Apostle Jewelry by MIchael Hilliar - The Story Behind the Symbols

Peter

St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and brother of Andrew is remembered each year on June 29th. He was a pillar of the Church, its first Pope. It was believed that the mere casting of his shadow upon the sick was capable of miraculous healing. Peter is represented by crossed keys, which represent his role as the Holder of the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
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James the Lesser

St. James the Lesser (or Younger) is depicted by the symbol of a saw, which reminds us of his departure from Earth. He was a brother of the Apostle Matthew and shares his feast day with the Apostle Philip on May 1st. He is believed to have been the first bishop of the Syrian Church.
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John

The symbol of the chalice and the snake remember the time when John was spared after drinking from a poisoned chalice. He is remembered each year on December 27th and was one of Jesus' closest followers, being the firts to truly believe He had risen. He is known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved".
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Philip

The miracle of the loaves and the fishes is remembered through Philip's symbol: a basket and a Tau Cross (symbol of the crucifixion). Philip was present at the working of this miracle and his feast day is celebrated on the same day as James the Lesser, on May 1st.
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Thomas

Thomas is remembered by a lance and a carpenter's square. He is said to have built the first Christian Church in Babylon and another church with his own hands in India, where he also preached the Gospel and was later martyred with a lance. The 3rd of July is his feast day.
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Bartholemew

Bartholomew was a scholar who travelled widely to spread the word of God. His apostolic symbol of a knife resting on the Bible recalls his life's work and his death at knifepoint. He is specially remembered on August 24th each year.
A very holy man, he is said to have prayed 100 times a day and 100 times a night. He was waited uon by angels, and knew all languages.
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Jesus

These letters are the first three letters of Ihsus of Ihcuc, the name of Jesus in Greek.
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Simon

The life and work of Simon, who was believed to have preached the Gospel throughout North Africa, from Egypt to Mauritania and even into Britain, is celebrated annually on the 28th of October. He shares this feast day with St Jude. Simon's apostolic symbol is a Fish. He was a former fisherman who became a fisher of men through preaching.
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Andrew

St Andrew, brother of the Apostle Peter, was the first of the Apostles to follow Jesus, and is remembered on the 30th of November for having introduced Jesus to the individual man. Andrew was a fisherman who was very close to Jesus during His life on Earth. Andrew was present at the Last Supper, witnessed the Ascension and shared in the graces and gifts of the first Pentecost. He was crucified on an X shaped cross, which has become his symbol.
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Jude

Jude, the patron saint of hopeless cases, is remembered by a ship because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman. He is invoked in hopeless situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the face of harsh difficult circumstances, as their forefathers did before them. St Jude is specially considered on the 28th of October, a feast day he shares with the Apostle Simon.
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James the Greater

St James the Greater, the eldest brother of John, travelled as far as Spain to preach the Gospel. A scalloped shell, the sign of his pilgrimage by the sea, represents him. His feast day is the 25th of July. He was one of Jesus' closest disciples and was present at the miracle of the raising of Jarius' daughter and the Transfiguration.
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Judas Iscariot

The disciple Judas is represented by peices of silver, due to his betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
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Matthew

St Matthew was a brother of St James the Lesser. He was a gifted writer, and ardent disciple and perhaps the best educated of the 12. He was a tax collector before Jesus called him and so is depicted by a moneybag. When summoned by Jesus, Matthew arose and followed Him and held a feast in his house in His honour. It was at the feast that tax-gatherers and sinners sat at the same table as Jesus and His followers.
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About the Designer - Michael Hilliar

Michael Hilliar was born in County Down, Ireland. He trained at the Belfast College of Art and the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London.

He started the silversmithing workshop of the Kilkenny Design Workshops. He later worked in St. Louis Missouri before returning to Ireland where he has lived and worked ever since.