Early Christian Symbols

  • There were many symbols of Early Christianity and they can be found in the Catacombs of Ancient Rome.
  • Although use of the Cross existed in Early Christianity, it did not become widely adopted as a Symbol until much later.

List of Early Symbols

  1. Alpha and Omega
    • The Monogram of Jesus, meaning his Name as ‘the First and the Last’ because they were the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet.
  2. The Dove with an olive branch.
    • Symbol of the Holy Spirit.
  3. The Fish
    • The Greek word for fish is ‘Ichthys’ forming the letters of the words: ‘Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter’ meaning ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour’. It was a secret symbol used by Early Christians to recognise each other.
  4. The Anchor
    • The Symbol of Hope.
  5. The Phoenix
    • The Symbol of renewal, it represented the Resurrection of Jesus.
  6. The Good Shepherd
    • The Shepherd represents Jesus and the lamb represents the Soul which he has saved.
  7. The Orante
    • This is the depiction of a figure praying with elbows in and arms extended: it is thought to be a symbol of the Soul.
  8. The Dolphin with a ship or anchor.
    • This symbolised the Christian Church being guided by Jesus, and the anchor symbolised Hope.

Symbols introduced by Constantine I (307-337 CE)

  1. The Christian Cross
  2. Chi Rho
    • The Greek letters ‘Chi’ – X, and ‘Rho’ – P, which were the first two letters of Christ when spelt in Greek. Chi Rho became a monogram of the early Christian Church based on a vision held by Constantine I.
  3. IHS
    • IHS are the letters from the first three words of ‘In Hoc Signo Vinces’ (In this sign you will conquer).
    • These are the famous words spoken by Constantine I after seeing the letters Chi Rho in the sky before his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 CE.
    • IHS also stands for the first three letters of the word ‘Jesus’ in Greek capital letters.

INRI

    • INRI is the acronym for ‘Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum’ which means in Latin ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’.
    • Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judaea, had this written on a sign and put on the cross that Jesus was to be crucified on.
    • In Western Christianity, many crucifixes and figures of Christ on the Cross display the letters INRI, either on the cross or above his head.

 

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