GENESIS

1965. Fort Bliss. Plano, Texas.
Jimmy and Maria poolside during one of her visits to the army base where Jimmy was stationed. Jimmy’s rockin’ his Chi Rho.
(click Jimmy's pendant for larger view)

This photo of my parents has been the source of many smiles and countless comical stories, entertaining our family for years.  For this reason, it seems only natural for this picture to appear on the website of this company, for my parents’ are the inspiration for its creation. 

They met at a Greek Church dance in Brooklyn in the summer of 1964.  They are both amazing dancers and were immediately impressed by each other’s moves.  You’ve never seen anybody do the Lindy like Jimmy and Maria and they quickly became the envy of the dance floor.  When the dance was over, they agreed to see each other again VERY SOON.

Their first official date was to the World’s Fair in New York City.  With not a cent between them, Jimmy asked Maria if she wouldn’t mind “jumping the fence.”  Surprisingly, Maria agreed and the date was underway.  While exploring the exhibits, people, and vendors, Maria spotted a very interesting looking pendant that, at first glance, resembled a peace sign.  It seemed familiar.  Jimmy agreed it looked familiar but couldn’t place it.  One thing they were sure of, they LOVED it, and would have bought one, if only they had cash.  An ATM would have been ideal, but this story takes place in 1964, and therefore they left the World’s Fair that night pendantless, though extremely smitten with each other.

Throughout that fall, Jimmy and Maria continued dating and eventually began ‘going steady.’  Maria wanted to get something special for her boyfriend for Christmas and began researching the pendant they had seen on their first date. 

It turned out to be the Chi Rho, a symbol of Christ made up by the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P).  Maria realized why it seemed familiar…she had seen it in church!  She read more about this important ancient symbol and learned that it's a good luck charm with an ancient history.  The story goes like this...

In 312AD, emperor Constantine had a vision of the chi rho symbol in the sky, accompanied by the Greek words, 'en touto nika,' which means ‘in this sign you will conquer.’ 

Constantine had this symbol emblazoned on the shields of his troops, and although outmanned, defeated the enemy and became sole emperor of the roman empire.

In the meantime, Jimmy had joined the US Army and would be leaving Brooklyn to be stationed in Plano, Texas after the holidays.  Maria quickly realized that there couldn’t be a better gift than a Chi Rho pendant for her ‘Greek Soldier Boy,’ especially after reading the story of Constantine’s army.  And so on Christmas Day, 1964, she presented him with what would be the first of many handmade, 14 karat gold Chi Rho pendants in our family. 

Jimmy loved his new pendant and while he was away, wore it every day as a reminder of his beautiful Brooklyn girl waiting for him back home. (see photo) 

That is the story of how the Chi Rho brought my mother and father together.  Jimmy and Maria got married in 1968 and had my older brother and I.  Luckily, the jeweler that created Jimmy’s original piece let Maria keep the mold, which enabled her to re-create my dad’s pendant for my brother and me years later.  Forty-two years later, my dad still rocks his Chi Rho every day!

The Chi Rho symbol is how we rock our religion.  To us, it’s not just a beautiful piece of jewelry, but an extension of who we are and where our place is in the world…it’s part of our family experience.

With the launch of our company, we invite you and your family to have your own religious jewelry experience… to Rock Your Religion…your own way.