plague, O our God. Amen.”

The illustration contains twelve medallions in total. Two of them are placed at the intersections of the Karawaka's arms—one at the top, and the other at the bottom.

The upper medallion is circular. A monogram is a symbol formed from one or more letters, usually the initials of a person. In the center of the medallion is a monogram formed from the Latin letters “I,” “H,” and “S.” A small cross rests atop the central letter. Below the monogram are three nails, joined together at their pointed ends. The monogram is surrounded by a ring that contains a Latin inscription meaning: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

The lower medallion is oval. In its center is a three-armed cross. A figure appears in a cloud on the upper arm, raising the right hand. In the middle of the cross is a bird with outstretched wings. Beneath the cross are three figures growing out of flower stems, their heads surrounded by halos. The central figure has outstretched arms. The medallion is enclosed in a ring bearing a Latin inscription that translates as: “Jesus Mary Joseph Triple Unity.”

Each arm of the Karawaka is divided into two sections by a vertical line. Each section contains sequences of letters—these are the initial letters of various Latin phrases. On the vertical beam, the abbreviations appear on both sides, and the same applies to the horizontal beams.

The abbreviations form coherent sequences and are meant to be read from top to bottom—separately on the left and right sides. From the left side of the vertical beam to the midpoint of the lower horizontal arm, the abbreviation spells out the Aaronic Blessing in Latin. Its English translation reads: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

From the midpoint of the lower arm to the end of the vertical beam, another sequence is formed. These are the initial letters of a prayer against plague, known as the Blessing of Zacharias.

The next sequence starts from the right side of the vertical beam to the midpoint of the upper arm. Its translated form reads: “Behold the Cross of the Lord. Flee, His enemies. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. Alleluia.” This is the Prayer of St. Anthony.

From the right side of the lower arm to the bottom of the vertical beam, the initials represent the Blessing of St. Agatha, which in Polish means: “(She had) a holy, devoted soul, (she gave) glory to God and deliverance to her homeland. Protect us from fire and destruction, Pious Agatha. Amen.”

At the very center of the cross, between the medallions, there is an abbreviation of the phrase: “May God bless you through Tau.”

Along the edges of the cross’s arms are small pendants shaped like pears. A supplication is a Catholic prayer of petition. The pendants attached to the horizontal arms contain the initial letters of the supplication: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.”

Another pendant is located at the bottom, attached to the vertical beam. It bears the first letters of the names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

Above the arms of the cross, on both sides, there are oval medallions featuring saints. The one on the left depicts St. Joachim. He has a long beard and is gazing upward. A halo surrounds his head. He wears a long robe and holds a long staff in his right hand.

The medallion on the right side of the cross shows St. Anne. Her head is gently bowed and encircled by a halo. She wears a veil and a long robe. Her hands are clasped over her chest.

Between the upper and lower arms are additional oval medallions of saints. The one on the left shows St. John the Evangelist, whose head is surrounded by a halo. He wears a long robe, presses a book to his chest, and holds a chalice in his left hand, from which a serpent emerges. An eagle stands to his right.

The medallion on the right depicts St. Benedict. A halo glows around his head, and his gaze is turned upward. He has a beard and wears a monastic habit. In his right hand, he holds a pastoral staff, a long rod with a curled end. In his left hand, he holds a chalice, from which a serpent also rises.

Beneath the lower arms of the cross are six oval medallions, three on each side. They form triangular arrangements with vertical bases. On the left, one medallion forms the triangle's apex, while the other two are placed one below the other along the vertical beam. The layout on the right is symmetrical—two medallions are aligned vertically near the center, with the third one to their right.

The first medallion on the left shows the head of St. Anastasius. His eyes are closed. He has a beard and wears a hood. A wreath made of two palm branches surrounds the medallion.

The second medallion from the top depicts St. Sebastian. His head is haloed. He is tied to a tree, wears a cloth around his waist, and is otherwise nude. Arrows are embedded in his body.

The medallion below shows St. Ignatius. A biretta—a stiff, square clerical cap with three or four ridges—sits atop his head, and a halo radiates behind him. He wears a long robe and a cloak. In his right hand, he raises a staff, threatening a dragon on the left. In his other hand, he holds a rosary.

The first medallion on the right side shows St. Roch. He has a beard and wears a hat behind which a halo appears. He wears a knee-length robe and holds a staff. A dog stands behind him. Below is a medallion with St. Florian, whose head is also haloed. He is dressed in knight’s armor. In his left hand, he holds a large banner, and in his right, a bucket. Behind him are two houses, one of which is ablaze.

Another medallion on the right features the Cross of St. Benedict. The medallion has a loop for hanging. The arms of the cross are rounded and widen outward. Several sequences of letters are inscribed within it. The vertical beam contains the letters: “C,” “S,” “S,” “M,” “L,” standing for: “May the Holy Cross be my light.” The horizontal beam features: “N,” “D,” “S,” “M,” “D,” meaning: “Let not the devil (dragon) be my guide.” The central letter “S” connects the two abbreviations. Between the arms appear the letters “C,” “S,” “P,” and “B,” signifying: “The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.” The medallion is surrounded by a ring bearing the monogram “I,” “H,” “S,” meaning: “Jesus Christ the Savior.” Another sequence of Latin letters in the ring translates to: “Begone, Satan! Do not tempt me with vanity. What you offer is evil. Drink your own poison.”

On both sides of the cross are monograms based on the Tau symbol, next to the medallions of St. Joachim and St. Anne. The exact composition and meaning of these monograms are unclear. The left monogram consists of several letters. The central one resembles a “T” overlain with a longer “D” and is intersected by a horizontal crossbar. The right monogram appears to combine the letters “T” and “S,” with the crossbar running through the middle. It is believed that the right monogram may signify “pestis,” Latin for “plague.”

Beneath the cross is a Latin inscription, translated as: “Against curses and plague. Against fire and storms. Behold the Cross of the Lord. Flee, His enemies. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.” This is the Prayer of St. Anthony, traditionally used during exorcisms.

Audio description prepared by Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Substantive Consultation: Agnieszka Smołucha-Sładkowska