Sterling silver Maltese Cross necklace, handmade jewelry, Christmas Day religious gift

Sterling silver Maltese cross pendantOriginally, the Maltese cross symbolized a 'Christian warrior. ' The eight points of the Maltese cross denote the eight obligations of the Knights of Malta: trust, faith, penance, humility, justice, mercy, sincerity, wholeheartedness, and endurance for persecution.
Although cross necklaces existed before the time of Christ, they gained momentous popularity once Christianity was established as the Roman Empire’s official religion in the second century A.D. They were worn to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice as they symbolized the suffering following his crucifixion.