Common Christian Symbols
The Chi Rho is a symbol made from the first two letters of "Christ" in Greek. It is said
that before an important battle, the Emperor Constantine saw this symbol in the sky
and heard the words "By this sign, conquer."
INRI is the Latin abbreviation for "Jesus Christ, King of the Jews," the sign placed
above Jesus' head on the cross (John 19:19). Though the sign was intended to mock
Jesus, Christians view the phrase as a confession of faith.
OR
IXθYΣ or ICHTHUS is the Greek word for "fish" and an acrostic for "Jesus Christ,
God's Son, Savior." The fish is thought to have been chosen by the early Christians
for several reasons:
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the Greek word for fish (ICHTUS), works nicely as an acrostic for "Jesus Christ,
God's Son, Savior"
the fish would not be an obvious Christian symbol to persecutors
Jesus' ministry is associated with fish: he chose several fishermen to be his
disciples and declared he would make them "fishers of men."
The second fish symbol above is the ICHTHUS fish, with the Greek word for fish
written out to emphasize the symbolic acrostic described above.
or
or
IHC or IHS is the first three letters of the Greek word for "Jesus" (iota, eta, sigma).
or
Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying that
Jesus is "the beginning and the end," i.e., eternal. (Rev 1:8). The Alpha and Omega
symbols are often combined with the cross, chi rho, or other Christian symbols.
or
PAX means “Peace” in Latin representing hope for peace in this world
The cross of Calvary or Graded Cross has three steps leading up to it, which can
represent the hill of calvary or faith, hope, and love.
The budded cross is a common form of the cross. Its trefoils represent the Trinity.
The Cross and Crown is a traditional Christian symbol appearing in many churches
(especially Roman Catholic), that has also been used in heraldry. It is often
interpreted as symbolizing the reward in heaven (the crown) coming after the trials in
this life (the cross) (James 1:12).
The Celtic Cross dates back to the early days of Christianity.
The Jerusalem cross, also known as Crusaders' cross, is an heraldic cross or
Christian symbol consisting of a large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller Greek
crosses, one in each quadrant. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either
the four books of the Gospel or the four directions in which the Word of Christ spread
from Jerusalem. Alternately, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds of Christ
during the Passion.
The conqueror's or victor's cross is the Greek cross with the first and last letters of
"Jesus" and "Christ" on top, and the Greek word for conquerer, nika, on the bottom.
The lines over the top letters indicate that they are abbreviations.
The Russian Orthodox cross consists of three bars, the lowest bar low and slanted.
The top bar represents the "INRI" sign placed over Jesus' head. The meaning of the
slanted bar is not known for sure, but probably represents St. Andrew's cross (which
looks like an X). St. Andrew is believed to have introduced Christianity to Russia. The
crosses in the above right picture sit atop the domes of the Kremlin. Note that they
have a slightly different lower bar.
The papal cross is the official symbol of the papacy, and may be used only by the
Pope. The three bars of the cross most likely represent the three realms of the Pope's
authority: the church, the world, and heaven.
An inverted cross is the cross of St. Peter, who, according to tradition, was
crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die the same way as Christ.
THE ANCHOR CROSS – It symbolizes hope and stability in Jesus. The anchor cross
is an ancient Christian symbol, dating back to the 2nd century. It was frequently used
in the catacombs to decorate the tombs of the dead.
THE CANTERBURY CROSS – A cross made of four hammer - like arms extending
from a central square.
FLAG (Christian) –developed on September 26, 1897 by Sunday school
superintendent Charles C. Overton. The flag represents the Christian faith. The cross
on the flag is a widely recognized symbol of Christianity.
PALM – a symbol of victory during the Roman time period. This is affirmed when
reading of Jesus’ followers waving palm branches at Jesus upon His triumphant entry
into Jerusalem (John 12:12-13). Jesus is frequently seen holding a palm, symbolizing
absolute victory over death.
A twelve-pointed star may be used to represent the twelve tribes of Israel or the
twelve apostles. It may also be used at Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas, on
which the church celebrates the manifestation of Christ as the Son of God.
Rooster - symbol of Peter is the rooster. It reminds us of the time that Peter denied
Christ three times and then the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69-75).
or
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) - In Christian symbolism, the lamb represents Jesus,
"the Lamb of God" (Agnus Dei).
Standing with a banner, the lamb represents the risen Christ triumphant over death.
Standing with a cross and a gash in its side, it symbolizes the passion of Christ.
Seated on a throne or a book, the lamb represents the judgment of Christ.
The descending dove is the best-known symbol of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew
3:16 – Jesus baptism)
The dove with the olive branch is often used as a symbol of the Flood. It
represents peace, forgiveness, and the anticipation of new life.
Triquetra has been used by Christians as a sign of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy
Spirit), especially since the Celtic Revival of the 19th century. When modern designers
began to display the triquetra as a stand-alone design, it recalled the three-leafed
shamrock which was similarly offered as a trinity symbol by Saint Patrick.
Three entwined circles are a symbol of the Trinity. A circle is an endless line,
having no beginning and no end, which
symbolizes eternity or God. Three entwined circles represent the
three natures of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The butterfly is a symbol of both the resurrection of Jesus Christ and eternal life.
A shell with three drops of water (three drops of water symbolize the Trinity) is a
symbol for the baptism of Jesus.
Wheat symbolizes “plenty,” having an abundance of what we need. In Christian
symbolism a sheaf of wheat stands for Christ’s body