The Significance of Jewelry in Christianity

Jewelry has always been an integral part of the way cultures express themselves. It has the power to act as a social barometer and give insight in to a culture, a movement, a trend or religious affiliation. Although there is a large market for fashion jewelry today, for thousands of years ancient cultures viewed jewelry as symbolic and spiritual. This notion still holds true for many people today. Jewelry, because of its symbolic power, has been a galvanizing form for expressing one's religious beliefs. When someone sees a cross or a fish dangling from a necklace, a pair of earrings, a charm bracelet or a ring, they automatically think of Christianity. Where did this trend start? When did it become popular for Christians to wear a symbol of their religion as a fashion statement?

History has shown that jewelry has been worn to express wealth, rank, emotions, superstitions and religion. Today, expressing one's religion through jewelry is considered a tasteful and elegant way to share your feelings with the world. However, there was a time where fragrantly expressing one's religious beliefs was dangerous and still is for some. To understand the significance of religious jewelry in Christianity, one must grasp the concept of what those symbols themselves mean to Christians. The cross is one of the most popular symbols in Christianity that is worn is jewelry today. However, it is not a pure fashion statement; this symbol holds a deep meaning. The cross symbolizes the death by crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that His death stripped them of their sins and brought them salvation. When a Christian is baptized, they are marked with the sign of the cross as a reminder of His sacrifice. Some people use the term crucifix and cross interchangeably. However, a crucifix features the image of Christ's body on it and the cross is empty.

The cross as a Christian symbol is said to have come into widespread use as early as the second century and the act of marking the cross on the forehead and chest was done to ward off demons and evil spirits. When Christians look at the cross, they are constantly reminded of God's endless love and His victory of death and sin. Many Christians believe that through His death and resurrection, He managed to conquer death itself. Some Christians argue that the sign of the cross does not represent God alone but it represents the method of salvation by which He saved the world.

The symbol of the fish became synonymous with Christianity in the first few centuries A.D. It was used as a secret symbol for Christians because at that time declaring yourself a Christian could have meant death. The image of the fish was used to mark places that were safe havens for Christians to be. During a time when Christianity was outlawed, ancient Christians used to make a half circle with their feet in the dirt to see if a stranger recognized this symbol and completed the other the fish. This was a way of letting someone know you were a Christian without getting caught. Even today, the symbol of the fish is used by Christians who are living in countries where their religious beliefs could mean persecution. Historians say that the popularity of the form of a fish as Christian symbol grew in part because of the anagram for the Greek word for fish "Ichthys". The ancient phrase describes Jesus Christ and the claim to worship of believers "Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter" which means "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior".

So, how did wearing Christian jewelry evolve? After Jesus Christ's death, many of His followers were persecuted and executed, so many were forced to conceal their faith. Christians began to practice their beliefs in secret to make sure they were not revealed to the ruling members of society. Their jewelry emerged as a way for Christians to identify with one another. Often, it was worn underneath clothing and only revealed only among other Christians. Today, many people adorn their bodies with symbols of their religious faith. Jewelers have tapped into the social norm of wearing one's religious beliefs on their bodies and have successfully marketed religious jewelry. Christianity, as well as a number of other popular religions, has a myriad of religious themed jewelry that is marketed toward worshipers who view the pieces as symbols of their faith, devotion and dedication to spirituality.

The image of the cross and Christian fish are still two of the most popular forms of religious jewelry today. Jewelry with an image of an angel is also very popular among Christians as well as other religions. Angels are believed to be messengers from heaven as well as personal guardians. Their celestial images appear on a vast array of jewelry items such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Religious medals are also popular pieces of jewelry in the Christian faith, especially Catholic. The medals are each dedicated to one of the Saints and convey a message of spiritual gifts to be received by its wearer. Perhaps the most popular religious medal worn is called The Miraculous Medal. Its origin is connected to St. Catherine Labouré, who is said to have been told how to make it by the blessed Virgin Mary. Christians believe that if they pray with the Miraculous Medal, the Virgin will answer their prayers. Purity rings are another popular form of religious expression among young Christians that emerged in the 1990's. They are a symbol of a young person's promise of celibacy until marriage.

Today, these gorgeous likenesses of strong faith and unwavering conviction are expressed beautifully in various metals and gemstones. Sterling Silver, gold, platinum, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires have all been used to embellish these heart-felt expressions of faith. From the extremely subtle to the sophisticatedly sleek, religious jewelry unites a group together but it is still very personal. Even though a person is part of a larger group of believers, religious jewelry offers a way to share that part of yourself with the world while remaining a unique individual with a signature sense of personal style. Jewelry is a form of expression. Religion is a form of the expression of our faith. What better way to share your faith with the world than through a beautiful piece of cross pendant or any other Christian jewelry?