Christianity

Symbols

Purpose

• Secret sign among the faithful during times of persecution.

• Teaching biblical truths to those unable to read.

• Reminding believers of God's sovereignty over all creation.

• Memorializing God's divine activity in human history.

Advent

Wreath

• From a pagan custom of lighting candles in anticipation of the winter solstice (roughly coincides with Christmas)

• Medieval believers used it as a symbol of watchfulness and increasing joy as the Lord's Nativity approached.

• The circular wreath and evergreen branches – eternity, God's gift of eternal life in Christ

• The growing light as each candle is lit - the Christian's increasing joy as Christ’s birth approaches

• The candles are colored purple (watchfulness and preparation)

• In some churches, a pink or rose candle is used for the third or fourth candle - joy.

• The day on which this candle is lit is sometimes called Gaudete ("Let us rejoice").

• A white candle is sometimes placed in the middle of the wreath to be lit on Christmas Day.

Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

• Seated on a book with seven seals, it represents the final judgment when Christ returns in glory.

• Standing with a banner, it represents the risen Christ who triumphs over death

Alpha and Omega

Alpha and omega are the first and last letters ofthe Greek alphabet, and therefore refer to the eternal nature of Christ.

Ankh (Ansate Cross)

• The ankh, or ansate cross, is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph representing life and regeneration. It was adopted by Christians as a symbol of eternal life.

Aureole

• Luminous cloud or circle of light• Symbolizes glory of God - divine persons or the Blessed Virgin

Cathedral

The traditional cathedral floor plan is cross-shaped. The congregation faces east to the rising sun. The nave (Latin for "ship") is where the congregation sits. There may also be seating areas in the transepts. The choir is seated in the chancel.

Celtic Cross

• Originated about 800 CE• Symbol of eternity, world,

Christ’s resurrection, and St. Patrick• Sometimes believed to be a

navigation instrument

Chalice • “Cup of salvation” Psalm 116

– Holds blood of Christ• Latin word for cup is

“chalix”• Holds the consecrated water

and wine during Eucharist– Congregation (church)

drinks from the chalice– Take in blood of Christ

• Usually made of silver or gold

• Shape of hexagon or octagon to prevent from tipping over

Christian Numerology• Symbols in art (literature and painting)

1 – one God2 – Christ as human and divine3 – the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)4 – gospel writers, evangelists5 – wounds of Christ, His sacrifice6 – days of creation, day God created man,

origin or creativity; (number of Satan - 666)7 – day of rest, gifts of the Holy Spirit

• The number of God; Hebrew sacred number

8 – resurrection, baptismal font 8 sided9 – choirs of angels10 – Ten Commandments (The Law),

beatitudes; connect Moses to Jesus

The Ten Numbers of Christianity

Colors in Christianity

• Black: Death, Sin (Good Friday)• Blue: Heaven, Truth, Mary• Brown: Spiritual death• Grey: Repentance (Lent)• Green: Rebirth, Constancy (Ordinary Time)• Purple: Penitence, Mourning (Advent, Lent)• Red: Sacrifice (Martyrs, Pentecost)• White: Purity, Innocence, Holiness

(Christmas, Easter)• Yellow or Gold: Divinity, Wealth

The Cross of Jerusalem

• Also called the “Crusader’s Cross” it is made up of five crosses.

• The five crosses are said to be symbolic of Christ’s five wounds or Christ and the four gospels.

Dove• Used during time of persecution for Christians to show their faith without drawing attention to themselves.

• When 7 doves are put together with two S’s, represents the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise

• When dove has three rings around its head, it symbolized the Holy Spirit as present at Jesus’ baptism and at Pentecost.

• When holding the olive branch, signifies a soul that has reached divine peace.

• A remembrance of the dove during Noah’s flood.

The Eagle

• Generally for St. John the Evangelist because of his ability to soar as a witness to Christ.

• Also for the resurrection.

• Also represents Christian converts.

Fish or Ichthus/Ichthys • Common food of the early Christian times

• Mentioned on many times in the Bible:

• Several disciples, including Peter, were fishermen

• Miracle of the fishes and loaves

• Ichthus = Greek word for fish• Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter.

“Jesus Christ, God’s son, savior”

• Everlasting eyes because fish never blink

"Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Mark 1:17

"And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking." Luke 5:6

Halo

• Represents extraordinary holiness

• Many forms – Thin line – Multiple rays

• Denotes power and greatness• Possible origin is sun

– Borrowed sun disk from paganism

• At first symbolized divinity, but now angels

Mitre• Greek meaning “headband” or “turban”• Traditional ceremonial headpiece for

bishops and other clergy• Origin

– Judaism—high priest, ”holiness to Jehovah” – Byzantine—officials of the Imperial Byzantine

Court, signify enlightenment and received at priest inaugration

• Western Christianity– tall folding cap, equal front and back parts rise

to a peak two lappets hang in the back– Bishops and abbots as dictated by Canon law– Simplex, pretiosa, auriphrygiata

• Eastern Christianity– Based on model of Byzantine Empire, shape

of bulbous crown– Four icons attached: Christ, Theotokos, John

the Baptist, cross– Topped with a cross – Worn by bishops who have the discretion to

allow wearing by other clergy

Palm Leaf

• Symbol of Victory• Martyrs hold palms

(Victory over death)• Christ’s Passion (Palm

Sunday)• Burned to collect

ashes, which symbolize mortality and penance (Ash Wednesday)

The Papal Cross

• The three horizontal parts of the cross are symbolic of the Pope’s three roles:

- Bishop of Rome - Patriarch of Rome - Successor of Peter,

(Chief of the Apostles)

Paschal Candle• Represents Christ’s presence among

His people• Flame—Christ’s light• Paschal—from Hebrew pesach

(“Passover”)• Origin in Exodus• Includes four key symbols

– Cross, Alpha and Omega, current year, five grains of incense

• Lighting of the Paschal Candle at Easter Vigil

Pentagram•Originated from the path of Venus in the sky•Was used in many different cultures and times

–Wiccan symbol of the five elements–First found in caves in Babylonia–Thought to be magical by the Greeks (pentalpha)–It was the official seal of Jerusalem at one time.

•Used by medieval Christians–The five wounds of Christ–The proportions of the human body–Used to protect against evil and demons

•Grew to symbolize Satanism (inverted)

The Phoenix• The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth. • Popular in early Christian art and literature to

represent Christ’s resurrection and immortality/life-after-death

• Main feature is rebirth through fire: when it gets old it makes a nest (sometimes of myrrh) and sets it on fire; consumed in the flames, it will be reborn out of the ashes. 

• Only one Phoenix exists at a time; it lives for many years (accounts vary in Greek, oriental cultures, and during medieval times from 500, 540, 1000 or 1460 years.) No person has ever seen this bird eat. 

• Legend was very common among the Egyptians• Early Christian tradition has the Phoenix representing

resurrection and immortality. Christians are taught to believe that through the resurrection Christ exhibited the character of the Phoenix: "I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again.” John 10:18

Quatrefoil

• The quatrefoil is a symbol of the four Evangelists — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Rainbow

• Originated in the Old Testament– Noah and the Ark

• Rain: purified the Earth of sin• Bow: a lasting tie between God and man• Meant to remind us of that promise after

each rain

Sand DollarThe Legend of the Sand Dollar

There's a pretty little legendThat I would like to tellOf the birth and death of JesusFound in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,You'll see that you find hereFour nail holes and a fifth oneMade by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter lily,Its center is the starThat appeared unto the shepherdsAnd led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia,Etched on the other sideReminds us of His birthday,Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,And here you will release The five white doves awaitingTo spread Good will and peace.

This simple little symbol,Christ left for you and meTo help us spread His GospelThrough all eternity.

Serpent

A serpent coiled around a fruit tree is a symbol taken from the Genesis account of the Fall. Though not named in Genesis, the serpent is understood to be Satan. The tree is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, one of two trees from which Adam and Eve were not to eat (the other was the Tree of Life). The fruit, usually represented by an apple, is the tree's "forbidden fruit."

Shamrock

• The shamrock is a symbol of the Trinity and of St. Patrick, who used it to explain to unbelievers how God is One God in three Persons. Patrick would hold up a shamrock and challenge his hearers: "Is it one leaf or three?" "It is both one leaf and three," they would inevitably reply. "And so it is with God," he would conclude.

Skulls

• In most contexts it represents death: physical and spiritual death

• When shown at the foot of the cross it illustrates St. Paul's declaration that "as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor 15:22)

• Funerary symbol in the catacombs• Appears as reminder of mortality

Tablets

Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai

• Represent:– the whole of God's law, – the Pentateuch (the first five

books of the Bible, the Torah)– the entire Old Testament

• Portrayed:– three on the left (which refer

to people's relationship with God)

– seven on the right (which refer to people's relationships with others).

Triangle

• Triangle is probably the first symbolic representation of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity comes first from the story of Jesus' baptism, where the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each uniquely present.

• Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened; and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Triquetra• Derived from the Latin

word tri (three) and quetrus (cornered). Similar to the triangle, it represents the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

• It is a popular symbol in Northern Europe and is often found in Celtic Christian Art.

Virgin Standing on Crescent Moon

• Moon, Luna, symbolizes fertility; in antiquity, goddesses such as Luna, Selene, Artemis, etc.

• Cycles of moon are the Church, ecclesia:

Waxing -- “Virginal and ‘dying’ in the encounter with Christ, the bridegroom” Waning -- “Maternal and life-giving in her spousal relation with the redeemer” Full -- “Resplendent in her grace-filled existence”

• The moon (the Church) is the foundation on which Mary stands.

• Image described in Book of Apocalypse (Revelation).

• Also symbolizes victory of Catholicism over indigenous sun and moon worship of South American religions after conquests.

Sources• http://www.christiansymbols.net/halos_1.php• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/timeline_24

.html• http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefs

pentagram.htm• http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/celtic.html• http://www.davidrankineart.com/cross.gif• http://www.christiansymbols.net/liturgical_4.php• http://www.eureka4you.com/fish/fishsymbol.htm• http://christring.org/shortseries/Symbolism.htm• http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/7336/tubeschristsymb

ols.htm• http://www.pewterreplicas.co.uk/second%20site%20pictures/chal

ice.jpg

Sources

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_leaf.gif

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