The meaning of the ancient Christian symbols depicted around the St. Elias church. Symbols of Christianity

Symbols of Christianity

Hurry now to receive salvation.
Jesus is ready to hug you now!
But if you are indifferent to salvation,
A terrible thing will happen: you can be late!

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 the deity as the function of the deity.

Jesus used symbols as he walked the roads of Palestine. He referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd, the Door, the Wine, and the Light of the World. When He taught His disciples, He spoke in parables that were rich in symbolism.
We use symbols in our daily life.

For centuries, Christians have used symbols to express their faith. It is unlikely that anyone, visiting a church or taking a religious book, will not see any symbols at the same time. They help communicate the gospel (evangelize), nurture faith, and create a special atmosphere during worship. They serve us as "way signs" in our earthly journey.

There are many Christian symbols. Some of them are well known, but often even believers (and not just baptized) people do not know what this or that sign was originally intended for.

Cross - Crucifixion image of the Crucifixion of Christ, as a rule, sculptural or relief. The image of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified is the main and obligatory symbol of the Christian religion; it is always present in places of worship, as well as in believers at home or as body jewelry. The prototype of the symbol of the cross is the Cross of the Lord, on which Jesus was crucified.

In the first centuries of Christianity, crosses were made without the image of Christ. Crucifixes themselves first appear in the 5th-6th centuries, and on the oldest of them Christ is depicted alive, in robes and crowned with a crown. The crown of thorns, wounds and blood collected in a bowl appear in the late Middle Ages, along with other details that have a mystical or symbolic meaning. Until the 9th century inclusive, Christ was depicted on the cross not only alive, resurrected, but also triumphant - and only in the 10th century did images of the dead Christ appear.

Holy Blessed Trinity - In the Athanasian Creed, we confess: “And the universal Christian faith is this: we honor the one God in three persons and three persons in a single Deity ... we must worship both the trinity in unity and the unity in trinity.” We hear God speaking of Himself in the Scriptures as existing in three hypostases: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but as one Godhead in three hypostases. Therefore, we speak of Him as a Trinity, which means "three in one."
Triangle serves as a general symbol of the Trinity. Each of its equal sides represents the personality of the Deity. All the sides together form a single whole Being. This sign can be found in a wide variety of forms, although the meaning of each of them is the same: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
Lamb (lamb) as a symbol came from the Old Testament. The white lamb "without spot and without blemish" was offered by the Jews as a sacrifice to God.

According to legend, one of the two lambs sacrificed by Aaron was adorned with a crown of thorns. The prophets of the Old Testament called the expected Messiah the Lamb of God. The lamb has become a symbol of redemption, humility and meekness of Christ.

Butterfly - a symbol of Christ's Resurrection and eternal life for believers.
Scales - a symbol of justice and a symbol of God's fair judgment. At the Last Judgment, on the left hand of Christ or directly under his throne, the scene of the weighing of souls, which is carried out by the Archangel Michael, unfolds. He holds the scales in his hand, and on their two bowls are the souls - the righteous (on the right from the archangel) and the sinner (on the left). The soul of the righteous is heavier, and it outweighs; the cup of the sinner is pulled down by the devil. So they are distributed - some to heaven, some to hell - resurrected who appeared at this Judgment.
Vine - Eucharistic image, as well as a symbol of the people of God, the Church. In the last conversation with the disciples, Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser..."
Water - a symbol of fleeting time and Baptism. No wonder one of the many symbols of Christ is a stream. The very source that flows from under the Tree of Life in paradise is living water. This is what the Gospel says about him: "Whoever drinks the water that I will give him, he will never be thirsty."
A dove with a green branch is a symbol of new life, came from the Old Testament: after the flood, the dove returned to Noah with a green branch in its beak, thus informing Noah that the water had already subsided, and God's wrath was replaced by mercy. Since then, the dove with an olive branch in its beak has become a symbol of peace. A white dove without a branch can represent God's presence and God's blessing.
two trees : green and withered - the idea of green trees and dried trees was associated with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, standing side by side in the Garden of Eden.
Mirror - a transparent sphere in the hands of an angel with the inscription "IS XP" - a symbol indicating that the angel serves Jesus Christ and is a spirit, but not an anthropomorphic being.
Keys - gold and iron symbolize the gates of heaven and hell.
Ship depicts the church leading the believer on a safe path through the stormy waves of the sea of life. The cross on the mast symbolizes the message of Christ, which gives authority to the church and guides it. The name of the part of the church where the community is located, the nave, means "ship".
Cross with five points - we draw a circle around the cross and as a result we get five points: the point of the autumn equinox, the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the winter solstice and the central point. This is the fixed axis around which time moves. Such a visual model gives some idea of the relationship between time and eternity within the framework of Christian culture.
Blood of Christ which poured out of his wounds onto the cross, has, according to Christian doctrine, redemptive power. Therefore, it was customary to depict her abundantly pouring. It can flow onto the skull (Adam) lying at the base of the cross. The skull is sometimes depicted upside down, and then the holy blood is collected in it, as in a bowl.
The blood of Christ, as medieval theologians believed, is a real substance, one drop of which would be enough to save the world.
moon and sun - the moon symbolizes the Old Testament, and the sun - the New Testament, and as the moon receives its light from the sun, so the Law (Old Testament) becomes clear only when it is illuminated by the Gospel (New Testament). Sometimes the sun was symbolized by a star surrounded by flames, and the moon by a female face with a sickle. There are also explanations of the figures of the sun and moon as indications of the two natures of Christ, or as symbols of Christ himself (the sun) and the church (the moon).
Olive branch - a symbol of the establishment of peace between God and man. The olive branch is a symbol of hope and peace.
Nimbus - a halo, a symbol of holiness, glory. Depicted as a circle around the head.
Hourglass traditionally symbolize the transience of time and the mortality of all things.
Sink with three drops of water reminds us of baptism, when water was poured on us three times in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ichthys - fish is one of the most common symbols in antiquity that personified Christ. In the oldest part of the Roman catacombs, an image of a fish carrying a basket of bread and a vessel of wine on its back was discovered. This is a Eucharistic symbol, denoting the Savior, who gives the food of salvation and new life.

The Greek word for "fish" consists of the initial letters of the phrase "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior". This is the first encrypted creed. The image of a fish was a very convenient sign, since it did not say anything to people who were not initiated into the mysteries of Christianity.

shamrock-clover symbolizes the Trinity, unification, balance, and also destruction. It can be symbolically replaced by one, large sheet. It is the emblem of Saint Patrick and the coat of arms of Ireland.
Candles in the Church are used to this day, due to their symbolism. They signify Christ, who is the Light of the world. Two candles on the altar emphasize the two natures of Christ - divine and human. The seven candles in the candelabra behind the altar symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Phoenix rising from the fire , - a symbol of Christ's Resurrection. One non-biblical Greek legend says that the phoenix, a fantastic bird, lived for several hundred years in a row. Then the bird burned down, but arose again from its own ashes and lived for several centuries more, before its death and "resurrection" were repeated. Christians borrowed the symbol of this pagan myth.
Bowl reminds us of the cup that Christ blessed at the Last Supper and which we share each time at Communion.
Four Evangelists . The authors of the four gospels are called evangelists. Their symbols have been around since the early days of the church. The artists were influenced by the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, who saw four creatures that supported the throne of the Lord: “The likeness of their faces is the face of a man and the face of a lion (on the right side of all four of them), and on the left side is the face of a calf (all four) and the face eagle (for all four)". John saw a similar appearance of four creatures like a man, a lion, an eagle, and a calf. The winged man represents St. Matthew because his gospel emphasizes the humanity or human nature of Christ. It begins by listing the human ancestors of Jesus. The winged lion represents St. Mark because his gospel emphasizes the power and miracles of Jesus. The winged calf represents St. Luke, since his gospel pays special attention to the death of Jesus on the cross, and the calf was often used as a sacrificial animal. The winged eagle represents St. John, because his gospel emphasizes the divinity of Christ. The eagle is higher than any other animal, soaring to the heavens.
These four symbols represent the main events in the life of Christ: the winged man is His incarnation; winged calf - His death; winged lion - His resurrection; and the winged eagle is His ascension.
flames - symbolize the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Fire symbolizes spiritual jealousy and can also represent the torments of hell. When a saint is depicted with a flame in his hand, this symbolizes religious fervor.
Anchor - a sign of hope for salvation and a symbol of salvation itself. The seals of the first Christians with the image of an anchor, the monogram of Christ and fish have survived to this day. There are images of an anchor, which is braided by a large fish - a symbol that connects the signs of Christ and salvation. The wedding rings of Christians were decorated with anchors, which meant salvation in maintaining the fidelity of the spouses for the sake of Christ.
Hand - appearing in various forms, is a common symbol of God the Father. The Old Testament often speaks of the hand of God, for example: “In Your Hand are my days” (Psalm 30:16). The hand means strength, protection and dominance; for example, the Israelites sang to God, who saved them from the Egyptian army: “Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Your right hand, O Lord, has slain the enemy.”. We see the hand of God coming out of the cloud and reaching down to bless his people. The hand of God with a circle describes God as Eternally Existing with eternal care for His people.
Eye - is another common symbol of God the Father. He conveys the message that He sees us: "Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and hope in his mercy." The eye of God means the loving care of God and His participation in His creation. It also reminds us that God sees everything we do. Jesus reminds us that God sees us even when no one else sees us: “Pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Christma - A monogram is usually two or more letters - initials that identify a person.

Early Christians used monograms to certify that they belonged to Jesus. IHS is the first two letters and the last letter of the Greek name Jesus, written in Greek capital letters: IHSOYS. "Jesus" means "The Lord saves." The IHS monogram is often inscribed on altars and paraments.

Chi Rho - the first two letters of the Greek name of Christ - Xristos. Christ means "The Anointed One". Old Testament prophets and kings were anointed: olive oil was poured on their heads to consecrate them to God. Christ was ordained to serve (for His earthly mission) at the time of His baptism. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.

Jesus said, "I am Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End." Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things; the world was created through him and one day he will come again to bring this world to judgment. Jesus spoke of Himself as Wine, Bread, Door and other symbols. Christian artists have been making drawings for centuries to convey the message of Jesus Christ.

God the Father - The hand, appearing in various forms, is a common symbol of God the Father. The Old Testament often speaks of the hand of God, for example: "In Thy Hand are my days." The hand means strength, protection and dominance; for example, the Israelites sang to God, who saved them from the Egyptian army: “Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Your right hand, O Lord, has slain the enemy.” We see the hand of God coming out of the cloud and reaching down to bless his people. The hand of God with a circle describes God as Eternally Existing with eternal care for His people. The eye is another common symbol of God the Father. He conveys the message that He sees us:
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him and hope in His mercy.” The eye of God means the loving care of God and His participation in His creation. It also reminds us that God sees everything we do. Jesus reminds us that God sees us even when no one else sees us: “Pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

God the Son - There are many symbols representing God the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. There are monograms representing His name, crosses representing His crucifixion, and paintings depicting the events of His earthly ministry.

The first known images of the Good Shepherd date back to the 2nd century. His image in the Roman catacombs dates back to this period (a detail of the painting of the crypt of Lucina in the catacombs of St. Callistus, the catacombs of Domitilla. In 210 AD, Tertullian testified that he saw the image of the Good Shepherd on communion bowls and lamps. The Good Shepherd, in fact, was not icon of Jesus, but acts as an allegorical image.For this reason, he, along with ichthys, he became the first image of Christ in early Christian art.Also, because of the similarity with images of pagan deities, he was safe during the years of persecution, because he did not contain obvious Christian themes and could not betray the owner, a secret Christian.At the same time, in the conditions of persecution of Christianity, the image expressed the idea of special protection for the elect and the prototype of the coming Kingdom of God.

Stork - a symbol of prudence, vigilance, piety and chastity. Since the stork heralds the arrival of spring, it is associated with the Annunciation of Mary - with the good news of the coming of Christ. It is possible that the existing northern European belief that the stork brings children to mothers came from the fact that this bird was associated with the Annunciation. In Christianity, it symbolizes purity, piety and resurrection. Although the Bible classifies all stilted birds as "unclean animals," the stork is viewed differently as a symbol of happiness, mainly because it devours snakes. Thus, he points to Christ and his disciples, who destroyed satanic creatures.
Angel with fire sword - a symbol of Divine justice and wrath. The Lord God, having expelled our forefathers from paradise after their fall, placed "a Cherubim with a fiery sword to guard the road to the tree of life. sword".
Angel with a trumpet - a symbol of the resurrection and the Last Judgment. Christ about the coming of the Son of Man says: "He will send his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from the four winds, from the end of heaven to the end of them." Similarly, the Apostle Paul says about the second coming of Christ: "The Lord Himself, with an announcement, with the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first."
Squirrel - for Christians means greed and greed. In European mythology, the squirrel Ratatosk (“rodent”) appears, constantly scurrying along the trunk of the world tree and sowing discord between the eagle on its top and the dragon gnawing the roots, passing on their words about each other. She is associated with the devil, incarnated in this reddish, swift, elusive animal.
ox - a symbol of the martyrs who were killed for Christ. This symbol is spoken of by St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Naziyanz.
Magi - Melchior (senior), Baltazar (middle), Kaspar (junior). However, there is another ratio: the elder Kaspar (or Jasper), the middle one is Baltazar (he can be portrayed as a Negro), the younger one is Melchior. In the Middle Ages, they began to symbolize the three then known parts of the world: Europe, Asia and Africa, and the youngest - Caspar was often depicted as a Negro.
Crow - a symbol of solitude and hermit life.
horse heads - an eternal metaphor for the irreversibility of the passage of time.
Pomegranate - a traditional symbol of the resurrection, points to Christ as the Savior of the world. The pomegranate is considered a symbol of life... According to legend, Noah's Ark was illuminated by a pomegranate. The pomegranate is native to Asia and is one of the earliest fruits consumed by humans. Ancient Carthage was crushed by the Romans and perished forever. It is said that only the "Carthaginian" or "Punic" apple is left of it. It was the Romans who gave this name to the pomegranate -punica granatum. It is believed that the ponytail at the top of the pomegranate became the prototype of the royal crown.
Griffins - fictional creatures, half lions, half eagles. With sharp claws and snow-white wings. Their eyes are like flames. Initially, Satan was depicted in the image of a griffin, luring human souls into a trap, later this animal became a symbol of the dual (divine and human) nature of Jesus Christ. Thus, the griffin also became an enemy of snakes and basilisks.
Goose - in the Gnostic tradition, the goose is the embodiment of the holy spirit, a symbol of foresight and vigilance. There is a famous legend about the Capitoline geese that saved Rome from the invasion of the Gauls. But in the Middle Ages in Europe, they believed that geese were witches' mounts.
Dolphin - in Christian art, dolphins can be found much more often than other marine life. It has become a symbol of resurrection and salvation. It was believed that the dolphin, the strongest and fastest of the sea creatures, carries the souls of the dead across the sea to another world. The dolphin, depicted with an anchor or with a boat, symbolizes the soul of a Christian or the Church, which Christ leads to salvation. In addition, in stories about the prophet Jonah, a dolphin is often depicted instead of a whale, which led to the use of a dolphin as a symbol of the Resurrection, and also, although much less often, as a symbol of Christ.
The Dragon - one of the most common mythological creatures - a winged serpent, which, however, represented combinations of elements of other animals, usually the head (often several heads) and the body of a reptile (snake, lizard, crocodile) and the wings of a bird or like a bat; sometimes the image also included elements of a lion, panther, wolf, dog, fish, goat, etc. It is one of the guises of the devil. But despite the fact that the dragon was also an image of the water element, it was often represented as fire-breathing (a combination of opposite symbols of water and fire). In the Bible, this is a symbol that is emphasized; It is interesting to note that Herod's anagram in Syriac - ierud and es - means "fire-breathing dragon". A vivid description of the dragon as the enemy of God was given in the Revelation of John the Theologian. “And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against them, but they did not stand, and there was no longer a place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was cast down, the ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast down to the earth, and his wife's angels were cast down with him.
Woodpecker symbolizes heresy and the devil in the Christian tradition, which destroys human nature and leads a person to damnation.
Unicorn - in antiquity it was associated with the cult of the goddess of the Virgin Mother and early began to be associated by Christian theologians with the virginity of Mary and the Incarnation of Christ. The biblical symbol of power and strength, as such is used in the coat of arms of Britain. In the Mirror of the Sacraments of the Church, Honorius Otensky wrote: “A very ferocious animal that has only one horn is called a unicorn. To catch it, a virgin is left in the field; then the animal comes up to her and comes across, because it fits on her bosom. This animal represents Christ , the horn - his invincible strength. He, lying on the bosom of the Virgin, was caught by hunters - that is, he was found in a human form by those who loved him.
Wand - the club is a symbol of strength and authority, therefore each bishop is given a rod during consecration. "The episcopal baton," says Archbishop Simeon of Thessaloniki, "denotes the power of the Holy Spirit, the establishment and management of people, the power to govern, punish the disobedient, and gather those who have departed together." The episcopal baton is crowned with two snake heads and a cross. Serpent heads are a symbol of wisdom and archpastoral power, and the cross should remind the bishop of his duty to shepherd his flock in the name of Christ and for His glory.
Vicious circle - a symbol of eternity. The circle - the sky expressed in the Middle Ages the idea of eternity, infinity and perfection.
Star - The magi went to the birthplace of Jesus, seeing a sign - a star in the east, as Matthew says, and it was clear to them whose star they saw - "His star." In the Protoevangelium of James there is no direct reference to a star, but only about an extraordinary light in the cave where Christ was born. And if this source was the basis for many other iconographic motifs, then it is quite reasonable to assume that it also explains the image of a bright light in a cave with the help of a traditional image - a star.
Serpent in Christian symbolism is the main antagonist of God. This meaning comes from the Old Testament story of the fall of Adam. God cursed the serpent in the following terms: "... because you did this, you are cursed before all the cattle and before all the beasts of the field; you will walk on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life." Asp in Christianity also symbolizes evil, poison. The snake near the tree in paradise, which seduced Eve into disobedience, in the medieval Jewish legend appears under the name Samael (corresponds to the prince of darkness, Lucifer). The following thoughts are attributed to her: “If I speak to a man, he will not listen to me, since it is difficult to break a man. Therefore, I would rather first speak with a woman who has a better temper. I know that she will listen to me, because a woman listens to everyone!"
Ibis - a symbol of carnal desire, impurity, laziness. The early Christian text "Physiologus", as well as the medieval "Bestiary", notes that the ibis cannot swim and therefore devours dead fish near the shore. The latter, he brings to food and his cubs. “Like ibises, those carnivorous-minded people who greedily consume the deadly fruits of deeds for food, and even their children, to their corruption and death, feed them” (Unterkircher). "Worse than all this ibis, for from sinners and sinful shoots" ("Physiologus").
Calendar - the memory of a person about his roots and his source.
stone in hand - a symbol of penance imposed on oneself, and thus, a sign that penance was carried out. One Renaissance pope, looking at the image of the saint, allegedly said: “it’s good that he is holding a stone, this is a sign of the penance he voluntarily accepted upon himself, because without this he would hardly have been considered a saint.”
Keys - gold and iron symbolize the gates of heaven and hell.
Goat symbolized voluptuousness. In the form of a goat, Satan tempted St. Anthony. In the Gospel of Matthew, the goat is the emblem of sin and damnation (“and he will put the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left”). In traditional ideas, dating back to myths, the black goat was associated with the "lower" world. According to beliefs, Satan was present at the Sabbaths in the guise of a black goat. In Christian symbolism, the goat is a "stinking, dirty, constantly seeking satisfaction" creature, which at the Last Judgment is doomed to eternal punishment in hell. Directly connected with the scapegoat - a symbol of shifting one's own guilt onto someone else. Hence the traditional meaning of the goat as a spy agent and its sinister association with the devil.
A spear is one of the instruments of the passions of the Lord. The Gospel of Nicodemus says, and then the Golden Legend repeats, that the name of the warrior who pierced Christ with a spear was Longinus. He was blind and, according to the "Golden Legend", was cured of blindness in a miraculous way - the blood that flowed out of the wound he had inflicted on Christ. Subsequently, according to tradition, he was baptized and martyred. As a rule, he is depicted on the "good" side of Christ. Artists made it clear to the viewer in different ways that Longinus is blind: the spear that he seeks to plunge into the body of Christ can be directed by a nearby warrior, or Longinus specifically points his finger at his eyes, turning to Christ and, as if saying: heal me, if You are the Son of God ! In addition to the spear, Longinus's attribute is the monstrance, in which, as the legend tells (the Gospel says nothing about this), he collected drops of the holy blood of Christ.
Cat - symbolizes the ability to see both day and night. Because of its habits, the cat has become a symbol of laziness and lust. There is also a legend about the "Madonna's cat" (gatta del la. Madonna), which tells that before Christ was born, the cat calved in the same manger. This cat is usually depicted with a cross-shaped mark on its back. When the cat was wild, it was considered one of the most ferocious animals in its environment.
red lily - a symbol of the martyr's Holy Blood of Christ.
Red sardonyx meant Christ who shed his blood for the people.
Jug and Fake l indicate sexual moderation: water extinguishes the fire of lust.
Font - a symbol of the immaculate womb of the Virgin, from which the initiate is born again.
Lampada - lamp of knowledge. Since ancient times, lamps have been lit to dispel physical darkness - the darkness of the night. With the beginning of a new school term, the lamp of science is lit again to put an end to ignorance and spiritual darkness. The light of true art and useful knowledge should burn brightly in our world. There is still another kind of darkness. This is spiritual darkness - the darkness of unbelief, renunciation of God and despair. Christian education of all kinds leads disciples to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. The medium used for spiritual enlightenment is the Word of God. The psalm says: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." The gospel shining from the pages of Holy Scripture doesn't just teach us how to live in this world, it shows us the way to Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ. “How precious is the inspired Book! Like a lamp, her teachings light our way to Heaven.” In the Old Testament, the Lord commands Moses to "let the lamp burn at all times." The lamp burning in the tabernacle symbolized the constant presence of the Lord among His people. Today, inextinguishable lamps in some churches remind us of the presence of Christ through the Word and Sacraments. This shows that Christians, gathered around the Word, always and everywhere serve God. "Incarnate Word of God, O Higher Mind, O Truth eternal and unchanging, O Light in the darkness, we glorify you, shining from the sacred pages, illuminating our paths with eternal light."
Shack (dilapidated building) - it symbolized the Old Testament, to replace which Christ appeared in the world with the New.
A lion, like an eagle, an animal. symbolizing domination, often appears in heraldry and is characterized in fables as the "king of beasts". A symbol of vigilance and vigilant and spiritual, fortress - because it was believed that he was sleeping with his eyes open. Sentinel, supporting the foundations of the church. The symbol of the resurrection, because it was believed that the lion breathes life into lion cubs that are born dead. Therefore, the lion began to be associated with the resurrection from the dead and made it a symbol of Christ. The early Christian text “Physiologus” tells about the amazing circumstances of the birth of lion cubs in this way: “When a lioness gives birth to a cub, she gives birth to him dead and stays awake at the body until the father comes on the third day and begins to blow into his face .. (the lioness) sits in front of him for three whole days and looks at him (at the cub). But if she looks away, then he will not be revived. "The male lion awakens him by blowing vital breath into his nostrils. The lion becomes the emblem of Jesus Christ (cf. also the lion as the emblem of the Old Testament Judas, from whose family Jesus Christ comes) and many saints (Mark, Jerome, Ignatius, Adrian, Euphemia, etc.). In the Old Testament, Judas, Dan, Saul, Jonathan, Daniel, etc. are compared with the Lion, and the Lion himself is characterized as a "strong man among the beasts."
Left and right - It is customary to place the righteous on the right hand of Christ, and sinners on the left. The unrepentant is always at the left hand of the Savior. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him; and separate one from the other, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and he will put the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you accepted Me; was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him: Lord! when we saw you hungry and fed you? or thirsty, and drink? when we saw you as a stranger and received you? or naked and clothed? When did we see You sick or in prison and come to You? And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, because you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” Then he will also say to those on the left side: Depart from me, cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you did not give me drink; I was a stranger, and they did not receive me; was naked and did not clothe me; sick and in prison, and did not visit Me. Then they too will say to Him in answer: Lord! when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you? Then he will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, because you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Fox - a symbol of greed and cunning, wickedness and deceit. As a traditionally well-established symbol of cunning and deceit, the fox has become a symbol of the devil. Images of the fox often appeared in medieval sculpture; in the Renaissance, the fox became the main character in book illustrations. The reddish color of her fur resembles fire, which (along with a lynx and a squirrel) ranks it with the rump (retinue) of the devil. The negative assessment of the fox also finds its expression in medieval books about animals, for example, when it comes to the fact that he, as a deceiver and cunning animal, is unsurpassed. “When he is hungry and does not find anything to eat, he digs in red clay until he looks like a bloody one, stretches out like a dead man, and flogs on the sides. The birds see how he supposedly bled and his tongue fell off, and they think that died. They are on him, and he catches them and eats them. Such is the devil: in front of the living, he pretends to be dead, until he lures him into his calculations, and even seduces them "(Unterkircher). "Foxes on coats of arms. Whether on banners in general means the mind is crafty, and for those, if they are erected on coats of arms, the word and deed are one."
Boat is a symbol of the church, through which one can be saved; the net is the Christian doctrine, and the fish are people ("humans") converted to the Christian faith. Many of Jesus' disciples were fishermen before they were called to the apostolic ministry. Jesus might have called them "fishers of men," as if alluding to their former profession. To whom does he compare the Kingdom of Heaven with a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of various kinds. Once, when the people crowded to Him to hear the word of God, and He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, He saw two boats standing on the lake; and the fishermen, coming out of them, washed out the nets. entering into one boat, which was Simon's, He asked him to sail a little from the shore, and, sitting down, taught the people from the boat. When he had ceased to teach, he said to Simon, Set sail into the deep, and let down your nets for fishing. Simon said to Him in answer: Master! we toiled all night and caught nothing, but at your word I will cast down the net. Having done this, they caught a great number of fish, and even their net broke. And they gave a sign to the comrades who were on the other boat to come to help them; and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. Seeing this, Simon Peter fell on the knees of Jesus and said: Get out of me, Lord! because I am a sinful person. For horror seized him and all who were with him from this fishing of the fishes they caught; also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch people. And having pulled both boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
moon and sun - the moon symbolizes the Old Testament, and the sun - the New Testament, and as the moon receives its light from the sun, so the Law (Old Testament) becomes clear only when it is illuminated by the Gospel (New Testament). Sometimes the sun was symbolized by a star surrounded by flames, and the moon by a female face with a sickle. There are also explanations of the figures of the sun and moon as indications of the two natures of Christ, or as symbols of Christ himself (the sun) and the church (the moon).
Copper washstand and towel symbolize virgin purity.
Sword - a symbol of justice. St. Paul himself explains this symbol to us in Ephesians: "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
A monkey - among Christians of the early Middle Ages - a symbol of the devil and a designation of paganism rather than human sinfulness. In the Gothic era, the monkey was usually depicted with an apple in its mouth, as a symbol of the fall of Adam and Eve. In Christian art, the monkey is a symbol of sin, malice, deceit and lust. It can also symbolize the negligence of the human soul - blindness, greed, a tendency to fall into sin. Sometimes Satan is depicted in the guise of a monkey, scenes with a chained animal could mean the triumph of true faith. Sometimes in the scenes of the worship of the Magi, the monkey is present along with other animals.
Deer - a deer is usually depicted near springs. It is a symbol of the soul that yearns for God. The psalmist says, "As the deer yearns for the streams of water, so does my soul yearn for Thee, O God."
Eagle , ascending to the sun - a symbol of ascension. The eagle is a symbol of the soul that seeks God, as opposed to the snake, which symbolizes the devil. Usually the eagle is considered a symbol of the Resurrection. This interpretation is based on the early idea that, unlike other birds, the eagle, flying near the sun and dipping into the water, periodically renews its plumage and regains its youth. This interpretation is further developed in Psalm 102:5: "... your youth is renewed like an eagle." In addition, the eagle often serves as a symbol of new life, which began with the baptismal font, as well as the soul of a Christian, which grows stronger thanks to virtue. “But those who hope in the Lord will be renewed in strength; lift their wings like eagles... The eagle is able to soar in the air, rising so high until it is out of sight, as well as stare at the scorching midday sun. For this reason, it has become a symbol of Christ. More generally, it symbolizes justice or virtues such as courage, faith and religious meditation. Less often, when the eagle is depicted as a sacrifice, it personifies a demon that captivates souls, or the sin of pride and worldly power. The Evangelist John is rightly compared to an eagle, he, as someone wrote, “from the beginning to the end of his gospel soars on wings of an eagle even to the throne of the Lord." In a more general sense, the eagle became a symbol of the inspiring idea of the Gospels. It is on the basis of this interpretation that the lecterns from which the Gospels were read were often made in the form of an eagle spreading its wings.
Pelican - according to an ancient legend, transmitted by Pliny the Elder, a pelican, in order to save his chicks from death, poisoned by the poisonous breath of a snake, feeds them with his blood, which he exudes from a wound on his chest inflicted by his beak. The pelican feeding the children with its blood is a symbol of the sacrificial death of Christ. Thus, the pelican became a symbol of Jesus Christ, Who in the Eucharist feeds us with His Body and Blood.
Hourglass traditionally symbolize the transience of time and the mortality of all things.
whip in hand - a three-knot whip - a symbol of the weapon with which Ambrose scourged the heretic Arius and his followers (Arians); three knots - the symbol of St. Trinity.
transparent beryl , transmitting light - the image of a Christian, illuminated by the light of Christ.
fifteen angels - fifteen is the number of virtues: four "cardinal" - courage, wisdom, moderation, justice, three "theological" - faith, hope, love and seven "basic" - humility, generosity, chastity, contentment with one's own, temperance, calmness, hope. And two more - piety and repentance. There are sixteen in all, but moderation and abstinence are essentially the same thing. Thus, there are only fifteen different virtues. Thirty-three angels - corresponds to the number of years lived by Christ.
Hands folded crosswise on the chest - a gesture of deep reverence and reverence.
Fish - in the New Testament, the symbolism of fish is associated with preaching; former fishermen, and after the apostles, Christ calls "fishers of men", and the Kingdom of Heaven likens "a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of every kind." In the first centuries of Christianity, people wore glass, mother-of-pearl or stone fish around their necks - future pectoral crosses. The Eucharistic meaning of the fish is associated with representative gospel meals: the saturation of the people in the desert with bread and fish, the meal of Christ and the apostles on Lake Tiberias after the Resurrection, which is often depicted in the catacombs, interlocking with the Last Supper. In Scripture, Christ 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 he give him a snake?" According to the interpreters, the image of the fish refers to Christ as the true Bread of Life, as opposed to the snake, which symbolizes the devil. The image of a fish is often combined with the image of a basket of bread and wine, and thus the symbol of the fish is associated with Christ Himself. We wrote above that this correlation is also facilitated by the graphic appearance of the Greek name of the fish. The symbolism of the fish turns out to be connected with the sacrament of Baptism. As Tertullian says: "We are small fish, guided by our ikhthus, we are born in the water and can only be saved by being in the water." This is an important and often used symbol by early Christians. The fish was for them, in the first place, a symbol of rebirth from water - St. baptism. The water intake, where the baptism took place, was called in Latin a scribe, which means a fish pool. And that cat, at baptism, plunged into it, was called a fish, in Greek ihtis. "We are fish," says Tertullian, "and we cannot save ourselves otherwise than in the water" - i.e. through baptism. The Greek word ihtis (fish) was also a symbol of Christ because every letter in the Greek language makes up the words Jesus Christ, God's Son the Savior. (Isus Christos Teu Ius Soter). Obviously, the fish symbol was a sign by which the early Christians found and recognized each other, especially in times of persecution. Scribbled on a wall, on the floor of a marketplace, or near a fountain, in crowded places, it allowed wandering Christians to know where their brothers in faith gathered.
Fish with a coin in its mouth - a symbol of the Miracle performed by Jesus Christ. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of didrachmas came up to Peter and said: Will your teacher give didrachms? He says yes. And when he entered the house, Jesus, warning him, said: What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duties or taxes? from his own sons, or from strangers? Peter says to Him: from strangers. Jesus said to him: Therefore, the sons are free; but, lest we tempt them, go to the sea, cast your hook, and take the first fish that comes across, and, opening its mouth, you will find a stater; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself. He performs a miracle: if Jesus knew that in the mouth of the fish that first comes across to Peter there would be a coin swallowed by it, He is omniscient. If He created this coin in her mouth, He is omnipotent.
Candle in a candlestick should read: "The mother supports the Son, like a candlestick a candle."
Pig (Boar ) - serves as the personification of the demon of sensuality and gluttony, and therefore it often acts as one of the attributes of Anthony the Great, who defeated this demon. Gluttony, selfishness, lust, stubbornness, ignorance, but also motherhood, fertility, prosperity and good luck. The positive attitude towards pigs in most myths contrasts with their mostly negative symbolism in world religious traditions.
In Christian painting, the scene of the expulsion of demons from the possessed is often depicted. Jesus allowed them to enter a herd of 2,000 pigs, who then threw themselves off a cliff into the sea. In Christian art, the pig symbolizes insatiability and lust (usually trampled on by the allegorical figure of Chastity), as well as laziness. The parable of Jesus' expulsion from two possessed demons, who then entered a herd of pigs (the Gospel of Matthew, symbolizes a person's desire to be cleansed of sensual excesses.
Seven bluebells (flowers) - have a double symbolic meaning: firstly, they allude to the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary and, secondly, they point to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: “And the Spirit of the Lord rests on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and be filled with the fear of the Lord.”
Heart . It is found in images starting from the 15th century. Often radiates flames ("fiery heart"), which symbolizes spiritual burning.
Net - Christian doctrine.
Scorpion - indicates the life of a hermit in the desert. The tail-biting scorpion represented deceit. Scorpio is one of the symbols of evil. The sting at the end of the scorpion's tail contains poison, and a person stung by a scorpion experiences terrible torment. He is often mentioned in the Bible: "... and the torment from her is like the torment from a scorpion when it stings a man" (Rev. 9:5). Because of its treacherous manner of stinging, the scorpion has become a symbol of Judas. The scorpion, as a symbol of betrayal, was present on the flags and shields of the soldiers who participated in the crucifixion of Christ. Because of its treacherous, often fatal bite, it is a symbol of Judas. In medieval art - a sign of deadly betrayal, sometimes envy or hatred. The scorpion is also found as an attribute of the allegorical figure of Africa and Logic (perhaps as a symbol of the last argument).
Dog - Early Bible commentators had a low opinion of the dog as a symbol of wickedness. The later Church Fathers, and then other medieval authors, changed their attitude towards it. In the Renaissance, the dog in the portraits of humanist scientists and religious figures became, as it were, a symbol of devotion to the truth. Hunter's dogs - (usually four of them) personify the four virtues, as evidenced by the Latin inscriptions related to them: "Misericordia" (mercy), "Justitia" (justice), "Pax" (peace), "Veritas" (truth).
Ostrich, laying eggs in the sand and forgetting to hatch them - the image of a sinner who does not remember his duty to God.
Arrow or beam piercing the heart. This is an allusion to the words of St. Augustine from the Confessions concerning Divine love: “Sagittaveras tu cor nostrum caritatr tua et gestabamus verba tua transfxa visceribus” (“You wounded our heart with Your love, and in it we kept Your words that pierced our womb”). Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize the prophecy of Simeon. At the first sacrifice of Jesus, Simeon was present in the Temple, a righteous and pious man, looking forward to the consolation of Israel. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he came to the Temple and, taking the Child in his arms, sang his last song, "Now you are letting go," and his astonished Mother uttered a prophecy: A weapon will pierce your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." There are three predictions in this prophecy, each referring to one person: Jesus ("This"), Israel, and Mary.
three nails became one of the symbols of the Holy Trinity. In art until the 15th century, Christ was depicted nailed with four nails - one nail for each hand and foot. Later Western European artists depict three nails: the legs are nailed crosswise with one nail. Our sins are blotted out because God “nailed [them] to the cross.”
Shoes thrown off your feet - a symbol of the holiness of the place where the event takes place. This interpretation is based on the words of God addressed to Moses, who appeared before the burning bush: “Take off your shoes from your feet; for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
Triumph Flag - a white banner with a red cross. This image appears in the so-called Rathmann Missal from the middle of the 12th century (Hildesheim, Cathedral). Christ takes a decisive step, stepping over the front edge of the sarcophagus; he holds a cross with a banner attached to it; since that time, the flag - a sign of his victory over death - has become a characteristic feature of all subsequent images of the Resurrection of Christ. As an emblem of the Good Shepherd, a banner with a cross attached to a shepherd's staff was sometimes depicted.
Bread and Wine - "And while they were eating, Jesus, taking bread, blessed, broke it, gave it to them, and said: Take, eat; this is My body. And, taking the cup, giving thanks, gave it to them: and they all drank from it. And he said to them: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many."
Bread depicted in the form of ears (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the Apostles), or in the form of communion bread. In the catacombs of early Christians, one can see an image on the walls: a fish carries a basket of bread and a bottle of scarlet wine on its back - this is how Christ was then depicted carrying the sacrament. The basket is an image of a huge pie, from which everyone will get, as during it thousands of people were fed with several loaves and fishes (Jesus Christ fed five thousand people with five loaves).
Flowers - symbolize new life: the Lord came to earth - and flowers bloomed. Flowers were a common decoration on the coffins of martyrs in the catacombs as a symbol of the passing of human life. In the book of Job we read: "A man who is born from a woman is short and full of anxiety. It grows like a flower, and withers, and runs like a shadow without stopping." St. Apostle Peter teaches: "For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man is like a flower on the grass; the grass has dried up, and its flower has fallen off."
A bowl from which a snake emerges. The origin of this attribute goes back to a medieval legend, according to which the priest of the pagan temple of Diana in Ephesus gave John a poisoned cup to drink in order to test the strength of his faith. John, having drunk, not only remained alive, but also resurrected two others who had drunk from this cup before him. Since the Middle Ages, the cup has become a symbol of the Christian faith, and the snake - of Satan.
Scull - as a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the flesh. A symbol of the mortality of all things, usually depicted in scenes of death and burial. Another reason for the presence of the skull is the inclusion of the Memento mori motif (lat. - Remember death) in the picture.
Beads - a symbol of piety and a symbol of service to the Church and people. The rosary is an extremely simple and at the same time extremely capacious and impressive model of time. On the one hand, in the rosary we see that the beads - they are connected by one thread - are a kind of continuum. On the other hand, there are also temporary corpuscles.
Four feminine

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 in the ancient Church of various symbols, 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=P. 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. In English translation it 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 examples), St. Calixtus, Coemetarium majus. See the Epistle to the Hebrews 6:19.

11.Eight-pointed cross: the eight-pointed cross is 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 the Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ showed. The seven-pointed cross is a variation of the 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 the three letters of the Greek name of 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 the Lord Himself is said - “The Lord, my Shepherd” (The Psalm of the Lord says, “The Lord, my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1-2). Thus, Christ in the Gospel parable indicates 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 Troy, 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 legends 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 from ancient times became an attribute of the images of the hypostases of the Holy Trinity, angels, the 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, a beautiful legend is associated with this bird, 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 the 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 the pelican chicks are bitten by a 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 mistakenly identify this Christian symbol with Zeus' double-edged ax - "Labarum". The Greek letters "a" and "ω" are sometimes placed along the edges of the monogram. Chrysm 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, on the day of the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary 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 the ancient legend of 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, a new life was born. Soon a new rejuvenated Phoenix rose from it and flew away in search of adventure.

35.Rooster- this is a symbol of the general resurrection that 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, the Last Judgment and the inheritance of a new life.

Color symbols of Christianity

The most significant difference between the "pagan" period of color symbolism and the "Christian" period lies, first of all, in the fact 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 a 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, on the days of memory of the martyrs who shed 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. Red marked in the calendar joyful events dedicated to Christ, the Mother of God and the saints. From the church calendar, a tradition has come to us 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 clothes are used before the Trinity.

Blue

This is the color of heaven, truth, humility, immortality, chastity, piety, baptism, harmony. It expressed the idea of self-sacrifice and meekness. The blue color, as it were, 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. At the same time, green also had negative meanings - 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, the violet color 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 is used for the episcopal mantle, so that the Orthodox bishop, as it were, is clothed entirely in the feat of the Cross of the Heavenly Hierarch, 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. Gray color (a mixture of white and black, good and evil) is 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.

We all know that if the main symbol of Islam is the crescent, then the sign of Christianity is the cross. But at the same time, any religion is full of dozens of signs. Some are well known to our generation, others are so old that only frescoes or mosaics on ancient cathedrals can recall the times when such signs were considered sacred. In this article, we will try to put them together, and at the same time talk about the meaning of each.

Early Christian creeds

Early Christians were often mercilessly executed, so they hid their faith. However, many wanted to somehow identify their brothers, so symbols were created that at first glance did not resemble the Son of God, but in fact somehow related to His life. These early Christian symbols are still found in the shelter caves that served these people as the first temples. However, they can also sometimes be found on ancient icons and in old churches.

Or "ichfis" - this is how the word sounds in Greek. He was honored for a reason: the word was an acronym for the popular Christian phrase "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" (it sounded like "Jesus Christ Feu Ios Sotir").

Also, do not forget about the miracles of the Savior, in which the fish appeared. For example, about the Sermon on the Mount, which gathered a lot of people, and when they wanted to eat, He multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish for everyone (that's why in some places the fish was depicted along with the bread). Or about the meeting of the Savior with the apostle Peter, a fisherman - then he said: "As you now fish, so you will catch people."

People wore this sign on themselves (on the neck, as we now have a cross), or depicted it on their houses in the form of a mosaic.

This is a sign of firmness, reliability of the church (after all, the anchor could hold a huge ship in place), as well as hope for the resurrection from the dead.

On the domes of some ancient temples, you can see a cross, more like an anchor. It is believed that this sign means "the cross conquers the crescent", that is, Islam. Although other historians of religion are sure: this is an anchor.

According to legend, adult birds were not afraid of snake venom. But if the snake crawled into the nest and bit the pelican chicks, they could die - to prevent this from happening, the bird tore its own chest with its beak, giving the chicks its blood as a medicine.

That is why the pelican has become a symbol of self-sacrifice, bloody communion. This image was often used during worship.

Eagle soaring over the city

Means the height of faith.

Today it has been transformed into a bishop's eagle (an attribute of a solemn divine service).

In the old days, they believed that the phoenix lived for 2-3 centuries, after which it flew to Egypt and died there, burning. From this ashes a new, young bird rose.

Thanks to this legend, the creature became a sign of eternal life.

The sign of the resurrection of all people. This bird sings loudly early in the morning, and all people wake up. The trumpets of the angels will also sound loudly in the last hour of the earth, and the dead will rise for the final judgment.

A symbol of heavenly life that awaits the righteous on the other side of death.

chrism

This is a monogram of two Greek words "Anointed One" and "Christ". Often it is decorated with two more letters - "alpha" and "omega" (that is, "beginning" and "end", which means the Lord).

Where can you see this Christian sign? On baptismal, sarcophagi of martyrs. And also on military shields and ancient Roman coins (when the persecution of Christians ended and this faith became the state one).

Many people know that this is a royal heraldic sign, but first of all it is a symbol of purity and purity (which is why even on modern icons the Virgin Mary is depicted with such a flower in her hands). By the way, it can also be seen on the icons of martyrs, martyrs and saints, honored for a particularly righteous life. Although this sign was honored in the Old Testament times (for example, lilies adorned Solomon's temple).

When the Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary to announce that she would soon give birth to the Son of God, this particular flower was in his hand.

Sometimes the lily was depicted in thorns.

Vine

As we know, Jesus said, "I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser." The theme of wine is often mentioned in Christianity, because it is this drink that is used during the sacrament.

The image of the vine was decorated with temples, as well as ritual utensils.

In addition to the signs described above, there were others used by ancient Christians:

dove (Holy Spirit),
a cup of wine and a basket of bread (satiety, faith and the Lord's blessings are enough for everyone),
olive branch,
spikelet, ears of corn, sheaves (apostles),
ship,
sun,
house (or one wall made of bricks),
lion (power and strength of God, churches),
calf, ox, bull (martyrdom, service to the Savior).

Symbols known to modern believers

Thorn crown. With them, Jesus was jokingly “crowned” by Roman soldiers, leading him to execution. This is a sign of suffering, voluntarily brought for someone (in this case, for all of humanity).
Lamb. Sign of the Savior's sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Just as young lambs or doves were laid on the altar as a sacrifice to God at that time, so the Son of God became a sacrifice for the sake of all people.
Shepherd. So they designate Christ, who worries for the souls of people faithful to him, like a good shepherd for his sheep. This image is also very old. The first Christians painted the image of the Good Shepherd in their sanctuaries, since there was no “sedition” in it - it was difficult to immediately guess that this was the image of the Son of God. By the way, for the first time the image of the Shepherd is mentioned in the Psalter, in the 22nd psalm of King David.
Pigeon. The Holy Spirit, the third hypostasis of the Trinity (the Lord, His Son and the Holy Spirit). This ancient sign (as well as the Easter images of the Lamb) is still honored by people.
Nimbus. Means holiness and approach to the Lord.

Orthodox signs

Eight-pointed cross. Also known as "Orthodox", "Byzantine", or "St. Lazarus Cross". The middle crossbar - the Son of God was crucified on it, the top one - this is the very plate on which they cynically wrote "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The lower crossbar, according to church historians, was also nailed to the very cross on which Jesus offered his sacrifice.
Triangle. Someone mistakenly considers it a sign of Masons. In fact, it is a symbol of the Trinity of the Trinity. Important: all sides of such a triangle must be equal!
Arrows. On icons, they are often put into the hands of the Mother of God (remember, for example, the Seven-shot icon). This sign means the prophecy of Simeon the God-Receiver, who announced that Jesus is the Son of God almost immediately after His birth. In a prophecy, he said to the Mother of God: “Your weapons will go into your soul, and the thoughts of many people will be revealed to you.”
Scull. Adam's head. Simultaneously a sign of death and resurrection. One legend says: on Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, there was the ashes of the first man Adam (therefore, this skull is placed at the base of the cross on the icons). When the blood of the Savior was shed on this ashes, it symbolically washed away the sins of all mankind.
All-seeing eye. This eye of the Lord is a sign of His wisdom and omniscience. Most often, this symbol is included in a triangle.
Eight-pointed (Bethlehem) star. Symbol of the birth of Jesus. She is also called the Mother of God. By the way, in ancient times the number of its rays was different (constantly changing). Say, in the 5th century there were nine rays, they meant the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Burning bush. More often - a burning thorn bush, through which the Lord spoke to Moses. Less often - a sign of the Virgin, into which the Holy Spirit entered.
Angel. Means the earthly incarnation of the Son of God.
. The six-winged angel is one of the closest to the Lord. Carries a fire sword. It can have both one face and many (up to 16). This is a sign of the Lord's love and purifying heavenly fire.

And besides these symbols, there is also a cross. Or rather, crosses - there are a great many of them in the Christian (as well as pre-Christian) tradition, and each carries some kind of meaning. This video will help you understand the ten most popular, although in fact there are many more:

And of course, we could not help but talk about how the Orthodox cross differs from the Catholic one. And although it is believed that it doesn’t matter what kind of crucifix you wear, but faith is important, you still shouldn’t violate the tenets of your religion with a pectoral cross. Tips for choosing this is not an ornament, but the strongest amulet and a sign of a conscious choice of a life path - here:

Christianity can be understood by deciphering its symbols. From them one can trace both its history and the development of spiritual thought.

The eight-pointed cross is 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 the Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ showed.
The seven-pointed cross is a variation of the Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but from above.

2. Ship

The 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.

3. 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.

4. Vine

The 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.

5. Ichthys

Ichthys (from ancient Greek - fish) is an ancient monogram of the name of Christ, consisting of the first letters of the words "Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior." Often depicted allegorically - in the form of a fish. Ichthys was also a secret identifying mark among Christians.

6. Dove

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Also - a symbol of peace, truth and innocence. Often 12 doves symbolize the 12 apostles. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are also often depicted as doves. The dove that brought Noah an olive branch marked the end of the Flood.

7. Lamb

The lamb is an Old Testament symbol of the sacrifice of Christ. Also, the Lamb is a symbol of the Savior himself, this refers believers to the mystery of the Sacrifice on the Cross.

8. Anchor

Anchor is a hidden image of the Cross. It is also a symbol of hope for the future Resurrection. Therefore, the image of an anchor is often found in the burial places of ancient Christians.

9. Christ

Chrisma is the monogram of the name of Christ. The monogram consists of the initial letters X and P, often flanked by the letters α and ω. Chrism was widely spread in apostolic times and was depicted on the military standard of Emperor Constantine the Great.

10. Crown of Thorns

The crown of thorns is a symbol of the suffering of Christ, often depicted on crucifixes.

11. IHS

IHS is another popular monogram for the name of Christ. These are the three letters of the Greek name of 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.

12. Triangle

The 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.

13. Arrows

Arrows or a beam piercing the heart - an allusion to the saying of St. Augustine in Confessions. Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize the prophecy of Simeon.

14. Skull

The skull or Adam's head is equally 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.

15. Eagle

The 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.

16. All-seeing eye

The eye of the Lord is 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.

17. Seraphim

Seraphim are 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.

18. Eight-pointed star

The eight-pointed or Bethlehem star is a symbol of the birth of Christ. In different centuries, the number of rays changed, until, finally, it reached eight. It is also called the Virgin Star.

19. Nine-pointed star

The symbol originated around the 5th century AD. The nine rays of the star symbolize the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

20. Bread

Bread 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.

21. Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is a symbolic image of Jesus. The source of this image is the gospel parable, where Christ himself calls himself a shepherd. Christ is depicted as an ancient shepherd, sometimes carrying a lamb (lamb) on his shoulders.
This symbol has deeply penetrated and entrenched itself in Christianity, parishioners are often called flocks, and priests - shepherds.

22. Burning Bush

In the Pentateuch, the Burning Bush is a thorn bush that burns but does not burn out. 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.

23. Leo

The forest is 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.

24. Taurus

The calf (bull or ox) is the 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.

25. Angel

The angel symbolizes the human nature of Christ, his earthly incarnation. It is also a symbol of the Evangelist Matthew.

Why is the fish a symbol of Jesus Christ?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:

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 are joined together, then the word ICHTHYS, that is, “fish,” will be obtained. Under the name of the fish, Christ is mysteriously understood, because in the abyss of real mortality, as if in the depths of the waters, He could remain alive, that is. sinless" (Blessed Augustine. On 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 brought to light” (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 feeding more than four thousand people, the Lord performs the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish: And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them 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 fish (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!<…>But we, fish, following our “fish” (ICHTHYS) Jesus Christ, are born in water, we save life only by remaining in the water” (On Baptism. 1.1). Clement of Alexandria in "Hymn to Christ the Savior" also compares the followers of Jesus Christ with fish:

Life Eternal Joy,
mortal kind
Savior Jesus
Shepherd, Plowman,
Kormilo, Bridle,
Heavenly wing of the holy flock!
man catcher,
Rescued
From the sea of wickedness!
fish clean
From the hostile wave
catching to a sweet life!
Lead us sheep
Shepherd of the wise!”

(Teacher. Conclusion)