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Gerochristo Aretousa Collection
Aretousa and Erotokritos is one of Greece’s great love stories.
At its heart, it’s a story of love tested by time, distance, and hardship, and made stronger because of it.
Aretousa was the daughter of the king, and Erotokritos, the son of a trusted advisor. Though they fell deeply in love, it was forbidden by the difference in their stations.
When their relationship was discovered, the king was furious. Erotokritos was banished from the kingdom, and Aretousa was imprisoned for refusing to marry the wealthy nobleman her father had chosen. Years passed, yet neither abandoned their devotion. Even separated by distance, hardship, and uncertainty, they remained faithful to one another.
Eventually, Erotokritos returned in disguise after proving himself as a warrior who saved the kingdom. He then tested Aretousa's loyalty and found her love unchanged. Eventually the king, recognizing both his worth and Aretousa's unwavering devotion, gave his blessing. The lovers were finally united, making Erotokritos one of the great enduring stories of love, loyalty, and perseverance in Greek literature.
The Style Distinction
To represent the love of Erotokritos and Aretousa, Gerochristo has delicately intertwined filigree "synergy" motifs, symbolizing bonds that grow stronger over time. This union of shape and meaning appears throughout the collection, adorning the faces and bales of each piece.
The term "Latin" refers to the length of the bottom arm of the cross (explained up top and on our "History of the Cross" page). The "Orthodox" term comes from the flared ends to the arms themselves - first seen in Byzantium and later in French and Spanish cross designs.
Height (including bale):
Large = 1.95 inches
Medium = 1.5 inches
Small = 1.25 inches
For the Aretousa Latin and Greek Orthodox Crosses, Gerochristo offers three sizes, various stones and two metal face choices.
The term "Greek Cross" is a cross with equal length arms, symbolizing harmony.
Height (including bale):
Large = 1.45 inches
Medium = 1.35 inches
Small = 1.2 inches
A note from Pete & Joanne:
One thing we love about the Gerochristo family is their open-hearted warmth and hospitality. We can go months or even years without seeing them, but are constantly reminded of their kind nature in the way they build collections. There is something for everyone; a stone choice, a size, a budget option - even a bale choice.
Art is not a status symbol, it's meant to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
It's all as if to say; if you like Gerochristo, they want to like you back!
What are those Greek letters in the middle?
Seen on our Chi Rho crosses, the symbol is simply the Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P) signifying the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ; "χριστός".
Alpha (Α) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega (Ω) is the last. Together, they symbolize the beginning and the end, or the fullness of all things.
"Faith" is a shape distinguished here at Athena Gaia that you can find more about on our "History of the Cross" page.
Height (including bale):
Large = 1.4 inches
Small = 1.1 inches
The Greek Cross is a cross with equal length arms. As a composition, the purpose was to signify the harmony of the universe.
Height (including bale):
Large = 2.3 inches
Medium = 1.77 inches
Small = 1.37 inches
A vertical post with a cross beam situated close to (but not at) the top is what we now know as the Latin Cross ... or in colloquial terms, the "Western Cross."
The Latin cross is our largest in the series.
Height (including bale):
Large = 2.75 inches
Medium = 2.05 inches
Small = 1.8 inches
The Greek, Latin, and Faith versions all feature your choice of Chi Rho symbols or simple Orthodox star crosses in the center. They also feature opening bales to accommodate any size chain.
Common Questions About the Aretousa Collection
What's the difference between the Latin, Orthodox, Greek, and Faith crosses in this collection?
Latin refers to a cross with a longer bottom arm; Orthodox refers to crosses with flared arm ends, a style first seen in Byzantium; Greek refers to a cross with four equal arms, meant to signify harmony; and Faith is a distinct shape unique to Athena Gaia, explained further on our History of the Cross page.
What sizes are available in the Aretousa Collection?
Sizes range from about 1.1 inches for the smallest Faith cross up to 2.75 inches for the largest Latin cross, with small, medium, and large options in between. For reference, that's roughly the diameter of a US quarter or 2 Euro coin on the small end, and close to the length of a house key on the large end.
What chain works best with these cross pendants?
The first thing you may want to decide is gold or silver. This can come down to budget, and thankfully many of these crosses work with either. Take a look at the bale (the loop at the top that holds the chain): if it's gold, it pairs best with a gold chain, and we'd recommend a Spiga, Kordoni, Theta Forzatina, or Venetian chain. Got a silver bale? The Classic Greek Sterling Silver Chain at 1.4mm is the perfect choice. Either way, don't exceed a width of 2.5mm, or the chain will overpower the cross.
Can I fit a wider or thicker chain through these pendants?
It depends on the style. The Latin Crosses in this collection have opening, hinged bales, so they can accept larger chains than a fixed bale would allow.