Christian symbolism

Symbols of Christianity are symbols of various kinds, which have gained through certain historical events, biblical or mythical narratives and linguistic similarities a special relationship to Christianity. You can either exclusively in Christianity have their symbolic meaning, or in other areas.

Important Christian symbols

  • The cross is the most important symbol of Christianity because it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and thus to the central element of the Christian faith. It is found in almost every church in multiple locations and in different versions, from the altar cross to the cross-shaped ground plan of the church.
  • The fish ( Ichthys ) was already at the early Christians as a distinguishing feature, because each letter of the Greek word for fish ( ἰχθύς ) is also the first letter of a word, so that a knowledge of faith gives: IΗΣΟΎΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ ΘΕΟΎ ΥΙΌΣ ΣΩΤΉΡ (German: "Jesus Christ, son of God, Saviour "). Even today, the fish often serves again as a distinctive mark of Christians, for example in the form of bumper stickers or t-shirt - printing.
  • The Alpha and Omega is a symbol of God's all-encompassing and has its origins in the Book of Revelation, where Christ as " the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End " is called.
  • The monogram of Christ also applies specifically as a symbol of Jesus Christ, as the Greek letters XP are also the first letter of the word Χριστός ("Christ "). It often appears in conjunction with the Alpha and Omega.

Occurrence and Uses

Most Christian symbols are used within the church premises, either as separate objects (eg crucifix ) or in conjunction with other liturgical objects or works of art ( such as images). In some cases there are works of art, for example from the Renaissance, which are visible only because of interspersed Christian symbols than actually Christian imagery. Thus, the working on behalf of the Church artists the opportunity to the subject of his picture offered largely free - even without references to Christianity - to design and adapt it to the religious purpose only by the introduction of some Christian symbols.

On grave stones

Many Christian symbols are often depicted on grave stones, so the dead of passing a message. In addition to the symbols shown above are some symbols often used:

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