The first Christian symbolic images appear in the painting of the Roman catacombs and refer to the period of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. During this period, the symbols were in the nature of cryptography, allowing fellow believers to recognize each other, but the meaning of the symbols already reflects 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 - the painting of the catacombs - is symbolic (...) It tends to depict not so much a deity as a function of a deity.
L. A. Uspensky connects the active use of various symbols in the ancient Church, rather than icon-painting images, with the fact that “in order to gradually prepare people for the truly incomprehensible mystery of the Incarnation, the Church first addressed them in a language more acceptable to them than direct image. Also, symbolic images, in his opinion, were used as a way of hiding from the Christian sacraments announced 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 sincere Servants of Christ. To those who could not listen, the Lord spoke in parables, and to the disciples alone He explained the parables. The most ancient catacomb images include the scenes of the Adoration of the Magi (about 12 frescoes with this plot have been preserved), which date back to the 2nd century. The appearance in the catacombs of images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or the fish symbolizing it also dates back to the 2nd century.
Among other symbols of catacomb painting, the following stand out:
- anchor - an image of hope (the anchor is the support of the ship in the sea, hope is the support of the soul in Christianity). This image is already present in the Epistle to the Hebrews of the Apostle Paul (Heb. 6:18-20);
- the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; phoenix - a symbol of resurrection;
- the eagle is a symbol of youth (“your youth will be renewed like an eagle” (Ps. 103:5));
- peacock - a symbol of immortality (according to the ancients, his body was not subjected 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;
- the lion is a symbol of strength and power;
- the olive branch is a symbol of eternal peace;
- lily - 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 during 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. Hee 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 Christos: Chi=X and Rho=R. Although not technically a cross, Hi Rho is associated with the crucifixion of Christ and symbolizes his status as Lord. He is believed to have been the first to use Chi Rho at the beginning of the 4th century BC. AD Emperor Constantine, decorating with it the labarum, a military standard. As the fourth-century Christian apologist Lactantius notes, on the eve of the battle at 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, Hi Rho became the official emblem of the empire. Archaeologists have found evidence that Chi Rho was depicted on the helmet and shield of Constantine, as well as his soldiers. On coins and medallions, which were minted in the era of the reign of Constantine, Hi Rho was also carved. By 350 AD images began to appear on Christian sarcophagi and frescoes.
2. Lamb: a symbol of Christ as an Easter 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.Cross of Peter: when Peter was sentenced to martyrdom, he asked to be crucified upside down out of respect for Christ. So, 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 "reverse" Christianity (see, for example, their "Black Mass"), including the Latin cross.
5.ichthus(ih-tus) or ichthys in Greek means "fish". Greek letters used to write the word: iota, chi, theta, upsilon and sigma. AT English translation This is IXOYE. The five Greek letters mentioned are the first letters of the words Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter, which means "Jesus Christ, son of God, Savior." This symbol was used mainly 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 went from this port all over Europe. That is why the ichthys symbol was first used by sailors to designate a god close to them.
6.Rose: Holy Virgin, Mother of God, a symbol of martyrdom, the secrets of confession. Five roses combined together represent the five wounds of Christ.
7. Jerusalem cross: also known as the Crusader Cross, it is made up of five Greek crosses which symbolize: a) the five wounds of Christ; b) 4 Gospel and 4 cardinal points (4 smaller crosses) and Christ himself (big cross). The cross was a common symbol during wars against Islamic aggressors.
8.latin cross, also known as the Protestant Cross and the Western Cross. The Latin cross (crux ordinaria) serves as a symbol of Christianity, despite the fact that long before the founding of the Christian church, it was a symbol of the pagans. It was created in China and Africa. His images are found on the Scandinavian sculptures of the Bronze Age, embodying the image of the god of war and thunder Thor. The cross is considered a magical symbol. It brings good luck and drives away evil. Some scholars interpret the rock carvings of the cross as a symbol of the sun or a symbol
Earth, the rays of which denote north, south, east and west. Others point to its resemblance to the human figure.
9.Pigeon: a symbol of the Holy Spirit, part of the cult of the Baptism of the Lord and Pentecost. It also symbolizes the release of the soul after death, and is used to summon Noah's dove, the 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 (only there are about 70 samples), St. Calixtus, Coemetarium majus. See the 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 marks 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 that showed Christ. The seven-pointed cross is a variation Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but from above.
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 cross-Golgotha is monastic (or schema). It symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ. Widespread in ancient times, now the Golgotha cross is embroidered only on paraman and analava.
14. Vine: is the gospel image of Christ. This symbol also has its meaning for the Church: its members are branches, and bunches of grapes are a symbol of Communion. In the New Testament, the vine is a symbol of Paradise.
15. IHS: another popular monogram of the name of Christ. These are 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 is a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Each of the sides personifies the hypostasis of God - the Father, the Son and the 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 the prophecy of Simeon.
18. Skull or Adam's head is equally both a symbol of death and a symbol of victory over it. According to Holy Tradition, the ashes of Adam were on Golgotha when Christ was crucified. The blood of the savior, washing the skull of Adam, symbolically washed all mankind and gave him a chance for salvation.
19. Eagle is a symbol of ascension. It 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. Usually it is depicted as inscribed in a triangle - a symbol of the Trinity. It can also symbolize hope.
21. Seraphim- angels closest to God. They are six-winged and carry fiery swords, they can have from one to 16 faces. As a symbol, they mean the cleansing fire of the spirit, divine heat and love.
22.Bread- This is a reference to the biblical episode when five thousand people were satisfied with five loaves. Bread is depicted in the form of ears (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 so (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 - Is 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, my Shepherd” (The Ps of the Lord says, “The Lord, my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1-2). Thus, Christ in the Gospel parable points to the fulfillment of prophecy and the finding of consolation by the people of God. In addition, the image of the shepherd also had has a clear meaning to everyone, so that even today in Christianity it is customary to call priests pastors, and laity - a flock.Christ the Shepherd is depicted as an ancient shepherd, dressed in a chiton, in shepherd's laced sandals, often with a staff and a vessel for milk; 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. Such is the mosaic of the beginning of the 4th century basilica from Aquileia.
24.Burning bush is a thorn bush that burns but does not burn. 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 of the Mother of God, who was touched by the Holy Spirit.
25.a lion- a symbol of vigilance and 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) - a symbol of the Evangelist Luke. Taurus means the sacrificial ministry of the Savior, his Cross sacrifice. Also, the ox is 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 into which Joseph of Arimathea allegedly collected blood from the wounds of Jesus Christ during the crucifixion. The history of this vessel, which acquired miraculous power, was described by the French writer of the early 12th century, Chrétien de Troyes, and a century later, in more detail by Robert de Voron, 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 crusader knights largely contributed to the creation of the legend of the Grail, processed and framed with the participation of many authors and culminating in the tales of Parsifal and Gilead.
29.Nimbus represents a brilliant circle, which ancient Greek and Roman artists, depicting gods and heroes, often placed above their heads, indicating that these are higher, unearthly, supernatural beings. In the iconography of Christianity, the nimbus has become a part of the images of hypostases since ancient times. Holy Trinity, angels, Mother of God and saints; often he also accompanied the Lamb of God and the figures of animals, which serve as symbols of the four evangelists. At the same time, haloes of a special kind were established for some icons. For example, the face of God the Father was placed under a halo, which at first had the shape
triangle, and then the shape of a six-pointed star formed by two equilateral triangles. The halo of the Virgin Mary is always round and often exquisitely decorated. Haloes of saints or other divine persons are usually round and unornamented.
30. Church in Christian symbolism, the 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 signifies 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, associated with this bird beautiful legend, which exists in dozens of slightly different variants, but is very similar in meaning to the ideas of the Gospel: self-sacrifice, deification through communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. Pelicans live in coastal reeds near a warm mediterranean sea and are often bitten by snakes. Adult birds feed on them and are immune to their poison, but the chicks are not yet. According to legend, if a pelican chicks are bitten by poisonous snake, then he pecks at his own chest in order to commune them with 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- This is a monogram made up of the first letters of the Greek word "Christ" - "Anointed". Some researchers erroneously identify this christian symbol with the double-edged ax of Zeus - "Labarum". Along the edges of the monogram is sometimes placed Greek letters"a" and "ω". Chrysma was depicted on the sarcophagi of the martyrs, in the mosaics of the baptistery (baptismal), 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, the Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary on the day of the Annunciation 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 ancient legend about the eternal bird. Phoenix lived for several centuries and, when it came time for him to die, flew to Egypt and burned there. From the bird there was only a pile of nutritious ash in which, after some time, new life. Soon a new rejuvenated Phoenix rose from it and flew away in search of adventure.
35.Rooster is a symbol general resurrection which 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, doomsday and the inheritance of new life.
Color symbols of Christianity
The most significant difference between the "pagan" period of color symbolism and the "Christian" period is, first of all, that light and color finally cease to be identified with God, mystical forces, but become their
attributes, qualities and signs. According to Christian canons, God created the world, including light (color), but he himself is not reduced to light. Medieval theologians (for example, Aurelius Augustine), while 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. Especially important was such a meaning of white as purity and purity, liberation from sins. Angels, saints, the risen Christ are depicted in white clothes. Newly converted Christians wore white clothes. Also, white is the color of baptism, communion, the holidays of the Nativity of Christ, Easter, Ascension. In the 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 has no 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 connotation. In the Gothic era, they begin to consider it the color of treason, betrayal, deceit, 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 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 passions 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, in the days of memory of the martyrs who shed their blood for their faith. The red rose points to the shed blood and wounds of Christ, to the cup that receives "holy blood." Therefore, it symbolizes rebirth in this context. Marked in red on the calendar joyful events dedicated to Christ, the Mother of God and saints. From church calendar we have a tradition to highlight holidays in red. Easter in churches begins in white vestments as a sign of Divine light. But already the Paschal Liturgy (in some churches it is customary to change vestments, so that the priest appears each time in robes of a different color) and the whole week are served in red robes. Often red robes are used before Trinity.
Blue
This is the color of heaven, truth, humility, immortality, chastity, piety, baptism, harmony. It expressed the idea of self-sacrifice and meekness. Blue color as it mediates the connection between the heavenly and the earthly, between God and the world. As the color of the air, blue expresses a person's readiness to accept the presence and power of God for himself, blue has become the color of faith, the color of fidelity, the color of striving for something mysterious and wonderful. Blue is the color of the Virgin Mary, she is usually depicted in a blue cloak. Mary in this meaning is the Queen of Heaven, covering
with this cloak, protecting and saving the faithful (Intercession Cathedral). In the paintings of churches dedicated to the Mother of God, the color of heavenly blue prevails. Dark blue is typical for the image of the clothes of cherubs, who are constantly in reverent meditation.
Green
This color was more "earthly", meant life, spring, 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, it is customary to decorate temples and apartments with bouquets of green twigs. Along with this, green had and negative values- deceit, temptation, devilish temptation (green eyes were attributed to Satan).
Black
The attitude towards black was mostly negative, as the color of evil, sin, the devil and hell, as well as death. In the meanings of black, as well as among primitive peoples, the aspect of “ritual death”, death for the world, has been preserved and even developed. Therefore, black became the color of monasticism. The black raven among Christians meant trouble. But black has not only such a tragic meaning. In icon painting, in some subjects, it means a divine mystery. For example, on a black background, which meant the incomprehensible depth of the Universe, they depicted Cosmos - 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 innermost knowledge, silence, spirituality. In early Christianity, purple symbolized sadness, affection. This color is adopted by the memories of the Cross and Lenten services, where the sufferings and the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ are remembered for the salvation of people. As a sign of higher spirituality, in combination with the idea of the Savior's feat on the cross, this color was used for the bishop's mantle, so that Orthodox bishop as if the whole is 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 the earth, sadness. It symbolizes humility, the rejection of worldly life. Grey colour(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, first of all, as a symbol of mystical forces and phenomena, which is especially characteristic of early Christianity.
From time to time we see a fish symbol on someone's car, or a T-shirt, or a mug. What does it mean? It looks modern, but in fact it is a very ancient Christian symbol, which we should remember in more detail.
But we will have to start with symbols in general - because here we enter a world that was our own for our ancestors, the people of the Bible and Church Tradition, but is incomprehensible to us.
We are accustomed to a flatter, more utilitarian language in which every word or pictogram has a single meaning, a language that is easy to translate by a computer due to the fact that it easily breaks into isolated fragments. Modern man it can be almost impossible to read Scripture with its deeply symbolic language, and much of the atheistic criticism of the Bible is precisely due to the inability to understand symbolically. Let's try, however, to return to the world of symbols.
The very word "symbol" comes from the Greek σύμβολα. When parting, the friends broke the plank - so that years later they (or their descendants) could identify each other by the way the parts fit together. Imagine two friends - let's call them, say, Alexis and Gennadios - who grew up in the same Polis, fought shoulder to shoulder in the phalanx of hoplites, then Gennadios went overseas and settled in one of the Greek colonies. Alexis got married, his son was born and raised, and now his son has to go on some business to this colony - and Alexis gives him this very “symbol” so that he can be recognized in the house of Gennadios as the son of his old friend. The son of Alexis arrives at the place and learns that Gennadios has long died - but his descendants carefully keep the "symbol", and when he shows his soul mate, the sons of Gennadios joyfully receive him in their house.
The “symbol” was a kind of physical password by which people could understand that they were dealing with their own.
The symbol did not just communicate some information - it was associated with a sense of community, a shared life, reminded of the labors and dangers incurred together, of the obligations of an old friendship. By itself, a piece of the tablet was worth nothing - and had no meaning to outsiders - but for those who kept it, it was very important.
Something similar happens with us with old things. As they say in Elena Blaginina's poem "The Overcoat":
Why are you keeping your overcoat? -
I asked my dad. -
Why don't you tear it, burn it? -
I asked my dad.
After all, she is dirty and old,
Take a better look
There's a hole in the back
Take a better look!
That's why I keep it,
Dad answers me
Therefore, I will not tear, I will not burn, -
Dad answers me. -
Because she is dear to me
What's in this overcoat
We went, my friend, to the enemy
And he was defeated!
An old overcoat is dear to a former soldier because important memories are associated with it - and many of us have some things dear to our personal or family history. But "symbols" can be not objects - but words, inscriptions, images. When we enter the temple and sing the same chants that many generations of our ancestors sang before us, and now Orthodox Christians sing all over the face of the earth, we understand that we are one family, although centuries and continents can separate us. When we hear from a priest in the temple: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” and we answer “and with your spirit” - we connect the parts of the symbol, like the ancient Greeks - parts of the tablet .
The language of Tradition is always deeply symbolic; it doesn't just tell us some information; he opens the windows, behind which stands the whole world. And this language is not limited to words; The Church proclaims, explains, and defends her faith in the language of icon painting, temple architecture, liturgical singing, gestures, and rituals. And one of the oldest Christian symbols is Ichthys - the image of a fish.
Any symbol has many meanings - as the famous philologist Sergey Sergeevich Averintsev says, “If for a purely utilitarian sign system polysemy (polysemy) is only a meaningless hindrance that harms the rational functioning of the sign, then the symbol is the more meaningful, the more it is polysemantic: in the end, the content of a genuine symbol through mediating semantic chains is always correlated with the “most important” - with the idea of world integrity, with the fullness of the cosmic and human "universe".
In other words, the symbol exists within the universe, where everything is interconnected and everything is endowed with deep meaning. Unlike utilitarian language—for example, the language in which the instructions for assembling an Ikea bookcase are written—symbolic language is three-dimensional, not flat, its utterances are always part of an organic context to which they are connected in many ways.
So the paintings of the great masters can be viewed for a very, very long time - and each time they will tell you something unexpected. Behind the symbol there is always a view of the world as a "Creation" (in Greek it will be a "poem"), as an integrity united by the Creator's common plan, where every detail is woven into a common pattern.
So, consider such a symbol as Ichthys - a sign of fish.
First of all, it is a confession of faith. The Greek word "Ichthys" (fish, hence "ichthyology", the science of fish) can be read as an acronym (abbreviation for the first letters) of the name of Jesus Christ, consisting of the initial letters of the words: Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ God's Son Savior).
It may seem to us that the coincidence of the name of the fish and the acronym of the name of the Lord is completely accidental - just a funny play on words. But for the early Christians this was not the case. They were acutely aware that the world in which they live - with its fish and birds, plants and animals - is God's world. The great book of nature was written by God, addressed to people, and its main purpose is to speak about the Creator. A fish is not just a fish, just like in general there is nothing “simple”, meaningless, meaningless in the world. The fish is present in this world to teach us something and reveal some secrets. not random and human tongues- the fact that the fish reminds of Christ is not a coincidence, but a fishery.
The mark of the fish means that a person named Jesus, who lived at a specific time in a specific place, is Christ, that is, the Redeemer, the Son of God and Savior, predicted by the prophets. Moreover, in the ancient world the word "savior" (soter) was a royal title. The ancient rulers claimed to be "soters", that is, the saviors of their subjects from war and other disasters. Christians said that the true King and Savior is Christ, who saves us from the real calamity - sin.
Ichthys also served as a "symbol" in the original sense - as a sign by which one's own recognize each other. This was especially important during persecution - one Christian could draw an arc on the earth, which in itself did not mean anything and betrayed him to the persecutors, while another could draw the same arc, so that a fish was obtained - and so the brothers in Christ recognized each other.
Ichthys served (and serves) as a reminder (we could say "hyperlinks") to many Gospel episodes related to fishermen and fish. He recalls the Apostles-fishermen; about the miraculous catch of the holy Apostle Peter, after which he, amazed, exclaims “in get away from me, Lord! because I am a sinful person. For horror seized him and all who were with him from this fishing of fish that they caught.(Luke 5:8,9) About the words of the Lord to Peter "Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch people"(Luke 5:10) About the multiplication of loaves and fishes, which is mentioned twice in the Gospel (Mark 6:41; 8:7) About the miracle with a coin in the mouth of a fish (Matt. 17:7) About another miraculous catch when already after His Resurrection, the Lord "said to them, cast your net over right side boats, and catch. They threw, and could no longer pull out [nets] from a lot of fish"(John 21:6) About the meal that the Risen One shared with the disciples - "Jesus comes, takes bread and gives them, also fish"(John 21:13,14)
In early ecclesiastical authors, the fish is also associated with the Eucharist, which Christ gives to His faithful, as He says in the Gospel. “Which of you father, when his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or, when he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake instead of a fish?”(Luke 11:11) "Fish" - Christ, as the true bread of life, was opposed by interpreters to the "serpent" - the devil.
St. Clement of Alexandria calls Christ a "fisherman" and compares Christians to "fish"
Fisherman of all mortals,
saved by you
In waves of hostile
From the sea of wickedness
Water and fish speak to Tertullian about the Sacrament of Baptism: “We are small fish, led by our ikhthus, we are born in water and can only be saved by being in water”
The image of a fish is found in early church art - for example, we can recall the famous mosaic in the Jerusalem Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. Although the fish symbol never disappeared from Christian art, it gradually faded into the background - and experienced a revival in the 70s of the twentieth century, when Christians began to place it on the logos of their businesses or on cars, sometimes with the inscription "Jesus" or "Ichthys". " inside.
This caused a somewhat amusing struggle between car symbols - American atheists chose the "Darwin fish" as their symbol - that is, a fish with legs, which was supposed to indicate that all life, according to the theory of Evolution, originated in water and then came to land. Proponents of a strict literal reading of Genesis responded by depicting "Darwin's fish" upside down, as a sign of its non-viability.
Faithful scientists who see no insurmountable differences between faith and evolutionary theory, in turn, combined both symbols and released a fish with legs and the inscription "Jesus".
"Ikhtis" is a living symbol and we, in Russia, for example, have an Orthodox vocal ensemble with that name.
And for us, the symbol of the fish, wherever we see it, is a reminder of our Lord Jesus Christ, a sign that we should stop and meditate on His Gospel.
For our readers: a fish symbol in Christianity with detailed description from various sources.
The image of a fish is often found in early Christian meeting places, in catacombs and in cemeteries. ancient rome and Greece, as well as in medieval Christian architecture. There are several complementary theories as to why the fish became the symbol of Christianity.
Instruction
Supporters of the first theory argue that the fish was chosen as a symbol of the new faith and an identification mark among early Christians, since the Greek spelling of this word is an acronym for the main dogma Christian faith. "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior" - such was and remains to this day the confession of Christianity, and the first
these words in Greek (Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ) form the word Ίχθύς, "ichthys", "fish". According to this theory, the early Christians, depicting the sign of the fish, professed their faith and at the same time recognized fellow believers. In Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel "Quo vadis" there is a scene in which the Greek Chilo tells the patrician Petronius precisely this version of the origin of the fish sign as a symbol of Christians.
According to another theory, the sign of the fish among the early Christians was a symbolic designation of the followers of the new faith. This statement is based on the frequent references to fish in the sermons of Jesus Christ, as well as in His personal conversations with his disciples, later the apostles. He metaphorically calls people in need of salvation fish, and the future apostles, many of whom were formerly fishermen, "fishers of men." “And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; from now on you will fish for men” (Gospel of Luke 5:10) “The fisherman's ring” of the Pope, one of the main attributes of the vestment, has the same origin.
The biblical texts also state that only fish survived the Flood sent by God for the sins of people, not counting those who took refuge in the Ark. At the beginning of the era, history repeated itself, the Greco-Roman civilization was experiencing a monstrous crisis of morality, and the new Christian faith was called to become the saving and at the same time cleansing waters of a new “spiritual” flood. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the sea and seizing every kind of fish” (Gospel of Matthew 13:47).
Also noteworthy is the theory that the fish became a symbol of Christianity due to its main, food function. The new dogma was first of all spread among the most oppressed part of the population. For these people, simple food like fish was the only way out of starvation. It is in this that some researchers see the reason why the fish has become a symbol of salvation from spiritual death, the bread of new life and the promise of life after death. As evidence, supporters of this theory cite numerous images in the Roman catacombs in places where rites were performed, where the fish acted as a symbol of the Eucharist.
Most fish have large and round eyes, but they are completely different from other animals. This raises the question of how well and how fish are able to see.
Instruction
The vision of fish is arranged in such a way that they can easily see colors and even distinguish shades. However, they see things differently
from the abodes of land. At
up the fish are able to see everything without distortion, but if
look
to the side, straight or at an angle,
picture
distorted by water and air.
Maximum visibility for occupants water element does not exceed 10–12 meters in clear water. Often this distance is reduced even more due to the presence of plants, changes in the color of the water, increased turbidity, etc. Most clearly, fish distinguish objects at a distance of up to 2 meters. Due to the peculiarity of the structure of the eyes, swimming up to the surface of the water, the fish begin to see objects, as if through
porthole
Best able to see predators that live in clear waters- grayling, trout, asp, pike. Some species that feed on benthic organisms and plankton (bream, catfish, eel, pike perch, etc.) have special light-sensitive elements in the retina of the eye that can distinguish weak light rays. Due to this, they can see quite well in the dark.
Being near the shore, the fish hear the angler very well, but do not see him because of the refraction of the line of sight. This makes them vulnerable, so a big role
the presence of disguise. Experienced anglers advise not to wear bright clothes for fishing, but,
vice versa
Choose more protective colors as a disguise that will blend into the general background. Much less likely to notice
will be in shallow water than when fishing near the shore and in deeper places. Thus, while fishing, it is better to sit than to stand, and also not
commit
abrupt movements. That is why it is better for spinning players who like to hunt from a boat to fish (take out a predator by casting the bait) while sitting, which is not only safe, but also helps
get
noticeably larger catch.
What does this fish sign mean for Christians
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Ichthys(ancient Greek Ίχθύς - fish) - an ancient acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ, consisting of the initial letters of the words: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior).
Often depicted in an allegorical way - in the form of a fish.
Symbolic meaning
The acronym IHTIS (ΙΧΘΥΣ) is built on the use of the following letters:
Thus, in this abbreviation short form confession of the Christian faith is expressed.
Gospel symbols
New Testament connects the symbolism of the fish with the preaching of the disciples of Christ, many of whom were fishermen. Jesus Christ calls his disciples fishers of men"(Matt. 4:19, Mark 1:17), and the Kingdom of Heaven likens" a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of every kind» (Matthew 13:47).
The Last Supper, 13th century fresco in a cave church, Cappadocia. The body of Christ in the Grail is depicted as a fish
The image of the fish also has a Eucharistic meaning associated with the following meals described in the Gospel:
- feeding the people in the wilderness with bread and fish (Mark 6:34-44, Mark 8:1-9);
- the meal of Christ and the apostles on the Lake of Tiberias after his Resurrection (John 21:9-22).
These stories were often depicted in the catacombs, interlocking with the Last Supper.
The sign was also associated with Alpha from the words of Jesus Christ: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13).
Symbol occurrence time
In early Christian art, images of Christ were an unacceptable plot due to persecution, which is why various symbolic codes arise. Depictions of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ, or the fish symbolizing it, appear in Roman catacombs in the 2nd century. About widespread use given symbol testifies to the mention of it by Tertullian at the beginning of the 3rd century:
We are small fish, guided by our ikhthus, we are born in the water and can only be saved by being in the water..
Features of the symbol image
Ίχθύς Early Christian inscription,
- Monogram without any drawings.
- Fish(with monogram ΙΧΘΥΣ and without it) - can be depicted symbolically.
- A fish carrying on its back a basket of bread and a bottle of wine,- a symbol of Christ bearing the sacrament.
- Dolphin- symbolizes Christ as a guide through chaos and disastrous abysses. A dolphin with an anchor or a ship personifies the church, and a dolphin pierced by a trident or chained to an anchor is Christ crucified on the cross.
Currently
At the end of the 20th century, ichthys became a popular symbol among Orthodox and Protestants in different countries. They put this sticker on their cars.
Opponents of creationism began to parody this sign, sticking a fish sign with the word "Darwin" and small legs on their cars.
Notes
Links
- Ichthys // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
As you know, in the Roman Empire in the first centuries the Church was subjected to severe persecution. Under these conditions, it was impossible not only to openly confess oneself a Christian, but also to create images that directly tell about faith. Therefore, in the early Christian fine arts various symbolic images appeared. They were a kind of secret writing, by which fellow believers could identify each other. An example of such secret writing is given by the Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz in his wonderful book "Kamo nadesh". The novel begins with the fact that one noble Roman fell in love with a young beautiful girl who turned out to be a Christian. And so he tells how he found this girl drawing something in the sand:
What did she draw in the sand? Is it not the name of Cupid, or a heart pierced by an arrow, or something else, from which you could understand that satyrs have already whispered some secrets of life into this nymph's ear? How could you not look at these signs!
“I put on my toga sooner than you think,” said Vinicius. - Until little Avl came running, I carefully examined these signs. I know that both in Greece and in Rome, girls often draw confessions in the sand that refuse to utter their lips. But guess what she drew?
If it's something else, I don't think I can guess.
The girl was a Christian, and she drew this drawing for a reason. Indeed, the fish is one of the most common drawings in early Christian painting. And she symbolized not anyone, but the Lord Jesus Christ himself. And the reason for this is the ancient Greek language. The fact is that in ancient Greek the fish ὁἰχθύς (ihthys). Christians saw in this word a kind of acrostic (a poem in which the first letters of each line make up a meaningful text) telling about Christ. Each letter of the “ancient Greek fish” was for them, respectively, the first letter of other, very important words expressing the confession of the Christian faith: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός Jεοῦ Uἱός Sωτήρ. From ancient Greek into Russian, this is translated as follows: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. Those. the ancients read the ancient Greek word ἰχθύς (fish) as an abbreviation for this phrase.
In general, the symbolism of fish is often used in the New Testament. For example, 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 then, being evil, you 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” (Mt 7:9-11). According to many interpreters Holy Scripture, the image of the fish here symbolizes Christ as the true Bread of Life, and the snake symbolizes the devil. Therefore, for example, sometimes fish in early Christian painting was painted along with baskets filled with bread and wine. Those. this image had a Eucharistic meaning.
Christ also feeds a multitude of people by taking seven loaves and “a few fish”: “And taking seven loaves and fish, he gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied” (Mt 15:36-37). In another similar miracle, there were five loaves and two fishes (see Mt 14:17-21).
Score 5 voters: 1The symbol of the fish can be found in ancient Christian images. What does the fish symbol mean in Christianity? 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 put together, you get the word ICHTHYS, that is, "fish". Under the name of the fish is mysteriously understood Christ, because in the abyss of real mortality, as it were in the depths of the waters, He could remain alive, that is. sinless» ( Blessed Augustine. About 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 put into view" (From readings on church archeology and liturgy. St. Petersburg ., 1995, p. 156).
However, it must be said definitely: not only the observation of a letter coincidence led to the fact that among the Christians of the primordial Church, the 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 then, being evil, you 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 the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish: And taking the seven loaves and fish, he gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied (Matthew 15:36-37). At another miracle of feeding the people, there were five loaves and two fishes (see Matt. 14:17-21).
The Eucharistic understanding of the first and second satiation 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 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 the sins of yesterday's blindness with it, we are freed for eternal life!<…>We, fish, following our “fish” (ICHTHYS) Jesus Christ, are born in water, we save life only by remaining in water» (About baptism. 1.1).
Clement of Alexandria in "Hymn to Christ the Savior" also compares the followers of Jesus Christ with fish:Eternal joy of life, Savior of the mortal race, Jesus, Shepherd, Plowman, Helm, Bridle, Heavenly wing of the holy flock! Catcher of men being rescued from the sea of wickedness! Pure fish From a wave hostile to the sweet life catching! Lead us sheep
Shepherd of the wise!"(Pedagogical Conclusion)
Father Iov Gumerov
Signs and symbols have existed on earth for a long time. They depict attitudes towards a particular culture, religion, country, family or thing. Christian symbols Orthodox culture emphasize belonging to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, through faith in the Holy Trinity.
Orthodox Christians express their faith with Christian signs, but few, even those who are baptized, know their meaning.
Christian symbols in Orthodoxy
The history of the emergence of symbols
After the crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior, persecution began against Christians who believed in the coming of the Messiah. In order to communicate with each other, believers began to create secret codes and signs to help avoid danger.
Cryptogram or cryptography originated in the catacombs, where the early Christians had to hide. Sometimes they used long ago famous signs from Jewish culture, giving them a new meaning.
The symbolism of the early Church is based on man's vision Divine world through the hidden depths of the invisible. The meaning of the emergence of Christian signs is to prepare early Christians for the acceptance of the Incarnation of Jesus, who lived according to earthly laws.
The signs of cryptography at that time were more intelligible and acceptable among Christians than sermons or reading books.
Important! The basis of all signs and codes is the Savior, His Death and Ascension, the Eucharist - the Sacrament left by the Mission before His crucifixion. (Mark 14:22)
Cross
The cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ, its image can be seen on the domes of temples, in the form pectoral crosses, in Christian books and many other things. In Orthodoxy, there are several types of crosses, but the main one is the eight-pointed one, on such a cross the Savior was crucified.
Cross: main character Christianity
A small horizontal bar served as the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". The arms of Christ are nailed to the large crossbar, and His legs are nailed to the lower one. The top of the cross is directed to heaven, and the kingdom is Eternal, and under the feet of the Savior is hell.
About the cross in Orthodoxy:
Fish - ichthys
Jesus called fishermen as disciples, whom he later made fishers of people for the Kingdom of Heaven.
One of the first signs of the early Church was the fish, later the words “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior” were inscribed in it.
The fish is a Christian symbol
Bread and vine
Belonging to is expressed through drawings of bread and grapes, and sometimes wine or grape barrels. These marks were applied to sacred vessels and were understandable to everyone who accepted faith in Christ.
Important! The vine is a type of Jesus. All Christians are its branches, and the juice is a prototype of the Blood that purifies us during the reception of the Eucharist.
In the Old Testament, the vine is a sign of the promised land, the New Testament presents the vine as a symbol of paradise.
The vine as a symbol of paradise in the New Testament
A bird sitting on a vine symbolizes rebirth to a new life. Often bread is drawn in the form of ears of corn, which at the same time is a sign of the unity of the Apostles.
Fish and bread
The loaves depicted on the fish refer to one of the first miracles performed by Jesus on earth, when He fed more than five thousand people who came from afar to listen to the Mission's sermons with five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:13-14).
Jesus Christ - in symbols and codes
The Savior acts as the Good Shepherd for his sheep, the Christians. At the same time, He is the Lamb slain for our sins, He is the saving cross and anchor.
The Ecumenical Council of 692 banned all symbols relating to Jesus Christ in order to shift the focus not to the image, but to the Living Savior, however, they still exist.
Lamb
A small lamb, obedient, defenseless, is a prototype of the sacrifice of Christ, which became the last victim, for God was not pleased with the sacrifices offered by the Jews in the form of slaughtering birds and animals. The Supreme Creator wants to be worshiped with pure hearts through faith in His Son, the Savior of mankind (John 3:16).
Symbol of the Lamb with a Banner
Only faith in the saving sacrifice of Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life, opens the way to eternal life.
In the Old Testament, the lamb is a type of the blood of Abel and the sacrifice of Abraham, to whom God sent a lamb to sacrifice in place of his son Isaac.
The Revelation of John the Theologian (14:1) speaks of a lamb standing on a mountain. The mountain is the universal Church, four streams - the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which nourish the Christian faith.
Early Christians in cryptography depicted Jesus as the Good Shepherd with a sheep on his shoulders. Now priests are called shepherds, Christians - sheep or flock.
Monograms of the name of Christ
Translated from Greek, the monogram "crisma" means chrismation and is translated as a seal.
We are sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ to His love and salvation. Behind the letters X.P is hidden the image of the Crucifixion of Christ, the Incarnate God.
The letters "alpha" and "omega" denote the beginning and end, the symbols of God.
Monograms of the name of Jesus Christ
Little-known encoded images
ship and anchor
The image of Christ is often conveyed by signs in the form of a ship or an anchor. In Christianity, the ship symbolizes human life, Church. Under the sign of the Savior, believers in a ship called the Church sail towards eternal life, having an anchor - a symbol of hope.
Pigeon
The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove. A dove landed on Jesus' shoulder at His baptism (Luke 3:22). It was the dove who brought the green leaf to Noah during the Flood. The Holy Spirit is One of the Trinity, Who was from the beginning of the creation of the world. The dove is a bird of peace and purity. He flies only to where there is peace and tranquility.
The symbol of the Holy Spirit is a dove
Eye and triangle
The eye inscribed in the triangle means the all-seeing eye of the Most High God in the unity of the Holy Trinity. The triangle emphasizes that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are equal in their purpose, they are one. It is almost impossible for a simple Christian to understand this. This fact must be accepted by faith.
Mother of God Star
At the birth of Jesus, the star of Bethlehem lit up in the sky, which in Christianity is depicted as eight-pointed. In the center of the star is the bright face of the Mother of God with the Child, so the name of the Mother of God appeared next to Bethlehem.
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