A little more detail…

Chi Rho necklace – handmade and recycled silver 100 year old sterling silver Florin

A sign of salvation, the first two letters of Christo XPΙΣΤΟΣ.  XP is one of the earliest Christogram symbols.

The Chi Rho, a monogram formed from the first two Greek letters of “Christ” (Chi and Rho), carries a deep, layered symbolism that connects the essence of Christ with themes of history, triumph, and mystery. It is a powerful fusion of linguistics, theology, and imperial history.

The most direct meaning of the Chi Rho lies in its function as a kind of silent prayer or invocation. To early Christians, especially those facing persecution, the symbol was a cryptic shorthand for the name of their Messiah.
It speaks the name of “Christ” without uttering a sound. To behold the Chi Rho is to be reminded of Christ’s identity as the “Anointed One,” the central pillar of the Christian faith.

This symbol was subtly integrated into art, epitaphs, and household items, a whispered reminder of faith in the midst of everyday life. Its presence transforms an ordinary object into a sacred one, imbued with the presence of the Messiah.

In illuminated manuscripts, particularly the famous Chi Rho pages of the Book of Kells, the symbol marks the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18, Christi autem generatio…). Here, the intricate and vibrant art surrounding the letters poetically illustrates the miraculous moment the “Word was made flesh,” bursting with life and divine energy.

The Chi Rho gained immense public and military significance when Emperor Constantine adopted it for his military standard, the labarum, before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. Constantine saw a vision of the symbol in the sky with the words, “In this sign, you shall conquer” (In hoc signo vinces). This transforms the Chi Rho into a banner of spiritual and earthly victory, symbolizing Christ’s triumph over sin and death, and, for Constantine, his triumph over worldly enemies. When placed on a military standard, it signifies a profound shift in power. Christ’s name, once a whispered secret, is now publicly proclaimed as the ultimate authority, displacing the Roman gods.

The Chi Rho’s form contains a hidden cross, with the vertical stroke of the rho intersecting the chi. In this way, it represents the paradoxical victory of Christ—that through the apparent defeat of the cross, he ultimately triumphed over death.

The use of Greek letters in a predominantly Latin-speaking Roman Empire gave the Chi Rho a mysterious and mystical quality. The foreign letters suggest a higher, divine language not easily understood by all. This poetic obscurity hints at the inexpressible, profound nature of God.

In medieval illustrations, the letters of the Chi Rho were often filled with dense, swirling interlace, animals, and foliage. This rich decoration adds a poetic layer suggesting that within the divine name, all of creation and the vibrant mystery of life are contained.

I lovingly craft each Chi Rho Christogram cross pendant from a 100 year old silver Florin. The coins themselves are the perfect medium for this beautiful design, inline with a love of nature using these coins is the perfect ethical and green solution. No new silver is destructively ‘mined’ and old, uncollectible pure silver coins are saved from the ‘melting pot’ of bullion merchants. This protects the history and ensures their stories live on.

Once the design is freehand sketched on to the coin, it is hand cut and carved using traditional hand saws, chisels and files. This traditional process allows me to have a close connection to each piece. This also gives the added bonus of each piece being completely unique.  Each cross is individually handmade and recycled in Cambridge, England.

In this sign, you shall conquer

Size : Approx 26 mm * 18 mm

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