Christian Jewelry
When St. Constantine Christianized the Roman Empire and founded Constantinople in Byzantium, the capital saw a blossoming of art and architecture. During this era, Byzantine, classical Greek, and Roman sensibilities were fused together, creating Christian religious expressions in abstract signs very popular.
Christian jewelry offers a vast array of colors and styles- incorporating a diverse range of stones. You can find more traditional Christian crosses, or more inventive styles through many online stores. Generally, online stores will state in their mission statement that they are dedicated to praising the lord and all of his creations. Hence, precious stones, semi-precious gemstones, gold, and other metals are all examples of his divine work and are not in short supply in the industry of religious-theme jewelry.
Cross- For Christians, the Cross is a symbol of Gods love and sacrifice for human beings. Christians are consoled when wearing the cross because they are reminded of the eternal love God has despite wrongdoing, and the sacrifice Jesus made to be a righteous example.
Rosary- Quite possibly, the most popular Christian jewelry item (after the cross) is the rosary. The rosary is not exclusive to the Christian religion, or even Western civilization. In fact, the rosary, (or prayer beads), have been a religious icon in Buddhism and Islam. These days, however, the Catholic Church remains the largest consumer of the rosary.
Christian Fish Charm- The Greek word for fish is "ichthys." In the first century, early Christians made an acronym stemming from this word: Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior). Although the fish symbol remains one of the most popular Christian jewelry charms today, it has not always been exclusively Christian. Years before, the fish symbol was used among Greeks and pagans because it attracted less suspicion among people of faith that were persecuted.
In the first century after Christ, Christians adopted
the fish symbol as a secret password to distinguish friends from enemies.
Legend has it, if two strangers met in a road one would draw an arc
on the ground. If the other stranger completed the arc- creating a fish,
both strangers knew they could feel comfortable together.
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