Christian symbols and their meanings - a 🧵
The CHI RHO
The Chi Rho combines the first two Greek letters of “Christ”, Χ (Chi) and Ρ (Rho).
It became one of the earliest symbols for Jesus, used by early Christians.
The FISH
ICHTHYS means “fish” in Greek and stands:
IESOUS CHRISTOS THEOU YIOS SOTER (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.)
It was a secret symbol among early Christians under Roman persecution and recalls the miracle of the multiplied fish.
The CHRISTOGRAM (IHS)
IHS comes from the first three Greek letters of “ΙΗΣΟΥΣ” (Jesus): Iota, Eta, and Sigma.
It was used in ancient texts and art to honor the name of Jesus and still appears in churches today.
The TRINITY KNOT
The Trinity Knot, also called the Triquetra, symbolizes the doctrine of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God.
Its continuous, interwoven lines reflect the eternal unity, equality, and co-existence within the Godhead, and it’s often found in Celtic Christian art.
The AGNUS DEI
“Agnus Dei” is Latin for “Lamb of God”, a title given to Jesus based on John the Baptist’s words:
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
It represents Christ as the perfect sacrificial lamb, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrifices through His death on the Cross for humanity’s redemption.
The HOLY SPIRIT DOVE
The dove represents the Holy Spirit, based on the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ baptism when
the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove.
It became a universal Christian symbol for purity, peace, divine presence, and the transforming power of God in the soul.
The ALPHA & OMEGA
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Revelation, Jesus declares: “I am the Alpha and the Omega.”
This title affirms that Christ is the eternal beginning and end of all things, the Creator, Judge, and Lord over time and history.
The ST. PETER’S CROSS
The St. Peter’s Cross is an inverted (upside-down) cross.
The Apostle Peter was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus.
It represents Peter’s martyrdom and his deep reverence for Christ.
JERUSALEM CROSS
The Jerusalem Cross features a large central cross with four smaller ones, symbolizing Christ and the spread of the Gospel to the four corners of the world.
Used by the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, it also represents the five wounds of Christ and His victory through the Cross.
A sign of mission, redemption, and Christ the King.
The Cross is the most recognized symbol of Christianity, representing Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection three days later.
It stands for His sacrifice, the defeat of sin & death, and the central mystery of salvation.
To Christians, it is the sign of both suffering and eternal victory.
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