As is known, the first three centuries Christian history passed under the sign of periodically recurring persecutions. In such conditions, it was necessary to develop a whole system of secret signs with the help of which it was possible to identify brothers in faith.
In addition, the theology of the image also developed. Christians were looking for symbols with the help of which they could allegorically convey to the catechumens the truths of faith contained in the Gospel, and decorate the premises for worship, so that the very setting would remind them of God and set them up for prayer.
This is how a number of original early Christian symbols appeared, about which there will be a further short story.
1. Fish
The most common symbol of the first centuries was the fish (Greek “ichthys”). The fish was an acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ and, at the same time, a Christian confession of faith:
Jesus Christ Feou Ios Sotir - Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
Christians depicted fish on their houses - in the form of a small picture or as a mosaic element. Some wore fish around their necks. In catacombs adapted for temples, this symbol was also present very often.
2. Pelican
A beautiful legend is associated with this bird, existing in dozens of slightly different versions, but very similar in meaning to the ideas of the Gospel: self-sacrifice, deification through the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pelicans live in the coastal reeds near the warm Mediterranean Sea and are often subject to snake bites. Adult birds feed on them and are immune to their poison, but chicks are not yet. According to legend, if a pelican chick is bitten poisonous snake, then he pecks at his own breast in order to give them blood with the necessary antibodies and thereby save their lives.
Therefore, the pelican was often depicted on sacred vessels or in places of Christian worship.
3. Anchor
The Church is above all a solid foundation human life. Thanks to him, a person gains the ability to distinguish good from evil, understands what is good and what is bad. And what could be firmer and more reliable than an anchor that holds a huge ship of life in place in the stormy sea of human passions?
Also - a symbol of hope and the future resurrection from the dead.
By the way, on the domes of many ancient temples it is precisely the cross in the form of an ancient Christian anchor that is depicted, and not any “cross defeating the Muslim crescent.”
4. Eagle over the city
Symbol of the height of truths Christian faith uniting the entire population of the Earth. It has survived to this day in the form of bishop’s eagles, used at ceremonial services. Also indicates the heavenly origin of the power and dignity of the episcopal rank.
5. Chrism
A monogram composed of the first letters of the Greek word “Christ” - “Anointed One”. Some researchers mistakenly identify this Christian symbol with the double-edged ax of Zeus - “Labarum”. The Greek letters “a” and “ω” are sometimes placed along the edges of the monogram.
Christianity was depicted on the sarcophagi of martyrs, in the mosaics of baptisteries (baptisteries), on the shields of soldiers and even on Roman coins - after the era of persecution.
6. Lily
A symbol of Christian purity, purity and beauty. The first images of lilies, judging by the Song of Songs, served as decoration for the Temple of Solomon.
According to legend, on the day of the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary with a white lily, which has since become a symbol of Her purity, innocence and devotion to God. With the same flower, Christians depicted saints, glorified by the purity of their lives, martyrs and martyrs.
7. Grapevine
The symbol is associated with an image that the Lord himself often addressed in his parables. Denotes the Church, its vitality, abundance of grace, Eucharistic sacrifice: “I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser...”.
It was depicted on church utensils and, of course, in temple ornaments.
8. Phoenix
The image of the Resurrection, associated with the ancient legend of the eternal bird. The Phoenix lived for several centuries and, when the time came for him to die, he flew to Egypt and burned there. All that was left of the bird was a pile of nutritious ashes in which, after some time, new life. Soon a new, rejuvenated Phoenix rose from it and flew away in search of adventure.
9. Lamb
Everyone understands the symbol of the voluntary sacrifice of the immaculate Savior for the sins of the world. In early Christianity it was often depicted with human face or with a halo (sometimes there was a combined version). Later he was prohibited from being depicted in icon painting.
10. Rooster
A symbol of the general resurrection that awaits everyone at the Second Coming of Christ. Just as the crowing of a rooster awakens people from sleep, the trumpets of angels will awaken people at the end of time to meet the Lord, Last Judgment and inheritance of new life.
There are other early Christian symbols that are not included in this selection: the cross, dove, peacock, bowl and baskets of bread, lion, shepherd, olive branch, sun, good shepherd, alpha and omega, ears of bread, ship, house or brick wall , source of water.
Andrey Szegeda
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The first Christian symbolic images appear in the paintings of the Roman catacombs and date back to the period of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. During this period, the symbols had the character of secret writing, allowing fellow believers to recognize each other, but the meaning of the symbols already reflected the emerging Christian theology. Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann notes:
The early Church did not know the icon in its modern dogmatic meaning. The beginning of Christian art - painting of the catacombs - is symbolic in nature (...) It tends to depict not so much a deity as the function of a deity.
Active use in ancient Church L. A. Uspensky associates various symbols, rather than iconographic images, with the fact that “in order to little by little prepare people for the truly incomprehensible mystery of the Incarnation, the Church first addressed them in a language more acceptable to them than a direct image.” Also, symbolic images, in his opinion, were used as a way of hiding Christian sacraments from catechumens until the time of their baptism.
So Cyril of Jerusalem wrote: “everyone is allowed to hear the gospel, but the glory of the gospel is given to only the sincere Servants of Christ. To those who could not listen, the Lord spoke in parables, and to the disciples in private he explained the parables.” The oldest catacomb images include scenes of the “Adoration of the Magi” (about 12 frescoes with this plot have been preserved), which date back to the 2nd century. Also dating back to the 2nd century is the appearance in the catacombs of images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or the fish symbolizing it.
Among other symbols of catacomb painting, the following stand out:
- anchor - an image of hope (an anchor is the support of a ship at sea, hope acts as a support for the soul in Christianity). This image is already present in the Epistle to the Hebrews of the Apostle Paul (Heb. 6:18-20);
- dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; · phoenix – symbol of resurrection;
- the eagle is a symbol of youth (“your youth will be renewed like an eagle” (Ps. 102:5));
- the peacock is a symbol of immortality (according to the ancients, its body was not subject to decomposition);
- the rooster is a symbol of resurrection (the crow of a rooster awakens from sleep, and awakening, according to Christians, should remind believers of the Last Judgment and the general resurrection of the dead);
- the lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ;
- lion is a symbol of strength and power;
- olive branch - a symbol of eternal peace;
- lily is a symbol of purity (common due to the influence of apocryphal stories about the presentation of a lily flower by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation);
- the vine and the basket of bread are symbols of the Eucharist.
Characteristics of the 35 main symbols and signs of Christianity
1. Chi Rho- one of the earliest cruciform symbols of Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters of the Greek version of the word Christ: Chi=X and Po=P. Although the Chi Rho is not technically a cross, it is associated with the crucifixion of Christ and symbolizes his status as Lord. It is believed that Chi Rho was the first to use it at the beginning of the 4th century. AD Emperor Constantine, decorating it with a labarum, a military standard. As the 4th century Christian apologist Lactantius notes, on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. The Lord appeared to Constantine and ordered to put the image of Chi Rho on the shields of the soldiers. After Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, the Chi Rho became the official emblem of the empire. Archaeologists have found evidence that Chi Rho was depicted on Constantine's helmet and shield, as well as his soldiers. Chi Rho was also engraved on coins and medallions minted during the reign of Constantine. By 350 AD images began to appear on Christian sarcophagi and frescoes.
2. Lamb: a symbol of Christ as the Paschal sacrificial lamb, as well as a symbol for Christians, reminding them that Christ is our shepherd, and Peter ordered to feed his sheep. The Lamb also serves as a sign of St. Agnes (her day is celebrated on January 21), a martyr of early Christianity.
3.Baptismal cross: consists of a Greek cross with the Greek letter "X" - the initial letter of the word Christ, symbolizing rebirth, and therefore it is associated with the rite of Baptism.
4.Peter's Cross: when Peter was sentenced to martyrdom, he asked to be crucified upside down out of respect for Christ. Thus, the inverted Latin cross became its symbol. In addition, it serves as a symbol of the papacy. Unfortunately, this cross is also used by Satanists, whose goal is to “revolutionize” Christianity (see, for example, their “Black Mass”), including the Latin cross.
5.Ichthus(ih-tus) or ichthys means “fish” in Greek. The Greek letters used to spell the word are iota, chi, theta, upsilon and sigma. IN English translation This is IXOYE. The five Greek letters named are the first letters of the words Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter, which means “Jesus Christ, son of God, Savior.” This symbol was used primarily among early Christians in the 1st-2nd centuries. AD The symbol was brought from Alexandria (Egypt), which at that time was a crowded seaport. Goods traveled from this port throughout Europe. That is why sailors were the first to use the ichthys symbol to designate a god close to them.
6.Rose: Holy Virgin, Mother of God, symbol of martyrdom, secrets of confession. The five roses united together represent the five wounds of Christ.
7. Jerusalem cross: Also known as the Crusader Cross, it consists of five Greek crosses that symbolize: a) the five wounds of Christ; b) 4 Gospels and 4 cardinal directions (4 smaller crosses) and Christ himself (large cross). The cross was a common symbol during wars against Islamic aggressors.
8.Latin cross, also known as the Protestant cross and western cross. The Latin cross (crux ordinaria) serves as a symbol of Christianity, despite the fact that it long predates the founding christian church he was a symbol of the pagans. It was created in China and Africa. His images are found on Scandinavian sculptures of the Bronze Age, embodying the image of the god of war and thunder, Thor. The cross is considered magical symbol. It brings good luck and wards off evil. Some scholars interpret the rock carvings of the cross as a symbol of the sun or a symbol
Earth, whose rays indicate north, south, east and west. Others point out its resemblance to a human figure.
9.Pigeon: symbol of the Holy Spirit, part of the cult of Epiphany and Pentecost. It also symbolizes the release of the soul after death, and is used to call Noah's dove, a harbinger of hope.
10. Anchor: Images of this symbol in the cemetery of St. Domitilla date back to the 1st century, they are also found in the catacombs in epitaphs of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, but there are especially many of them in the cemetery of St. Priscilla (there are about 70 examples here alone), St. Calixtus, Coemetarium majus. See Epistle to the Hebrews 6:19.
11.Eight-pointed cross: eight-pointed cross also called the Orthodox cross or the cross of St. Lazarus. The smallest crossbar represents the title, where it was written “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; the upper end of the cross is the path to Heavenly Kingdom which Christ showed. The seven-pointed cross is a variation of the Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but on top.
12. Ship: is an ancient Christian symbol that symbolized the church and each individual believer. Crosses with a crescent, which can be seen on many churches, just depict such a ship, where the cross is a sail.
13. Calvary cross: The Golgotha cross is monastic (or schematic). It symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ. Widespread in ancient times, the cross of Golgotha is now embroidered only on the paraman and the lectern.
14. Vine: is the gospel image of Christ. This symbol also has its own meaning for the Church: its members are branches, and the grapes are a symbol of Communion. In the New Testament, the grapevine is a symbol of Paradise.
15. I.H.S.: Another popular monogram for the name of Christ. It's three letters Greek name Jesus. But with the decline of Greece, other, Latin, monograms with the name of the Savior began to appear, often in combination with a cross.
16. Triangle- symbol of the Holy Trinity. Each side personifies the Hypostasis of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All sides are equal and together form a single whole.
17. Arrows, or a ray piercing the heart - an allusion to the saying of St. Augustine in Confessions. Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize Simeon's prophecy.
18. Skull or Adam's head is equally a symbol of death and a symbol of victory over it. According to Sacred Tradition, the ashes of Adam were on Golgotha when Christ was crucified. The blood of the savior, having washed Adam’s skull, symbolically washed all of humanity and gave him a chance for salvation.
19. Eagle- a symbol of ascension. He is a symbol of the soul that seeks God. Often - a symbol of new life, justice, courage and faith. The eagle also symbolizes the evangelist John.
20. All-seeing eye - a symbol of omniscience, omniscience and wisdom. It is usually depicted inscribed in a triangle - a symbol of the Trinity. Can also symbolize hope.
21. Seraphim- angels closest to God. They are six-winged and carry fiery swords, and can have from one to 16 faces. As a symbol, they mean the purifying fire of the spirit, divine heat and love.
22.Bread- This is a reference to the biblical episode when five thousand people were fed with five loaves. Bread is depicted in the form of ears of corn (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the apostles) or in the form of bread for communion.
23. Good Shepherd. The main source of this image is the Gospel parable, in which Christ Himself calls Himself this way (John 10:11-16). Actually, the image of the Shepherd is rooted in the Old Testament, where often the leaders of the people of Israel (Moses - Isaiah 63:11, Joshua - Numbers 27:16-17, King David in Psalms 77, 71, 23) are called shepherds, but it is said about the Lord Himself - “The Lord is my Shepherd” (The Psalm of the Lord says, “The Lord is my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1-2). Thus, Christ in the Gospel parable points to the fulfillment of prophecy and the finding of consolation for the people of God. In addition, the image of a shepherd also had has a clear meaning to everyone, so that even today in Christianity it is customary to call priests shepherds, and laity the flock. Christ the Shepherd is depicted as an ancient shepherd, dressed in a tunic, in shepherd's laced sandals, often with a staff and a vessel for milk; in his hands can hold a reed flute. The milk vessel symbolizes Communion; the rod - power; the flute - the sweetness of His teaching (“No one ever spoke like this man” - John 7:46) and hope, hope. This is the mosaic of the early 4th century basilica from Aquileia.
24.Burning bush is a thorn bush that burns but is not consumed. In his image, God appeared to Moses, calling him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. The burning bush is also a symbol Mother of God touched by the Holy Spirit.
25.a lion- a symbol of vigilance and the Resurrection, and one of the symbols of Christ. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Mark, and is associated with the power and royal dignity of Christ.
26.Taurus(bull or ox) - symbol of the Evangelist Luke. Taurus means the sacrificial service of the Savior, his Sacrifice on the Cross. The ox is also considered a symbol of all martyrs.
27.Angel symbolizes the human nature of Christ, his earthly incarnation. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Matthew.
28. Grail- this is the vessel in which Joseph of Arimathea allegedly collected blood from the wounds of Jesus Christ during the crucifixion. The history of this vessel, which acquired miraculous powers, was described by the French writer of the early 12th century, Chretien de Troyes, and a century later in more detail by Robert de Raven, based on the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. According to legend, the Grail is kept in a mountain castle, it is filled with sacred hosts that serve for communion and give miraculous powers. The fanatical search for the relic by the crusading knights greatly contributed to the creation of the legend of the Grail, processed and formalized with the participation of many authors and culminating in the tales of Parsifal and Gilead.
29.Nimbus is a shiny circle that ancient Greek and Roman artists, depicting gods and heroes, often placed above their heads, indicating that these were higher, unearthly, supernatural beings. In the iconography of Christianity, the halo from ancient times became an accessory for images of the hypostases of the Holy Trinity, angels, the Mother of God and saints; often he also accompanied the Lamb of God and animal figures serving as symbols of the four evangelists. At the same time, for some icons, halos of a special kind were installed. For example, the face of God the Father was placed under a halo, which initially had the shape
triangle, and then the shape of a six-pointed star formed by two equilateral triangles. The Virgin Mary's halo is always round and often exquisitely decorated. The halos of saints or other divine persons are usually round and without ornaments.
30. Church In Christian symbolism, church has several meanings. Its main meaning is the House of God. It can also be understood as the Body of Christ. Sometimes the church is associated with the ark, and in this sense it means salvation for all its parishioners. In painting, a church placed in the hands of a saint means that this saint was the founder or bishop of that church. However, the church is in the hands of St. Jerome and St. Gregory does not mean any particular building, but the Church in general, to which these saints gave great support and became its first fathers.
31.Pelican, A beautiful legend is associated with this bird, existing in dozens of slightly different versions, but very similar in meaning to the ideas of the Gospel: self-sacrifice, deification through the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. Pelicans live in coastal reeds near the warm Mediterranean Sea and are often subject to snake bites. Adult birds feed on them and are immune to their poison, but chicks are not yet. According to legend, if a pelican chick is bitten by a poisonous snake, it will peck at its own breast in order to give them blood with the necessary antibodies and thereby save their lives. Therefore, the pelican was often depicted on sacred vessels or in places of Christian worship.
32. Chrism is a monogram made up of the first letters of the Greek word “Christ” - “Anointed One”. Some researchers mistakenly identify this Christian symbol with the double-edged ax of Zeus - “Labarum”. The Greek letters “a” and “ω” are sometimes placed along the edges of the monogram. Christianity was depicted on the sarcophagi of martyrs, in the mosaics of baptisteries (baptisteries), on the shields of soldiers and even on Roman coins - after the era of persecution.
33. Lily- a symbol of Christian purity, purity and beauty. The first images of lilies, judging by the Song of Songs, served as decoration for the Temple of Solomon. According to legend, on the day of the Annunciation, Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary with a white lily, which has since become a symbol of Her purity, innocence and devotion to God. With the same flower, Christians depicted saints, glorified by the purity of their lives, martyrs and martyrs.
34. Phoenix represents the image of the Resurrection, associated with the ancient legend of the eternal bird. The Phoenix lived for several centuries and, when the time came for him to die, he flew to Egypt and burned there. All that was left of the bird was a pile of nutritious ashes in which, after some time, a new life was born. Soon a new, rejuvenated Phoenix rose from it and flew away in search of adventure.
35.Rooster- This is a symbol of the general resurrection that awaits everyone at the Second Coming of Christ. Just as the crowing of a rooster awakens people from sleep, the trumpets of angels will awaken people at the end of time to meet the Lord, the Last Judgment, and inherit a new life.
Christianity color symbols
The most significant difference between the “pagan” period of color symbolism and the “Christian” period lies, first of all, in the fact that light and color finally cease to be identified with God and mystical forces, but become their
attributes, qualities and signs. According to Christian canons, God created the world, including light (color), but it itself cannot be reduced to light. Medieval theologians (for example, Aurelius Augustine), praising light and color as manifestations of the divine, nevertheless point out that they (colors) can also be deceptive (from Satan) and identifying them with God is a delusion and even sin.
White
Only White color remains an unshakable symbol of holiness and spirituality. Particularly important was the meaning of white as purity and innocence, liberation from sins. Angels, saints, and the risen Christ are depicted in white robes. White robes were worn by newly converted Christians. Also, white is the color of baptism, communion, the holidays of the Nativity of Christ, Easter, and Ascension. IN Orthodox Church white is used in all services from Easter to Trinity Day. The Holy Spirit is depicted as white dove. The white lily symbolizes purity and accompanies images of the Virgin Mary. White does not have negative meanings in Christianity. In early Christianity, the positive symbolic meaning of yellow prevailed, as the color of the Holy Spirit, divine revelation, enlightenment, etc. But later, yellow takes on a negative meaning. In the Gothic era, it begins to be considered the color of treason, betrayal, deceit, and jealousy. In church art, Cain and the traitor Judas Iscariot were often depicted with yellow beards.
Gold
Used in Christian painting as an expression of divine revelation. The golden radiance embodies the eternal divine light. Many people perceive the golden color as starlight descending from heaven.
Red
In Christianity, it symbolizes the blood of Christ, shed for the salvation of people, and, consequently, his love for people. This is the color of the fire of faith, martyrdom and the passion of the Lord, as well as the royal triumph of justice and victory over evil. Red is the color of worship on the Feast of the Holy Spirit, Palm Sunday, during Holy Week, on the days of remembrance of the martyrs who shed blood for their faith. The red rose indicates the shed blood and wounds of Christ, the cup that receives the “holy blood.” Therefore, it symbolizes rebirth in this context. Joyful events dedicated to Christ, the Mother of God and the saints were marked in red on the calendar. From church calendar We have come to a tradition of highlighting holiday dates in red. Easter of Christ in churches begins in white vestments as a sign of Divine light. But already the Easter Liturgy (in some churches it is customary to change vestments, so that the priest appears each time in vestments of a different color) and the entire week is served in red vestments. Red clothes are often used before Trinity.
Blue
This is the color of heaven, truth, humility, immortality, chastity, piety, baptism, harmony. He expressed the idea of self-sacrifice and meekness. Blue color as if mediates the connection between the heavenly and the earthly, between God and the world. As the color of air, blue expresses a person’s readiness to accept for himself the presence and power of God, blue has become the color of faith, the color of fidelity, the color of desire for something mysterious and wonderful. Blue is the color of the Virgin Mary, and she is usually depicted wearing a blue cloak. Mary in this meaning is the Queen of Heaven, covering
with this cloak, protecting and saving believers (Pokrovsky Cathedral). In the paintings of churches dedicated to the Mother of God, the color of heavenly blue predominates. Dark blue is typical for depicting the clothes of cherubs, who are constantly in reverent reflection.
Green
This color was more “earthly”, it meant life, spring, the flowering of nature, youth. This is the color of the Cross of Christ, the Grail (according to legend, carved from a whole emerald). Green is identified with the great Trinity. On this holiday, according to tradition, churches and apartments are usually decorated with bouquets of green twigs. At the same time, green also had negative meanings - deceit, temptation, devilish temptation (green eyes were attributed to Satan).
Black
The attitude towards black was predominantly negative, as the color of evil, sin, the devil and hell, as well as death. In the meanings of black, as among primitive peoples, the aspect of “ritual death”, death for the world, was preserved and even developed. Therefore, black became the color of monasticism. For Christians, a black raven meant trouble. But black has not only such a tragic meaning. In icon painting in some scenes it means divine mystery. For example, on a black background, signifying the incomprehensible depth of the Universe, the Cosmos was depicted - an old man in a crown in the icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
Violet
It is formed by mixing red and blue (cyan). Thus, purple combines the beginning and end of the light spectrum. It symbolizes intimate knowledge, silence, spirituality. In early Christianity, purple symbolized sadness and affection. This color is appropriated to the memories of the Cross and Lenten services, where the suffering and Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of people are remembered. As a sign of higher spirituality, combined with the idea of the Savior’s feat on the cross, this color is used for the bishop’s mantle, so that the Orthodox bishop, as it were, is fully clothed in the feat of the cross of the Heavenly Bishop, whose image and imitator the bishop is in the Church.
Brown and gray
Brown and gray were the colors of the commoners. Their symbolic meaning, especially in the early Middle Ages, was purely negative. They meant poverty, hopelessness, wretchedness, abomination, etc. Brown is the color of earth, sadness. It symbolizes humility, renunciation worldly life. Grey colour(a mixture of white and black, good and evil) – the color of ash, emptiness. After the ancient era, during the Middle Ages in Europe, color again regained its position, primarily as a symbol of mystical forces and phenomena, which is especially characteristic of early Christianity.
Before we talk about the very first and most common symbol of Christianity - the fish 🐟, let's tell a little about symbols in general.
Our workshop is increasingly faced with a situation where people ask how this or that product with a Christian symbol can help them, what to protect them from, or even what power it has. Fortunately, Christianity is free from the “power of things.” Only our faith in Christ: it is she who can protect us, and protect us, and help us in every matter.
Many more confuse some Christian symbols with zodiac signs - and, for example, want to buy our “Taurus pendant”. But we don't have one. We have lamb, which, indeed, someone may confuse with a Taurus - but this is a completely different story and completely different meanings.
And some people think like this: “The only difference is in cultures, and so, zodiacs, Christian and any other signs are all the same!” Sorry, but we strongly disagree here. The only thing that this topic has in common is that people of all times, peoples and cultures tend to clothe certain ideas in symbols. Of course, when everyone mentions olympic games the famous emblem will appear before your eyes. What about the heroes of children's fairy tales and cartoons? They are all symbolic too! This is because symbols surround us always and everywhere.
And it is not surprising that as soon as Christianity was born, Christian symbols also appeared. And the very first of them was - fish. In Greek ichthys. This word is written as ΙΧΘΥΣ - and this is the ancient monogram of the name Jesus Christ, which is made up of the first letters in words Jesus Christ God's Son Savior.
Even before body crosses, the first Christians wore mother-of-pearl and stone fish to identify each other. The symbol of fish is found very often in the Gospel: Christ multiplies fish to feed the hungry, makes sure that the catch is rich, mentions fish in parables, and finally eats fish with his disciples after His resurrection. Many of Christ's disciples were fishermen. The Lord himself calls his disciples fishers of men, and likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of all kinds.
In the lives of early Christians, depicting and mentioning Christ was dangerous due to persecution. Therefore, people created various symbolic codes. To identify in stranger of his fellow believer, one Christian drew an arc on the ground and waited for the stranger to complete his drawing. And if he drew a second arc, forming the sign of the fish, then these two people could calmly talk to each other about Christ the Savior.
Images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or symbolizing it fish appear in the Roman catacombs in 2nd century. It could be just text, a fish, or all three. Fish carrying wine and bread on its back, symbolized Sacrament of Communion. Also symbolized the Savior dolphin. And the image dolphin with anchor symbolized the crucifixion (where the Church was the anchor). Also fish is a symbol baptism. The bath, the font where the sacrament of baptism is performed, is called in Latin piscina and is translated literally - "fish tank".
Fish is part of the decoration of temples. Often today, car drivers stick the ichthys symbol on their cars. What do we do with it? the oldest symbol decorations. After all, being present in our lives, he reminds us of the most important thing.
When visiting churches and opening church books, we are faced with a large amount of all kinds of religious symbolism, the meaning of which is sometimes not entirely clear. This is especially noticeable when you have to look at icons, as well as frescoes, paintings or engravings created on biblical subjects many centuries ago. To understand their secret language, let's look at some of their most commonly used symbols and talk about their origins.
Secret signs of the first Christians
The earliest Christian symbols are found on the walls of the Roman catacombs, where followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ, in an atmosphere of severe persecution by the authorities, secretly performed divine services. These images are different from those that we are used to seeing on the walls of our temples today. Ancient Christian symbols had the character of secret writing that united fellow believers, and yet they already contained a very definite theological meaning.
Christians of the first centuries did not know icons in the form in which they exist today, and on the walls of the catacombs they did not depict the Savior Himself, but only symbols expressing certain aspects of his essence. A careful study of them reveals the full depth of the theology of the early Church. Among the most frequently encountered images are the Good Shepherd, the Lamb, baskets of bread, vines and many other symbols. Somewhat later, already in the 5th-6th centuries, when Christianity from a sect persecuted by the authorities turned into a state religion, the Cross was added to them.
Christian symbols and their meanings, obscure to the catechumens, that is, people who have not yet been initiated into the meaning of the teaching and have not accepted Holy Baptism, were a kind of visual preaching for Church members. They became a continuation of those he pronounced in front of crowds of listeners, but the meaning of which he revealed only to a close circle of his students.
The first symbolic images of the Savior
One of the earliest symbolic subjects of catacomb painting is the scene of the “Adoration of the Magi.” Researchers have discovered twelve such frescoes dating back to the 2nd century, that is, executed approximately a century after the events described in the Gospel. They contain a deep theological meaning. The Eastern sages who came to worship the Nativity of the Savior seem to testify to the prediction of his appearance by the ancient prophets and symbolize the inextricable connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Around the same period, an inscription appeared on the walls of the catacombs in Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ (translated as “fish”). In Russian reading it sounds like “Ichthys”. This is an acronym, that is, a stable type of abbreviation that has acquired an independent meaning. It is formed from the initial letters of the Greek words that make up the expression “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior,” and it contains the basic symbol of the Christian faith, later set out in detail in the documents of Nicaea Ecumenical Council, which took place in 325 in Asia Minor. The Good Shepherd, as well as Ichthys, are considered the first images of Jesus Christ in the art of the early Christian period.
It is interesting to note that in early Christian symbolism this acronym, denoting the Son of God who descended into the world, actually corresponded to the image of a fish. Scientists find several explanations for this. Usually they point to the disciples of Christ, many of whom were originally fishermen. In addition, they remember the words of the Savior that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, in which fish of various kinds find themselves. This also includes numerous Gospel episodes related to fishing and feeding the hungry (hungry) with it.
What is Chrism?
The symbols of Christian teaching also include such a very common sign as “Christism”. It appeared, as is commonly believed, back in apostolic times, but became widespread from the 4th century, and is an image of the Greek letters Χ and Ρ, which are the beginning of the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, which means Messiah or Anointed of God. Often, in addition to them, the Greek letters α (alpha) and ω (omega) were placed on the right and left, reminiscent of the words of Christ that he is Alpha and Omega, that is, the beginning and end of all things.
Images of this sign are often found on coins, in mosaic compositions, as well as on reliefs that decorated sarcophagi. A photo of one of them is given in the article. In Russian Orthodoxy, Christianity has acquired a slightly different meaning. The letters X and P are deciphered as the beginning of the Russian words Christ was Born, which made this sign a symbol of the Incarnation. In the design of modern churches it is found as often as other most famous Christian symbols.
The cross is a symbol of Christ's faith
Strange as it may seem, the first Christians did not worship the Cross. The main symbol of the Christian faith became widespread only in the 5th century. The first Christians did not make images of him. However, after its appearance, within a short time it became a mandatory part of every temple, and then the body symbol of a believer.
It should be noted that on the most ancient crucifixes Christ was depicted alive, dressed in robes, and often crowned with a royal crown. Moreover, He was usually given a triumphant appearance. nails, as well as the wounds and blood of the Savior appeared only in images dating back to the 9th century, that is, during the late Middle Ages.
The Lamb who became the atoning sacrifice
Many Christian symbols originate from their Old Testament prototypes. Among them is another image of the Savior, made in the form of a Lamb. It contains one of the fundamental dogmas of religion about the sacrifice made by Christ to atone for human sins. Just as in ancient times a lamb was given to the slaughter to propitiate God, so now the Lord himself laid His only begotten Son on the altar to deliver people from the burden of original sin.
In early Christian times, when followers of the new faith were forced to observe secrecy, this symbol was very convenient in that only initiates could understand its meaning. For everyone else, it remained a harmless image of a lamb, which could be applied anywhere without hiding.
However, at the Sixth, held in 680 in Constantinople, this symbol was banned. Instead, it was prescribed to give Christ an exclusively human appearance in all images. The explanation stated that in this way greater compliance with historical truth would be achieved, as well as simplicity in its perception by believers. From this day the history of the iconography of the Savior began.
The same council issued another decree that has not lost force to this day. It was forbidden to make any images based on this document Life-giving Cross on the ground. The explanation quite logically and sensibly stated that it is unacceptable to trample under foot that which, thanks to which we were all delivered from the curse that weighed on humanity after the original Fall.
Lily and anchor
There are also Christian symbols and signs generated by Sacred Tradition and Scripture. One of them is a stylized image of a lily. Its appearance is due to the fact that, according to legend, the Archangel Gabriel, appearing to the Virgin Mary with the good news of her great destiny, held this particular flower in his hand. Since then, the white lily has become a symbol of the purity of the Blessed Virgin.
This became the reason that in medieval icon painting it became a tradition to depict saints with a lily in their hands, famous for the purity of their lives. The same symbol dates back to pre-Christian times. One of the Old Testament books, called “Song of Songs,” says that the temple of the great King Solomon was decorated with lilies, which connected this flower with the image of a wise ruler.
When considering Christian symbols and their meanings, it is also necessary to remember the image of an anchor. It came into use thanks to the words of the Apostle Paul from his Epistle to the Hebrews. In it, the champion of the true faith likens the hope of fulfillment to a safe and strong anchor, invisibly connecting the members of the Church with the Kingdom of Heaven. As a result, the anchor became a symbol of hope for the salvation of the soul from eternal death, and its image can often be found among other Christian symbols.
Image of a dove in Christian symbolism
As mentioned above, the content of Christian symbols should often be sought among biblical texts. In this regard, it is appropriate to recall the image of a dove, which has a double interpretation. In the Old Testament, he was given the role of bearer of the good news when, with an olive branch in his beak, he returned to Noah's ark, signaling that the waters of the flood had receded and the danger had passed. In this context, the dove became a symbol of prosperity within the framework of not only religious, but also symbolism generally accepted throughout the world.
On the pages of the New Testament, the dove becomes a visible personification of the Holy Spirit who descended on Christ at the moment of His baptism in the Jordan. Therefore in Christian tradition his image acquired precisely this meaning. The dove symbolizes the third hypostasis of the one God - the Holy Trinity.
Images symbolizing the four evangelists
The Old Testament, or more precisely, the Psalter, which makes up one of its books, includes the image of an eagle, symbolizing youth and strength. The basis for this was the words attributed to King David and contained in the hundred and second psalm: “Your youth will be renewed like an eagle.” It is no coincidence that the eagle became the symbol of the Apostle John, the youngest of the evangelists.
It would also be appropriate to mention Christian symbols designating the authors of the other three canonical Gospels. The first of them - the Evangelist Matthew - corresponds to the image of an angel, embodying the image of the messianic destiny of the Son of God, sent into the world for its salvation. Evangelist Mark follows him. Next to him it is customary to depict a lion, symbolizing the royal dignity of the Savior and His power. The third evangelist (the word “Gospel” translated means “good news”) is the evangelist Luke. He is accompanied by a sacrificial lamb or calf, emphasizing the redemptive significance of the earthly ministry of the Son of God.
These symbols of the Christian religion are invariably found in paintings Orthodox churches. Usually they can be seen placed on four sides of the vault supporting the dome, in the center of which, as a rule, the Savior is depicted. In addition, they, along with the image of the Annunciation, traditionally decorate the Royal Doors.
Symbols whose meaning is not always clear
Often, visitors to Orthodox churches are surprised by the image of a six-pointed star found in them - the same as on the state one. It would seem, what connection can Orthodox Christian symbols have with this purely Jewish sign? In fact, there is nothing surprising here - the six-pointed star in this case only emphasizes the connection of the New Testament Church with its Old Testament predecessor, and has nothing to do with politics.
By the way, let us remember in passing that it is also an element of Christian symbolism. IN last years it is often used to decorate the tops of Christmas and New Year trees. She is intended to depict the one who on Christmas night showed the wise men the way to the cave in which the Savior was born.
And one more symbol that raises questions. At the base of the crosses crowning the domes of Orthodox churches, you can often see a crescent moon placed in a horizontal position. Since it itself belongs to Muslim religious attributes, such a composition is often misinterpreted, giving it an expression of the triumph of Christianity over Islam. In reality this is not the case.
The crescent lying horizontally in this case is a symbolic image of the Christian church, which is given the image of a ship or canoe carrying believers through the stormy waters of the sea of life. By the way, this symbol is also one of the earliest, and it can be seen in one form or another on the walls of the Roman catacombs.
Christian symbol of the Trinity
Before talking about this important section of Christian symbolism, we should focus on the fact that, unlike the pagan triads, which always included three independent and separately “existing” deities, the Christian Trinity represents the unity of its three hypostases, inseparable from each other, but not merged into a single whole. God is one in three persons, each of which reveals one aspect of His essence.
In accordance with this, starting from the period of early Christianity, symbols were created designed to visually embody this trinity. The most ancient of them are images of three intertwining rings or fish. They were discovered on the walls of Roman catacombs. They can be considered the earliest for the reason that the dogma of the Holy Trinity itself, having appeared only at the end of the 2nd century, was developed in the next century, and was officially enshrined in the documents of the Council of Nicaea in 325, which was already mentioned above.
Also among the elements of symbolism meaning the Holy Trinity, although they appeared, as is commonly believed, somewhat later, one should include an equilateral triangle, sometimes surrounded by a circle. Like all other Christian symbols, it has a deep meaning. In this case, not only His infinity is emphasized. Often inside it is placed an image of an eye, or rather, the eye of God, indicating that the Lord is all-seeing and omnipresent.
The history of the Church also knows symbols of the Holy Trinity that were more complex in design, appearing in certain periods. But always and in all images there were invariably present elements indicating the unity and at the same time non-fusion of its three constituent elements. They can often be seen in the design of many currently operating churches - both eastern and those belonging to the western directions of Christianity.
Why is fish a symbol of Jesus Christ?
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:
In the Greek word ICHTHYS (fish), the Christians of the ancient Church saw a mysterious acrostic composed of the first letters of a sentence expressing the confession of the Christian faith: Jesous Christos Theou Yios Soter - Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.“If the first letters of these Greek words are combined together, the word ICHTHYS, that is, “fish,” is obtained. Christ is mysteriously understood by the name of fish, because in the abyss of real mortality, as if in the depths of the waters, He could remain alive, that is. sinless" (Blessed Augustine. On the City of God. XVIII. 23.1).
Professor A.P. Golubtsov suggested: “This literal meaning of the word ICHTHYS was early noticed by Christian exegetes, and, probably, in Alexandria - this center of allegorical interpretation - the mysterious meaning of this famous word was first brought to light” (From readings on church archeology and liturgics. St. Petersburg ., 1995. P. 156). However, it must be definitely said: not only the observation of a letter coincidence led to the fact that among the Christians of the Primitive Church, fish became a symbol of Jesus Christ. The consciousness of the ancient disciples of the Divine Savior undoubtedly found support for such an understanding in the Holy Gospel. The Lord says: Is there a man among you who, when his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? and when he asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?(Matthew 7:9-11). The symbolism is clear and expressive: the fish points to Christ, and the serpent to the devil. When more than four thousand people are fed, the Lord performs a miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes: And taking the seven loaves and fishes, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied(Matt. 15:36-37). During another miracle of feeding the people there were five loaves and two fish (see: Matt. 14: 17-21). The Eucharistic understanding of the first and second saturation is evidenced by an image made on the wall of one of the Roman catacombs of St. Callistus: a swimming fish holds on its back a wicker basket with five loaves of bread and a glass vessel with red wine under them.
Ancient Christian writers did not limit themselves to the symbolic comparison of Jesus Christ with a fish. They extended this comparison to the followers of the Savior. Thus, Tertullian wrote: “The sacrament of our water is life-giving, for, having washed away with it the sins of yesterday’s blindness, we are freed for eternal life!<…>We, the fish, following our “fish” (ICHTHYS) Jesus Christ, are born in water, we preserve life only by remaining in the water” (On Baptism. 1.1). Clement of Alexandria in his “Hymn to Christ the Savior” also compares the followers of Jesus Christ to fish:
Life's joy is eternal,
Mortal kind
Savior, Jesus,
Shepherd, Plowman,
Helm, Bridle,
The wing of heaven of the holy flock!
catcher of men,
Those being saved
From the sea of wickedness!
Pure fish
From a hostile wave
catching to the sweet life!
Lead us sheep
Shepherd of the wise!
(Teacher. Conclusion)