CHRISTIAN JEWELRY

Christian jewelry has an ancient past almost as old as the faith itself. In the early days of Christianity under the rule of the Roman Empire, Christians were persecuted, tortured and put to death. Those that were believers were extremely discreet in their faith because they had to be in order to survive. In 303 AD, the emperors Constantine I (later known as 'Constantine the Great') and Licinius signed the Edict of Tolerance. This put an end to the persecution of Christian converts and Christianity was recognized equal to other cults in the Empire. In the struggle that followed for establishing an autocracy in the Empire, growing tensions between the two led Constantine I to march against Licinius, who he subsequently defeated. On a separate occasion, Constantine I went up against Maxentius and converted to Christianity just following a miraculous victory. This single historical conversion meant that the ruling emperor of all the Roman Empire was Christian and many changes followed that included the relocating of the Empire's center in 330 AD to the city Byzantium (then changed to Constantinople) in what is now modern day Istanbul, Turkey.

In the Byzantine Period which lasted from the 5th century AD to the fall of Constantinople in the 15th century, the Roman Empire and Christianity were completely interwoven. It was the quintessential example of the UNION of church and state. During the rule of the emperor Justinian II (685 - 695 AD) the first coins were minted that feature a portrait of Christ.

The classic architecture, style of dress, and overall appearance of all that was "Roman" took on a new and intricate style that the world has never seen before or has ever since been repeated. Roman Byzantine culture was an eclectic and yet, harmonious religious blend of the Orient with the West. This was not only attributed to the influence of the capitol's new geographic location, but also to the foremost prominence of Christianity in the Roman world. It is during the Byzantine Period that we have the first major introduction of CHRISTIAN JEWELRY to the world.

The cross came to symbolize the basic Christian concepts: Incarnation, Atonement and the Resurrection. It was believed the crosses possessed hidden healing strength and guaranteed salvation of the soul! Many objects in antiquity, both everyday items as well as those for holy rituals, abounded in Christian imagery. Some examples of this imagery that were used with Christian significance besides the cross were the Chi-Ro symbol, the fish, angels, a starburst and abbreviated inscriptions in Greek (the language used for religious writings and coinage) which translated to "In Christ, Victory" or "Jesus Christ, King of Kings".

In these ancient times, most important to a Christian believer was the personal ownership of a cross to wear. This was further exemplified in the RELIQUARY crosses of the Byzantine Roman world. These were wearable crosses made in two parts and assembled with hinges that allowed them to open lengthwise like a clamshell. They were often used to hold a piece of a saint's bone or hair and their power to heal and protect by the possession of the 'relic' inside was believed by all.

The Christian jewelry of the ancient world always reflected the humility that Christ preached. Stunning bejeweled adornments were left to the high priests only while performing rituals. The Christian jewelry worn by all believers in antiquity was that of very crude and simplistic design, only very rarely in precious metal. The crosses of the Byzantine Period were predominantly bronze and sometimes lead. The art style was highly stylized, typical for the Byzantine culture. Depictions of Christ and Mary most often appear quite cartoon-like in the imagery on the Christian jewelry and coinage. Since many of the Byzantine coins had religious inscriptions and images of Jesus and occasionally Mary, coins are sometimes found with holes punched through them having been used as a pendant in ancient times by an early believer.

In the later Medieval Era and Dark Ages, Christian jewelry maintained this humility in both overall design and manufacture with an increase in the use of silver but a continuance in the use of bronze, copper and lead. Imagery became more refined and detailed. Pilgrim badges were often worn by believers in these times if they had the grand opportunity to visit the Holy city of Jerusalem.

In today's world of gaudy and tacky mass-produced MODERN Christian jewelry, the ownership and wearing of authentic ANCIENT CHRISTIAN JEWELRY affords a deeper appreciation of history and adds a highly unique twist to one's personal display of their Christian faith. What better way to honor your belief in Christ than to wear jewelry from the period of time where it all began!

All jewelry in this section is guaranteed to be GENUINE ancient Christian jewelry from the time and periods stated in each listing. Every item here is an authentic artifact from Christian antiquity.

Each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity / history sheet.

We have carefully selected pieces that can safely be worn with normal reasonable care. Every piece is ready to wear. Some of the artifacts required the addition of a modern bail in order to wear on a chain. We do not alter the piece as it is an original artifact from ancient Christianity. All bails and rings that we have included are not permanent and can be easily removed or changed with ease by your local jeweler should you desire a different design or type of metal. In some cases, the artifacts can be worn as found and needed no additional parts.