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Famous Early Christian Art

Gemstone meanings found in famous early Christian art is the inspiration for many of our designs here at Adamas Inc. Minnesota jewelers.

Christian art is not limited to icons or paintings but, can be created and worn as sacred jewelry when using gemstone meanings to illustrate a spiritual truth. Gemstones meanings conjure reflection and meditiation on the beauty of God.   Adamas Inc. celebrates the beauty and symbolism which lies within gemstone meanings as found in famous early Christian art.

We specialize in designing diamond and gemstone jewelry that is worn as a personal reflection of what is meaningful to you. The designs you choose or create will express important spiritual themes that are at the heart of the Christian tradition. Examples of our spiritually motivated designs are the patented 69 facet round brilliant diamond, trademarked as the Cross of Light diamond. (Design) and two ring styles, Embraced and Divine Presence (Rings)

Our Purpose

Our designs represent an effort to re-establish the spiritually significant role gemstones meanings and Christian jewelry played in the lives of religious men and women throughout history. Not unlike the role that famous early Christian art played.  The traditional linkage of spirituality and jewelry flowed naturally from the important Christian belief that “Heaven and earth are full of Your glory”.  St. Paul expressed this  (Rom. 1:20)— Since the creation of the world, invisible realities have become visible, recognized through the things God has made.— when he said that every visible thing in the natural-created world is a revelation of something in the invisible heavenly-spiritual world. This apostolic way of perceiving things continued for centuries.  A sixteenth century example is St Theresa’s perception of the diamond as an image of the human soul.

The shattered Image

     Our modern scientific approach to “earthly” things is not sympathetic to the traditional view.  The created world has been secularized.  Consequently, it is more difficult for us to see the material world as a revelation of the spiritual world. Diamond and gemstone jewelry has not been immune to this process.  In many ways, it has been its poster child.

Restoring the sacred image

   Because of their rarity, durability and value, gemstones and precious metals were used quite naturally, and often, in famous early Christian art. In the same way that Inspirational christian art moves us, we are creating diamond and gemstone jewelry for those who:

• 
       (1)  Know the difference between something that was designed to satisfy their personal vanities and something that was designed to express their spiritual values, and
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       (2) Prefer wearing gemstones and jewelry that was designed to remind them of their lifetime journey with God.  For most of our customers, this is what gemstones and jewelry should be all about.

Gemstone Meanings in the 12 heavenly stones

• These precious stones,
• and their diversity of attributes
• are like the virtues
• that bring one closer to Christlikeness.

 Jasper Stone (chalcedony) represents true faith. In the past it was used as a seal. One form of Jasper is “Bloodstone” chrysoprase. It is a dark to medium green, it is said to have been formed  when Christ blood fell to the ground and was scattered on the rocks under the cross.  Early Christians wore it to remind them of Christ’s sacrifice. The jasper stone is the primary foundation of Gods church. The biblical gemstone meanings behind the Jasper Stone is in those who hold on to their faith and never let it wither away, but always remain fresh in it. They do not fear the devils craftiness.

• Reveals the greenness of faith
  Which is in all perfect men?
  Never grows weak deep within:
  By its strong protection,
  The devil is resisted. ...Marbode

Sapphire the height of celestial hope.

Similar to the heavenly thrown, the biblical gemstone meaning behind Sapphire is in those who are waiting with sure hope, in whose life and ways the Highest is pleased. As the color of the sky, Sapphire signifies those who placed on the earth aspire for heavenly things, and who despise all worldly matters just as if they were not on earth: Our commonwealth is in heaven. phil3:20

Chalcedony holds the flame of inner charity. 

Holding the image of fire, Chalcedony reddens in public. The biblical meaning behind the Chalcedony gemstone is the faithful serving in secret.  As long as it is in the house, chalcedony does not shine but under the open air, it brightens.  This stone resists those desiring to sculpture or to cut it. 

When however, those are compelled to go out in the world then their goodness is revealed and they shine: and if anyone wishes to flatter them or to give them praise, just as if it were sculptured or painted, they do not accept it but in fact, resist the praise with great strength.

When warmed by the radiance of the true sun, that is Christ or handled and warmed by the fingers, that is by the gifts of the Hoy Spirit, by the word of their preaching and by the example of their goodness, they draw the chaff, that is sinners, to themselves and they ally sinners to themselves and they admonish themselves, and admonish them to persevere in good works.

 
Emerald is purest faith.

It is open to every good, which knows never to give up. It is the work of Godliness. In its greenness it surpasses all gemstones.  Through this stone, that is the emerald, we give those a name that is greener or healthier than all others in faith.  They are not double minded, nor do they serve two masters, but those who possess always their steadfast purpose and the gem of faith, which the demons wish to wrench away from them.

Sardonyx is the humility of believers in spite of their gifts.

Sardonyx has three colors: the underneath is black; the middle is white, and the above red.  It represents those who bear the suffering that their zeal  produces in the name of Christ, and inside their soul they are white, that is to say without hypocrisy, although they themselves feel they are detestable sinners.

 
In the sard, the honored blood of the martyrs. 

Sard is reddish purple whose color is the color of blood.  It displays the splendor of those suffering in the manner of martyrs. Sixth in the heavenly wall it holds fast to the mystery of the cross. Sard is completely red.  It signifies martyrs shedding their blood for Christ.

In the chrysolite is shown true spiritual preaching accompanied by miracles. 

Gold colored chrysolite otherwise known as Peridot or the gold stone. Chrysolite shines as if it was gold and it sends out from itself burning sparks: it denotes wise and charitable men and women who show what they know to others in word and deed.  The gemstone meanings of Chrysos is said to mean gold, which in turn is said to signify wisdom and charity, which is more perfect than all other virtues, just as gold is more perfect than all other metals. It gleams just like a furnace and represents men and women of perfect wisdom gleaming with the sacred.

   
In the beryl, the perfect operation of prophecy

It represents the prayers of minds. Beryl shines just like water struck by the sun and it warms the hand of the holder.  It marks those who are fragile but struck by the radiance and grace of the true Sun that is Christ, they shine with good works and they warm those who associate with them with the heat of love and by the example of a good life.

In the topaz, the fervent meditation of the prophecies

Topaz surpasses all gems in clarity.  Gemstone meanings for the Topaz are symbolized in those who love God and their fellow man. They shine as gold when they are cleansed of their filth.  Being intent always on heavenly things they become clearer, purer and more beautiful. Topaz blushes with golden splendor both in appearance and in ethereal brightness.

• To whom rarer,
  Is to him the more precious?
  Blushing with golden splendor
  Both in appearance and in ethereal
  Brightness. It shows the steadfast duty
  Of the contemplative life. ...Marbode

  Chrysoprase demonstrated the work of the righteous and their reward 

Chrysoprase is demonstrated in the work of the righteous and their reward.  Chrysoprase or heliotrope bloodstone of the Green chalcedony portrays unity. It is intervened with little golden drops in a certain mixture. This is perfect charity which no ferocity defeats. It signifies those who spend their life in hardships, labor and suffering, always remaining in love.

In the Jacinth or hyacinth is the wisdom of discernment

This virtue is able to impart wisdom to the immature as well as the mature. He becomes all things to all people in order to win them. Jacinth signifies the angelic life. Jacinth changes its color with the condition of the sky.  If the sky is clear, it shines, if it’s cloudy, it does not shine.  It signifies those who are wise and understand how to contend with the wise men in understanding, so that after the way of listeners they prepare themselves just as the apostle said, yet among the mature we do impart wisdom. 1cor 2:6. To those who knew too little he said, In as much as I have been unable to give food to you  as men of the spirit, but, as of two men of the flesh, I have given you milk to drink not food. 1Cor3:1-2 This apostle was Jacinth and so he equalized himself so that he might be all things to all people, saying, I am made all things to all people so that I may have all.

1C or 9:22

 In the amethyst, the constant thought of the heavenly kingdom in humble souls

Violet colored in beauty it sends ends out golden flames and little purple marks. It signifies the heart of the lowly that die with Christ. And it is a good thing that amethyst is placed last in the list since it signifies those who pray for their enemies. Amethyst represents this virtue of virtues to pray for those who persecute you. And few are found to have done this but, nevertheless two are found in the old testament, to be sure Moses and Samuel, and two are found in the new testament, the Lord Christ and Stephen.

• Violet colored in beauty,
  Sends out golden flames
  And little purple marks,
  It signifies the heart of the lowly
  Who die with Christ?... Marbode
• 
  
• The diversity of color and
  The multiplicity of virtues,
  Adorn carnal men
  Whosever abounds in these
  Will be able to be a fellow citizen.
  Peace-bringing Jerusalem you have these foundations.
  Happy and near to God
  The soul which is given you,
  The guard of your towers
  Does not sleep forever....Marbode

These stones are assigned to the heavenly kingdom because these virtues when they are perfect represent the spiritual pleasures that abound in those whom are adorned with their brilliance.

Summary by Rachel Heine taken from Marbode of Rennes :Lapidary of 12 stones in verse... 'Minor works on stones'.