Our mission is to help Catholic men overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil by equipping them with powerful reminders of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother Mary, and the saints in heaven.
Our Story
Hey there, I'm Gary, the owner and founder of Ark & Armor. Here's how it all began:
In 2013, my dad passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He was a 3rd generation jeweler by trade, and though he wasn’t Catholic, he was wearing a vintage St. Christopher necklace when he died, which I inherited and wore from that day onward. The necklace was a forerunner of things to come—less than three years later, I joined the Catholic Church with the confirmation name “Christopher.”
After wearing the St. Christopher necklace almost 24/7 for over 8 years, I noticed that—unlike other items I’ve owned and worn—it remained in remarkably excellent condition (nearly identical to the day I received it). This led me down the path of researching how the necklace was created, which ended in the realization that durable, built-to-last Catholic necklaces like this just aren’t made anymore. So I decided to start making them myself.
The meaning of this necklace goes way beyond just honoring my dad, remembering my confirmation, or wearing a lasting heirloom. Bearing the image of St. Christopher, my holy intercessor in heaven, and having received the blessing of a Catholic priest, this necklace gives me real protection in spiritual warfare against “Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” The necklace is armor, a small ark of God’s divine presence, in the angelic battle that every human being participates in every single day—whether they know it or not.
This dual meaning is reflected in the name of our brand: Ark & Armor
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
—Ephesians 6:11-13
I hope our necklaces help you live a life of holiness and grow in love of Christ.
—Gary
Meet the Owners
Gary Khodanian
Owner & Founder
Gary lives in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida with his wife, Carrie. He's responsible for all daily operations at Ark & Armor, which includes crafting every piece by hand, packing + shipping orders, customer service, website design, and... well, almost everything.
Carrie Khodanian
Co-Owner
Carrie is Gary's wife—they started dating in high school and have been married for over 6 years. When she's not busy running Stella & Tide (her dainty Catholic jewelry shop for women), Carrie helps Gary with production, operations, general administration, photography, and marketing.