大象传媒

Crucifix

The most common symbol is the crucifix. The crucifix is a cross with an image of Christ on it. The crucifix is the symbol of Christianity and of the death and of Christ. For followers of the Christian faith it serves as a reminder of God鈥檚 sacrifice of his only Son so that humanity may have .

Diagram of the crucifix.

Ichthus

The ichthus symbol in Greek letters spells out 鈥楯esus Christ, God鈥檚 Son, Saviour.鈥 The word is also a , as ichthus is the Greek word for 'fish'.

In the early Church, when Christians were being persecuted, Christians would use the fish symbol as a secret sign symbolising to others that they were Christians. One person would draw one arc of the fish and if the other person was also a Christian, then they would draw the other arc. Anyone who was not a Christian would not recognise the symbol and so would not complete the image.

The icthus 'fish' symbol.

Chi-Rho

The Chi-Rho is another early Christian symbol. It takes the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek, namely Chi and Rho, and combines them to create a symbol called Chi-Rho. Chi is written as an X and Rho is written as a P in the Greek alphabet and the word for Christ is written as 围巍螜危韦螣危, which is pronounced Christos.

The symbol represents the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the . The Chi-Rho is seen in many places in a church, such as the:

  • the priests'
The Chi-Rho symbol.

Alpha and Omega

and are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and during the time of Christ the phrase was used to describe something as complete.

In the book of Revelation, God refers to himself as the Alpha and Omega, and this title has also been used to describe Jesus.

The Alpha and Omega represent Jesus, as he is at the beginning of all things and will return at the end. Sometimes the Alpha and Omega are incorporated with the Chi-Rho.

Alpha, Omega, and Alpha and Omega incorporated with the Chi-Rho.