Saint Sarah Kali Medal – Saintes Maries de la Mer – Patron of the Romani People and Misfits Small Devotions

Large round Saint Sarah Kali medal that is an antiqued silver-tone in color.

Saint Sarah, also known as Sarah-la-Kali (“Sarah the black”, Sarah e Kali in the Romani language), is the patron saint of the Romani people and gypsies. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is the center of her veneration and a place of pilgrimage for Romani people throughout the world.

According to various legends, during the persecution of early Christians, commonly placed in the year 42, St. Lazarus, St Martha, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome (the mother of the Apostles John and James), and Mary Jacobe, the wife of Cleophas were sent out to sea in a rudderless boat. They arrived safely on the southern shore of Gaul at the place later called Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer which translates to “Three Marys of the Sea”. In some accounts, Sarah, a native of Upper Egypt, appears as the black Egyptian maid of one of the Three Marys, usually Mary Jacobe.

Though the tradition of the Three Marys arriving in France stems from the high Middle Ages, appearing for instance in the 13th century Golden Legend, Saint Sarah makes her first appearance in Vincent Philippon’s book The Legend of the Saintes-Maries (1521), where she is portrayed as “a charitable woman that helped people by collecting alms, which led to the popular belief that she was a Gypsy.” Subsequently, Sarah was adopted by Romani as their saint. The day of the pilgrimage honoring Sarah is May 24; her statue is carried down to the sea on this day to re-enact her arrival in France.

Quantity: Sold in quantities of one medal

Size: 1-1/4″ in diameter, not including the bail (40mm long x 33mm wide, the bail hole is 4mm)

Material: zinc-based metal alloy

Important Note: All of our products are lead and cadmium free, and nickel safe. As they contain small parts, all items are for adult jewelry/craft making use only, not intended for children under the age of 15.