Christian Symbols
THE CHI RHO
The oldest known
monogram (letter symbol)
for Christ. Some call this
symbol the “Christogram”
and it dates back to the
second century Roman
Emperor Constantine.
While the truth of the story
is questionable, it is said
that Constantine saw this
symbol in the sky before
an important battle, and he
heard the message, “by
this sign, conquer.” Thus,
he adopted the symbol for
his army. Chi (x = ch) and
Rho (p = r) are the first
three letters of “Christ” or
“Christos” in the Greek
language.
There are many variations
of the Chi Rho. Most
commonly, it consists of
the overlaying of the two
letters, and oftentimes
surrounded by a circle.
THE CROSS AND
CROWN
The Cross and Crown
represents the reward
awaiting the believers in
heaven (the crown) after
the suffering and trials of
life on earth (the cross).
THE CROSS
ICHTHYS
BREAD AND WINE
The Latin cross, referred to
as the Christian cross, is
the most familiar and
widely recognized symbol
of Christianity today. It was
the shape of the structure
upon which Jesus Christ
was crucified. Though
various forms of the cross
existed, the Latin cross
was made of two pieces of
wood crossed to create
four right angles.
The fish symbol was used
by early Christians to
identify themselves as
followers of Jesus Christ
and to express their affinity
to Christianity. The
“Christian fish” or “Jesus
fish” is said to have been
used by early persecuted
Christians as a secret
symbol of identification.
The Greek word for fish
(Ichthys) also forms the
acronym “Jesus Christ,
God’s son, Savior.”
Christian followers identify
with the fish as a symbol
because fish frequently
appeared in the ministry of
Christ (e.g. common in
daily diet, Jesus Feeds the
5,000, and Jesus calls his
first disciples and teaches
them how to fish).
The bread and wine (or
grapes) represent the body
and blood of Christ, the
Lord’s Supper, and
Communion. Bread
symbolizes life. It is the
nourishment that sustains
life (given by God for the
children of Israel). It also
represents the physical
body of Christ (at the Last
Supper, Jesus broke
bread, gave it to his
disciples and said, “This is
my body, which is given for
you …”).
The cross today
represents Christ’s victory
over sin and death through
the sacrifice of his own
body on the cross.
Wine represents God’s
covenant in blood. Jesus
says in Luke 22:20, “This
cup that is poured out for
you is the new covenant in
my blood.” Through
communion, Christians
remember Christ’s
sacrifice.
3
7
ALPHA AND OMEGA
LIGHT
CHRISTIAN DOVE
TRINITY
NUMBERS (3 AND 7)
The alpha and omega
symbol represents the
eternal nature of Jesus
Christ and God. Alpha and
omega are the first and
last letters in the Greek
alphabet. In the Book of
Revelation, Jesus uses
this name for himself. It
signifies that Jesus is the
beginning and the end of
all things. This shows that
Jesus existed before
creation and will continue
to exist for eternity. He was
not created by God the
Father. He is eternal.
Candles, lamps, lights, and
flames represent the
presence of God as the
Light of the World and the
direction and guidance of
God. God appeared to
Moses in the burning bush
and to the Israelites in the
pillar of fire (to travel by
night during the Exodus
from Egypt). The eternal
flame of God’s presence
was to be lit in the Temple
of Jerusalem at all times.
In fact, during Hanukkah
(“Festival of Lights”) we
remember the rededication
of the Temple by the
Maccabees after it had
been desecrated. Even
though they only had
enough sacred oil for one
day, God miraculously
causes the eternal flame of
his presence to burn for
eight days until more
purified oil could be
processed.
The dove represents the
Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
descended upon Jesus like
a dove when he was
baptised in the Jordan
River.
There are many symbols
of the trinity in Christianity.
The Borromean Rings is
just one of them.
The number 3 is repeated
throughout the Bible and
associated with something
that is whole or complete.
The Trinity represents
God’s completeness. As
Paul wrote in one of his
letters, “The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the love
of God, and the
communion of the Holy
Spirit be with all of you.”
Other examples: the
universe had three parts
(heaven, earth,
underworld); Satan
tempted Jesus 3 times in
the wilderness; Jesus rose
from the tomb on the third
day.
The word “trinity” comes
from the Latin noun
“trinitas” meaning “three
are one.” The trinity
represents the belief that
God is one Being made up
of three distinct Persons
who exist in co-equal, coeternal communion as the
Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit.
Since God completed
Creation in seven days,
the number 7 became a
symbol for perfection or
completion. Other
examples: the seventh day
is holy; Jesus tells Peter to
forgive sinners not seven
times but seventy seven
times.