Saint Maurice Medal Necklace – Patron Saint of Soldiers & Infantry

Saint Maurice, Patron Saint of Soldiers and Infantry

Maurice commanded the Theban Legion, a unit of Roman soldiers recruited from Thebes in Upper Egypt, entirely made up of Christian converts. Around 286 AD, Emperor Maximian ordered the legion to take part in a pagan sacrifice and to help suppress fellow Christians in Gaul. Maurice and his men refused, withdrawing rather than complying. When the emperor ordered the legion decimated, killing one in ten men as punishment, and the survivors still refused to comply a second time, Maximian ordered the entire legion put to death. Maurice and his soldiers accepted martyrdom rather than betray their faith or turn on other Christians, choosing to lay down their weapons instead of using them. Devotion to Maurice spread widely across medieval Europe, and in the 13th century, Magdeburg Cathedral in Germany began depicting him as a Black African commander in full armor, a tradition rooted in his real Egyptian origin and now considered one of the most significant depictions of a Black African figure in medieval European art.

A Gift For...

• A soldier, active duty or veteran, especially in the infantry
• Someone who has had to choose principle over orders
• A confirmation candidate drawn to courage and quiet conviction under pressure
• A Saint Maurice's Day gift on September 22, for any soldier in your life

A Confirmation Gift for Maurice

For a confirmation candidate who values integrity even when it's costly, Maurice offers one of the clearest examples among all the martyrs. Engrave a name and confirmation date, and let his refusal to compromise carry the meaning.

The Saint Maurice Medal

This medal depicts him in full Roman military armor, a red cross marked on his breastplate, sword in one hand and a palm branch in the other, his halo radiating outward. The natural gold or silver of the metal forms the illustration itself. Black ink is applied to the pendant surface and the metal shows through as the image. A shatterproof liquid glass coating seals the surface. The result has a depth and precision that printed medals don't achieve.

Personalization and Engraving

The optional engraving on the reverse is rendered in Tangerine cursive, two lines, up to 20 characters each. Many choose a name and an enlistment or deployment date, a unit name, or a rank.

Saint Maurice's feast day is September 22, and nearly 1,700 years later, he remains patron of soldiers who understand that the hardest order to follow is sometimes the one you have to refuse.

Related Devotions for Soldiers and Service Members

• For General Athletic and Military Protection: Pair with the Saint Sebastian Medal, patron of both athletes and soldiers.
• See the Full Collection: Browse Patron Saints for Police, Military & Law Enforcement for more saints connected to service and duty.