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A Dictionary of Christian Symbols

This Rock Volume 20, Number 2   February 2009     Reasons for Hope By Cherie Peacock   Letters   Why Fermented Grapes? By David P. Lang   The Moment of Grace   The Christian Code: Ancient Christian Symbols Speak to the Here and Now By Mike Aquilina   A Dictionary of Christian Symbols   The Sad History of the Knights Templar By Christopher Check   Military Monastics   Medieval Methods of Extraction   Further Reading   Seven Deadly Fallacies: The Illogic of Pro-Abortion Arguments By Donald DeMarco   Damascus Road Glimpses of Divine Humor By Andrew Seddon   By the Book Was Paul Anti-Catholic? By Jim Blackburn   Eyes to See Ever Changing, Ever New By Michael Schrauzer   Truth be Told Nicene Credence By Matthew E. Bunson   Quick Questions   Last Writes By Karl Keating    Subscribe    Permissions

In depicting their faith, early Christians drew heavily from the surrounding cultures—clearly illustrating a faith for all times, places, and people.

Images of Christian belief comprise animate and inanimate forms, mythical and actual creatures—even letters of the alphabet.

• The Fish (see discussion pgs. 16-18)
• The Orant – Typically a depiction of a woman with arms outstretched in prayer, an imitation of Christ’s dying posture.
• The Shepherd – One of the most common representations of Jesus, based on the Lord’s own words ("I am the Good Shepherd"), as well as on Psalm 23.
• The Vine – Inheriting deeply Jewish symbolism, Christians remembered Christ’s identification of himself as the vine. The vine also symbolizes the eucharistic wine.
• The Philosopher – Christ (and Christianity) is represented as a wise man in a pallium or robe—a symbol of philosophical authority; Christianity was deemed superior to all competing philosophies.
• The Phoenix – This mythical bird, believed by ancient peoples to burn up and rise anew from its ashes, was an early symbol of the Resurrection.
• The Dolphin – A symbol of rescue, friendship, and guidance, this sea mammal was associated with Christ by early Christian sailors.
• The Peacock – In addition to symbolizing God’s magnificent artistry, the peacock’s beautiful feathers, shed and then replenished, represented the risen Christ.
• Milk – Explicit references from the Old Testament compare to God’s grace and providence to milk, an image later likened to eucharistic food and also producing the image of Mary as nursing Mother (Maria Lactans).
• The Lamp – Both a symbol and a medium for other symbols, the lamp held a central place in the lives of ancient peoples, representing truth and providing sources of illumination for worship and pilgrimage.
• Moses (see discussion pgs. 18-19)
• The Plow – A symbol of God, who tills the soil of human hearts; of peacemakers; and of the cross.
• Vessels – Perhaps representing what they contain, be it water, oil, the blood of martyrs, or wine for the Eucharist.
• The Lamb – A twofold meaning: the lamb in the arms of the shepherd symbolized the believer, safe in Christ’s care; the lamb alone was Christ himself—the symbol of the New Covenant whose sacrifice "takes away the sins of the world."
• The Dove – Although later Christians associated the dove with the Holy Spirit, in ancient art the dove represented the believer’s soul, rising above earthly cares after death.
• Bread and Sheaves – Bread, a common image, was a reminder of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, but principally a symbol of Christ, the Bread of Life.
• The Crown – A symbol of royalty since ancient times, it came to represent divine life in Christ—and especially martyrdom.
• The Banquet – A complex and mysterious symbol, debated as either a realistic depiction of a Christian gathering or a more symbolic image alluding to biblical descriptions of the heavenly banquet.
• The Lighthouse – The Christian faith, a beacon of hope in a tumultuous world.
• The Ankh – A cross with a loop at the top, an ancient pagan Egyptian symbol of life after death, adopted by Coptic Christian communities as a version of Christ’s cross.
• The Cross – The "pre-eminent symbol of the Christian faith" is almost nowhere to be found in early Christian art—or else commonplace but hidden. Perhaps one reason the first Christians chose not to use it is that they did not need to: Roman crucifixions were a constant reminder of the price of redemption.
• The Anchor – Hope of salvation, almost always incorporating a cross.
• Ships and boats – Recalling the ark of Noah, a symbol of the Church—safety amid the world’s tempests.
• The Chi-Rho (Labarum) – Combining the first two letters of Christ in Greek, chi and rho, the labarum was a term denoting a military leader’s standard or rallying symbol; Constantine claimed to have received a vision of the labarum, and under it he led his forces to victory.
• Alpha and Omega – From the book of Revelation, a reminder that God encompasses all times, places, and persons—a symbol of hope eternal.