Contents Page
Introduction
Some Ancient Symbols
The Cross
Other Symbols
The Church is rich
with visual symbols.
Many of her symbols
are ancient.
They come from a
time when the
Church was
persecuted and often
met in secret.
A catacomb in Rome
Symbols were used to
express ideas about the
Christian faith which
written words sometimes
fail to convey.
We must remember that
many Christians in the
past could not read or
write so visual symbols
were very important to
them.
An ancient Celtic baptismal font.
Some ancient symbols
The Chi Rho symbol is
one of the most
ancient. It is a
monogram of Christ
formed from the Greek
letters chi (X) and rho
(P).
These are the first two
letters of the Greek
word for Christ
“XPICTOC"
(pronounced Christos).
Legend tells us that the
first Christian Roman
Emperor, Constantine
the Great, used the
Chi-Rho symbol on the
shields of his soldiers.
The symbol was also
used on the coins of
the early Christian
Emperors.
“In this sign conquer”
The Greek word for “fish” is ICHTHUS
Each letter in Greek stands for a word which
together forms a sentence.
This sign was used as a secret symbol by the
early Christians in the days of persecution.
Lets decode
the symbol.
Jesus
Christ
of God
Son
Saviour
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.
The symbol of Jesus
as the Good
Shepherd was also
very popular
amongst early
Christians.
The lamb that Jesus
carries around his
shoulders
represents the
saved.
The Good Shepherd symbol reassured
persecuted Christians of God’s love for
them and the promise of eternal life.
Jesus proclaimed Himself the Good
Shepherd who gave His life for His
sheep (John 10: 11 – 16
The cross is a universal
symbol of Christ and
Christianity.
It symbolises the suffering
and death of Jesus.
Crucifixion was still used
in the Roman Empire up
until the 4th Century.
Early Christians were
reluctant to adopt this
symbol.
The cross is still a very
powerful symbol.
Out of the rubble of the
September 11th bombing
of the World Trade Center
in New York City there
emerged a great steel
cross.
The cross is a symbol of
suffering, mourning and
loss. Yet it is also a symbol
of hope and victory over
death.
There are many styles of cross in the Church.
In this section we will look at the following:
The Crucifix
The Latin Cross
The Celtic Cross
The Orthodox Cross
Cross of St Peter
The St Andrew Cross
The Crusader Cross
The Crucifix
The crucifix is a symbol
of Jesus’ suffering and
death on the cross. For
our sins and the sins of
all the world.
The Latin Cross
This is most common of
all crosses. It reminds
us of two beliefs:
1. The supreme sacrifice
offered by Jesus.
2. The resurrection and
the hope of eternal life.
(symbolized by the
empty cross)
The Celtic Cross or
Iona Cross dates from
the 6th Century.
This cross was closely
associated with the
great British missionary,
St. Colomba.
The Celtic cross was
used by the Celtic
Christians in Great
Britain and Ireland.
The Orthodox Cross is
closely associated with the
Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The upper bar represents
the inscription "I.N.R.I“
placed above Jesus' head
by the Roman soldiers.
The slanted bar symbolizes
the foot rest of Christ but it
may also symbolize St
Andrew who was martyred
in Greece and is one of the
patron saints of Russia.
Tradition tells us that St Peter was executed
in Rome under the Emperor Nero. He
requested that he be crucified upside down
as he did not believe himself worthy to die
as Jesus did.
The St. Andrew's
Cross.
Tradition tells us that
the apostle Andrew
chose to be
crucified on a cross
unlike that of his
Lord.
The Jerusalem or
Crusader's Cross.
This usually has four small
crosses between the
arms, the five crosses
symbolizing the five
wounds of our Lord.
This cross appeared in
the heraldic designs of
Godfrey de Bouillon the
first crusader ruler of
Jerusalem in the 11th
Century.
The Lamb of God or
Agnus Dei Symbol. This
represents the risen
Christ who triumphs
over death.
John the Baptist
proclaimed Jesus to
be the Lamb of God
who takes away the
sin of the world.
John 1:29
The Dove is a very
common symbol of the
Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel we read
that the Holy Spirit
descended on Jesus in
the form of a dove
when he was baptised
in the River Jordan.
Matthew 3:16
Light symbolizes Christ present in
the world. For this symbol candles
are often used:
On the Altar.
To give emphasis to the Word of
God.
As a symbol in Baptism.
In votive prayer.
At Easter and at funerals to remind
us of Jesus’ resurrection and his
victory over death.
Oil is a symbol of Jesus’ anointing and a
symbol of healing. Traditionally olive oil is
used.
Chrism oil is blessed by the Bishop at the
Chrism Mass, usually held around Holy
Thursday.
The oils are used in the following sacraments.
Baptism
Confirmation
Holy Orders
Anointing of the Sick.
The white
garment or
baptismal gown is
a symbol of a new
life in Christ.
The child has
become a new
creation, clothed
in Christ and the
white garment is
an outward sign
of their Christian
dignity.
Symbols of the Holy Trinity
Christians believe in One God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Many symbols are used to
represent the mystery of the Holy
Trinity.
Visual symbols have been helpful
to explain the idea of a coequal
and coeternal God.
Alpha and omega are
the first and last letters
of the Greek
alphabet.
This symbolizes the
eternal nature of
Jesus. Jesus is God,
without beginning or
end.
We also see this
symbol on the Easter
or Paschal Candle.
Rev. 1:8
This symbol is commonly seen on the front of
Altars.
There are two explanations of its meaning.
It could could stand for “Jesus the Saviour of
Mankind” from the Latin “Iesus Hominum
Salvator”. It could also stand for the first three
letters of Jesus’ name written in Greek capital
letters.
Pontius Pilate ordered the Roman soldiers
to fix this sign at the top of Jesus’ cross. In
Latin it reads:
Iesus
Jesus
Nazarenus
Of Nazareth
Rex
King
Iudaeorum
Of the Jews.
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Kevin Havell.
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