“The Latin cross is the most familiar and widely recognized symbol of Christianity today. In all likelihood, it was the shape of the structure upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Though various forms of the cross existed, the Latin cross was made of two pieces of wood crossed to create four right angles.   Read More...

“There are many symbols of the Trinity in Christianity. The Borromean Rings are three interlocking circles that signify the divine trinity.The word “”trini ty”” comes from the Latin noun “”trinitas”” meaning “”three are one.””   Read More...

The Triquetra is a three-part interlocking fish symbol that symbolizes the Christian trinity.

“The Holy Bible is the Word of God. It is the Christian’s handbook for life.

God’s message to mankind — on the Kingdom of God — is contained in the pages of the Bible.   Read More...

“The Ten Commandments or the Tablets of the Law are the laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses after leading them out of Egypt. In essence, they are a summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament Law. They offer basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living.   Read More...

“Why have Christians been using pelicans so often in their art? It all goes back to a medieval misunderstanding. In Europe and Asia, there was a widespread belief that pelican mothers had a unique relationship to their young. In one version, pelicans would could kill their young and then bring them back to life with their blood.   Read More...

“The Staurogram, or Tau-Rho, is a Greek tau (T) combined with a Greek rho (P), and was used in the early church as an abbreviation for the Greek word for cross. The letters also sometimes had a deeper meaning. The tau could symbolize the cross on its own.   Read More...

The Ancient Greeks believed that the flesh of peacocks didn’t decompose after death, and so peacocks became a symbol of immortality. Early Christians adopted the symbol to represent their belief in eternal life in heaven with God, and was often depicted with the Tree of Life.

Ichthys is the Greek word for fish, and it was one of the most important early Christian symbols. Not only did fish feature in several miracles of Jesus in the Gospels, but the ichthys was taken as an acrostic for the Greek phrase “Iēsous Christos Theou Hyios Sōtēr,” which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

“The ichthys symbol became of great in importance and started to appear in Christian art during the late 2nd century, and its use spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries.  The fish appears in many Biblical stories, for example, the fish that swallowed Jonah is believed to symbolize Christ’s incarceration in the tomb.   Read More...

In the book of Revelation, Jesus says of himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev 22.13) Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last one. Putting the two together, they represent the eternity of Christ as the Son of God.

The Chi-Rho is a combination of the Greek letter chi (X) and rho (P), which are the first two letters of the Greek word for “Christ,” and so when put together represent “Jesus.”

The IH Monogram consists of the Greek letters iota (I) and eta (H), which are the first two letters of the word “Jesus” in Greek, and as such was a common shorthand for “Jesus.”

The IX Monogram consists of the Greek letters iota (I) and chi (X). Iota is the first letter of the Greek word for “Jesus,” and chi is the first letter of the Greek word for “Christ.” Put together, they function as a shorthand for “Jesus Christ.”

“The five-pointed (or four-pointed) star (also known as the Epiphany Star or (Christian Star) represents Jesus’ birth and incarnation. It is one of the most powerful symbols of Christianity. On Christmas Eve, the Star, shining brightly in the heavens, guided the wise men to the lowly manger where the Christ child was born.   Read More...

In the book of Revelation, Jesus is called the Morning Star (Revelation 2:28; Revelation 22:16).

“The Star of David is a six-pointed star formed by two interlocking triangles, one pointing up, one pointing down. It is named after King David and appears on the flag of Israel. While predominately recognized as a symbol of Judaism and Israel, many Christians identify with the Star of David as well.”

“To Christians the lily flower was a symbol of the Holy Trinity as well as an emblem of the Virgin Mary. The Roman Catholic Church adopted the Fleur-de-lis symbol to represent Virgin Mary. When Pope Leo III in 800 crowned Charlemagne as emperor, he is reported to have presented him with a blue banner covered (semé) with golden fleurs-de-lis.   Read More...

“The dove represents the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost in Christianity. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove when he was baptized in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “”You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”” ​​(Luke 3:22, NIV)   Read More...

“One of the most vivid symbols of Christianity is the crown of thorns, which Jesus wore before his crucifixion and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “”Hail, king of the Jews!”” they said. ​​(Matthew 27:29, ​NIV)   Read More...

“The rose has been a common Christian symbol since the 1200s. It represents a symbol of the rosary. The rose is related to Jesus Christ’s life and is also linked with the veneration of Jesus Christ’s mother, Mary. The rose’s five petals symbolize all five of Christ’s wounds from the crucifixion.   Read More...

“The Christian Rosary (in Latin: ‘a garland of roses’) presents the devotee with a structure for prayer. The name of this Christian object is related to the Virgin Mary and her purity. The Rosary helps to count the number of read “Ave Maria”. The Rosary is a remedy against severe trials,   Read More...

“The Christian Rosary (in Latin: ‘a garland of roses’) presents the devotee with a structure for prayer. The name of this Christian object is related to the Virgin Mary and her purity. The Rosary helps to count the number of read “Ave Maria”. The Rosary is a remedy against severe trials,   Read More...

“The Christian rainbow is a symbol of God’s faithfulness and his promise to never again destroy the earth by flood. This promise comes from the story of Noah and the Flood. After the flood, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant with Noah to never again destroy the earth and all living creatures by flood.   Read More...

“Writers of the Bible used rainbows to describe the glory of God: Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face,   Read More...

The Lamb of God represents Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless sacrifice offered by God to atone for the sins of man.

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter…(Isaiah 53:7, ​NIV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “”Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”” ​(John 1:29, NIV). And they cried out in a loud voice:   Read More...

“The Cross and Crown is a familiar symbol in Christian churches. It represents the reward awaiting in heaven (the crown) that believers will receive after the suffering and trials of life on earth (the cross). Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test,   Read More...

“Ihs is an ancient monogram (or letter symbol) for Jesus that dates back to the first century. rom Greek it is an abbreviation of the name IHΣΟΥΣ (Jesus). Scribes wrote a line or a bar over the letters to indicate an abbreviation. In Eastern Orthodox Church the Christogram is composed with letters X and   Read More...

According to a legend, this inscription with the cross was seen by emperor Constantine the Great in his sleep before the battle against Maxentius in 312 on the Ponte Milvio.

Phiro is a small black cap which the priest must wear during all public prayers. It consists of seven sections which indicate the full priesthood of the celebrant. Bishops including the Patriarch wear it under the Eskimo.

The priest also puts on msone, ceremonial shoes which are worn during the celebration of the holy qurbono. Since animal products are prohibited on the sanctuary, the shoes are not made of leather. Upon wearing the left shoe, the priest recites, may my feet, o lord god,   Read More...

He then puts on the kutino ‘alb’, a white surplice whose color is an indication of the priest’s purity. The priest signs the cross over it three times saying, clothe me, o lord, with the robe of incorruption through the strength of thy holy spirit, and make me worthy to keep the true faith and walk in the paths of purity and righteousness all the days of my life.

Then he puts on the Hamnikho ‘necklace,’ the stole which symbolizes the priest being armed with the fear of the lord. He signs the cross over it twice, reciting psalm 18:39, 40: gird me with strength unto the battle and subdue under me them that rise up against me, defeat my enemies and silence those who hate me.

Then he puts on the zenoro ‘girdle’ which speaks of the priest’s control over all bodily desires. He signs the cross over it once reciting psalm 45:3: gird thy sword upon thy thigh, o thou most mighty with thy splendor and glory. Thy glory triumphs.

He then arms himself with the zende ‘sleeves’ which symbolize the priest’s readiness to keep god’s law and do works of righteousness. He signs the cross twice over the left sleeve and recites psalm 18:34 while wearing it: he trains my hands to war; and he strengthens my arms like a bow of brass.   Read More...

If the celebrant is a prelate, he puts on the masnaphto ‘turban’, a head-cover which symbolizes the cloth with which the lord’s head was bound for his burial. He makes the sign of the cross twice on it and wears it reciting psalm 4:6-7: who can show me he who is good?   Read More...

The priest then puts on the phayno, a cope which symbolizes aaron’s robe of many colors and the savior’s seamless robe. He signs the cross over it thrice reciting psalm 132:9-10: let thy priests be clothed with righteousness and thy righteous with glory. For thy servant david’s sake,   Read More...

If the celebrant is a prelate, he puts on the batrashil `pallium’ which is similar to the hamnikho but extends both front and back. It reminds the prelate of the cross which the savior carried. He crosses it once reciting psalm 27:5: in the day of trouble, he protects me in the shadow of his tabernacle.   Read More...

The patriarch wears the sakro `shield’ attached to the zenoro on the right side. The shield of faith symbolizes his authority and his position as the protector of the faith (ephesians 6:16 “.. Above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one).

Prelates also wear a cross and an icon, usually of the mother of god, around the neck. While wearing the cross he recites psalm 34:5: turn your eyes to him and hope in him and you shall not be disappointed.

Then the prelate takes the crosier (mooroneetho) in his left hand, which symbolizes the bishop’s authority and reminds us of the shepherd’s staff, reciting psalm 110:2: the lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of zion: thou shalt rule in the midst of thine enemies.   Read More...

Deacons wear a white kutino and an uroro ‘stole’ in various shapes according to their rank. Singers (mzamrono) wear the kutino without the uroro. Readers (qoruyo) wear the uroro in the form of a cross. Subdeacons (apodyaqno) wear the uroro folded around the neck.   Read More...