Christian letters. The meaning of ancient Christian symbols depicted around the St. Elijah Church

As you know, the first three centuries of Christian history were marked by periodically recurring persecutions. In such conditions, it was necessary to develop a whole system of secret signs with the help of which it was possible to identify brothers in faith.

In addition, the theology of the image also developed. Christians were looking for symbols with the help of which they could allegorically convey to the catechumens the truths of faith contained in the Gospel, and decorate the premises for worship, so that the very setting would remind them of God and set them up for prayer.

This is how a number of original early Christian symbols appeared, about which there will be a further short story.

1. Fish

The most common symbol of the first centuries was the fish (Greek “ichthys”). The fish was an acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ and, at the same time, a Christian confession of faith:
Jesus Christ Feou Ios Sotir - Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

Christians depicted fish on their houses - in the form of a small picture or as a mosaic element. Some wore fish around their necks. In catacombs adapted for temples, this symbol was also very often present.

2. Pelican

A beautiful legend is associated with this bird, existing in dozens of slightly different versions, but very similar in meaning to the ideas of the Gospel: self-sacrifice, deification through the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Pelicans live in coastal reeds near the warm Mediterranean Sea and are often subject to snake bites. Adult birds feed on them and are immune to their poison, but chicks are not yet. According to legend, if a pelican chick is bitten poisonous snake, then he pecks at his own breast in order to give them 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.

3. Anchor

The Church is, first of all, the solid foundation of human life. Thanks to him, a person gains the ability to distinguish good from evil, understands what is good and what is bad. And what could be firmer and more reliable than an anchor that holds a huge ship of life in place in the stormy sea of human passions?

Also - a symbol of hope and the future resurrection from the dead.

By the way, on the domes of many ancient temples it is precisely the cross in the form of an ancient Christian anchor that is depicted, and not any “cross defeating the Muslim crescent.”

4. Eagle over the city

A symbol of the heights of the truths of the Christian faith, uniting the entire population of the Earth. It has survived to this day in the form of bishop’s eagles, used at ceremonial services. Also indicates the heavenly origin of the power and dignity of the episcopal rank.

5. Chrism

A monogram composed of the first letters of the Greek word “Christ” - “Anointed One”. Some researchers mistakenly identify this Christian symbol with the double-edged ax of Zeus - “Labarum”. The Greek letters “a” and “ω” are sometimes placed along the edges of the monogram.

Christianity was depicted on the sarcophagi of martyrs, in the mosaics of baptisteries (baptisteries), on the shields of soldiers and even on Roman coins - after the era of persecution.

6. 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, 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.

7. Grapevine

The symbol is associated with an image that the Lord himself often addressed in his parables. It denotes the Church, its vitality, the abundance of grace, the Eucharistic sacrifice: “I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser...”.

It was depicted on church utensils and, of course, in temple ornaments.

8. Phoenix

The image of the Resurrection, associated with the ancient legend of the eternal bird. The Phoenix lived for several centuries and, when the time came for him to die, he flew to Egypt and burned there. All that was left of the bird was a pile of nutritious ashes 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.

9. Lamb

Everyone understands the symbol of the voluntary sacrifice of the immaculate Savior for the sins of the world. In early Christianity, it was often depicted with a human face or with a halo (sometimes a combined version was also found). Later he was prohibited from being depicted in icon painting.

10. Rooster

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 inherit a new life.

There are other early Christian symbols that are not included in this selection: the cross, dove, peacock, bowl and baskets of bread, lion, shepherd, olive branch, sun, good shepherd, alpha and omega, ears of bread, ship, house or brick wall , source of water.

Andrey Szegeda

In contact with

The earliest Christian symbolic images date back to the times of the ancient Catacomb Church and the first persecutions. Then symbolism was used primarily as a cryptogram, secret writing, so that co-religionists could recognize each other in a hostile environment. However, the meaning of the symbols was entirely determined by religious experiences; thus it can be argued that they brought to us theology early church.

The “other” world is revealed in this world through symbols, therefore symbolic vision is a property of a person who is destined to exist in these two worlds. Since the Divine was revealed to one degree or another to people of all pre-Christian cultures, it is not surprising that the Church uses some of the “pagan” images, rooted not in paganism itself, but in the depths of human consciousness, where even the most ardent atheists have a dormant thirst for knowledge of God. At the same time, the Church purifies and clarifies these symbols, showing the truth behind them in the light of Revelation. They turn out to be like doors to another world, closed for pagans and wide open in Christianity. Let us note that in the pre-Christian world the Old Testament Church was enlightened by God to the greatest extent. Israel knew the way to know the One God, and therefore, the language of its symbols was most adequate to what stood behind them. Therefore, many Old Testament symbols are naturally included in Christian symbolism. Objectively, this is also due to the fact that the first Christians were mainly from a Jewish background.

The symbolism of Christian art of this time was a manifestation of the “natural” vision of the world for a religious person, it was a way of understanding the hidden depths of the universe and its Creator.

The attitude towards the direct depiction of God and the “invisible world” was ambiguous even among the early Fathers of the Church; Before everyone’s eyes was an example of paganism, in which religious veneration was taken away from the prototype of the deity and transferred to its form embodied in one material or another.

Artistically conveying the mystery of the Incarnation and the Cross seemed a very difficult task. According to Leonid Uspensky, “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 a direct image.” This explains the abundance of symbols in early Christian art.

Rich material for the study of early Christian symbolism is provided by the works of Clement of Alexandria, who writes about the images preferred by Christians. We find a fusion of Old Testament and general cultural images in his compositions in the hymn to Christ (c. 190):

15 Support for the suffering
Eternal lord,
Mortal kind
Savior Jesus,
Shepherd, plowman,
20 Feed, mouth,
Wing of Heaven
Holy flock.
Fisherman of all mortals,
saved by you
25 In hostile waves.
From the sea of wickedness
Catching the sweet life,
Lead us sheep
30 Reasonable Shepherd
Holy lead us,
King of the blameless children.
Feet of Christ -
Heavenly Path.

Here we will present only the main symbols from the totality of ancient Christian symbolism that conveys a holistic picture of the worldview of the Church and the aspirations of the Heavenly Kingdom.

The main symbols are naturally connected with the most essential thing in the life of the Church - the Savior, His death on the cross and the sacrament of communion with God - the Eucharist - approved by Him. Thus, the main Eucharistic symbols: bread, grapes, objects related to viticulture - became most widespread in the painting of the catacombs and in epigraphy; they were depicted on sacred vessels and household items of Christians. The actual Eucharistic symbols include images of a vine and bread.

Bread depicted both in the form of ears of corn (sheaves can symbolize the meeting of the Apostles) and in the form of communion bread. Let us present a drawing that clearly appeals to the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves (Matthew 14:17-21; Matthew 15:32-38) and at the same time depicts the bread of the Eucharist (for the symbolism of the image of a fish, see below).

Vine- the gospel image of Christ, the only source of life for man, which He gives through the sacrament. The symbol of the vine also has the meaning of the Church: its members are branches; bunches of grapes, which birds often peck, are a symbol of Communion - a way of life in Christ. The vine in the Old Testament is a symbol of the Promised Land, in the New Testament it is a symbol of paradise; In this sense, the vine has been used for a long time as a decorative element. Here is a perfect image of a vine from the mosaics of the Mausoleum of San Constanza in Rome.

The symbolism of grapes also includes images of bowls and barrels used when harvesting them.

Grapevine, chalice and cross-shaped monogram of Christ.

Here is a fragment of a 6th century Ravenna mosaic depicting a vine, a monogram of Christ and a peacock, a bird symbolizing rebirth to a new life.

Images associated with the Savior himself fish as a kind of reference to the name of Christ; Good Shepherd(John 10:11-16; Matthew 25:32); Lamb- His Old Testament type (for example, Isa 16:1, cf. John 1:29), as well as His name, expressed in a sign (monogram) and in the cover image of the Cross in the image anchor, ship.

Let us dwell first of all on the monogram of the name of Christ. This monogram, consisting of the initial letters X and P, became widespread, perhaps starting from apostolic times. We find it in epigraphy, on the reliefs of sarcophagi, in mosaics, etc. Perhaps the monogram goes back to the words of the Apocalypse about the “seal of the living God” (Rev. 7:2) and “a new name for him who overcomes” (Rev. 2:17) - faithful in the Kingdom God's.

The Greek name for the monogram, crisma (properly “anointing, confirmation”) can be translated as “seal.” The shape of the monogram has changed significantly over time. Ancient forms: . The most common version becomes more complex in the early Constantinian time: , ca. 335 it is transformed into (the letter X disappears). This form was widespread in the east, especially in Egypt. It is often decorated with palm branches or mounted in a laurel wreath (ancient symbols of glory), accompanied by the letters and. Here is an image of a detail of a 2nd century sarcophagus, in which Christianity itself is not present, but the meaning remains. This usage goes back to the text of the apocalypse: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Rev 1:8; see also Rev 22:13). Starting and ending letters Greek alphabet thus reveal the Divine dignity of Jesus Christ, and their connection with His name (chrism) emphasizes “... His co-originating existence with the Father, His relationship to the world, as the primary source of everything and the final goal of all existence.” This is the image of the chrism on the coin of Emperor Constantine II (317-361).

An additional reference to Christ could be the inscription, which was a ciphergram of His name Christos - ikhthus, “fish”. In addition to simple anagrammatic similarity, this word also acquired additional symbolic meaning: it was read as an abbreviation of the phrase Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, Iesus Christos Theu Yu Sotir. Wed. silver plate of the 4th century. (Trier).

The depiction of Christianity is a constant motif in Christian art. Let us also present an interesting modern graphic version of chrism - the emblem of the magazine "Sourozh".

All these images are truly secret writing: behind the well-known forms of the letters of the alphabet, etc., there is hidden the image of the Crucifixion of the Incarnate God and the opportunity for a person to change through familiarization with the mystery of the Cross.

This is the image on the gravestone (Tunisia, VIII century).

Such images also include an anchor - a symbol of Christian hope for the future Resurrection, as the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Hebrews (Heb 6:18-20). Here is a picture of an anchor from the Roman catacombs.

In the early Christian gem, images of a cross and an anchor merge. It is accompanied by fish - symbols of Christ, and palm branches grow from the base - symbols of triumph. In the literal sense, an anchor is used as an image of salvation in the image with two Christian fish being caught from the Roman catacombs of the 2nd century. And this is another, graphically developed version of the same plot.

Another common symbol is the ship, which also often includes the image of the Cross. In many ancient cultures, a ship is a symbol of human life sailing towards the inevitable pier - death.

But in Christianity, the ship is associated with the Church. The Church as a ship led by Christ is a common metaphor (see above in the hymn of Clement of Alexandria). But every Christian can also be like a ship following the ship-Church. In Christian images of a ship rushing along the waves of the worldly sea under the sign of the cross and heading towards Christ, the image of Christian life is adequately expressed, the fruit of which is the acquisition eternal life in unity with God.

Let us turn to the image of Christ - the Good Shepherd. The main source of this image is the Gospel parable, in which Christ Himself calls Himself this way (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 - Isaiah 63:11, Joshua - Numbers 27:16-17, King David in Psalms 77, 71, 23) are called shepherds, but it is said about the Lord Himself - “The Lord is my Shepherd” (The Psalm of the Lord says, “The Lord is my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1-2). Thus, Christ in the Gospel parable points to the fulfillment of prophecy and the finding of consolation by the people of God. In addition, the image of a shepherd also had has a clear meaning to everyone, so that even today in Christianity it is customary to call priests shepherds, and laity the 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; in his hands he can hold a reed flute. The milk vessel symbolizes Communion; rod - power; the flute is the sweetness of His teaching (“No one ever spoke like this man” - John 7:46) and hope, hope. This is a mosaic from the beginning of the 4th century. basilicas from Aquileia.

The artistic prototypes of the image could have been ancient images of the shepherd, patron of the flocks of Hermes, with a lamb on his shoulders, Mercury with a lamb at his feet - the image of Communion with God. The Lamb on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd of divine joy about the lost sheep - the repentant sinner - in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 15:3-7), where the prophecy of Isaiah is revealed: “He will take the lambs in his arms and carry them on his chest, and lead the milking ones” ( Isaiah 40:11). Here is the mystery of the redemption of the world in Christ, the relationship of God, “who lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11), to people. The sheep in this case is the image of fallen human nature, perceived by God and raised by Him to Divine dignity.

The image of the Good Shepherd in early Christian art is adjacent to the image of the Lamb - the Old Testament prototype of the sacrifice of Christ (the sacrifice of Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, the Passover sacrifice) and the Gospel Lamb, “who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Lamb - Christ is often depicted with the accessories of a shepherd, which literally follows the words of Revelation "Lamb<...>will feed them and lead them to living springs of water" (Rev 7:17). The lamb is a Eucharistic image, and in Christian iconography it is often depicted at the bottom of liturgical vessels. In modern liturgical practice, the lamb is also called the part of the prosphora consecrated in the Eucharist.

The Lamb can be depicted on a rock or stone, from the foot of which flow streams from four sources (symbols of the Four Gospels), towards which other lambs - the apostles or, more broadly, Christians in general - rush. The Lamb from the mosaics of Ravenna (VI century) is depicted with a halo on which is chrysism; thereby his relationship with Christ appears as completely indisputable.

The depiction of Christ as a Lamb hinted at the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Cross, but did not reveal it to non-Christians; however, during the widespread spread of Christianity, it was prohibited by Rule 82 of the VI (V-VI) Ecumenical Council of 692, since primacy in veneration should belong not to the prototype, but to the very image of the Savior “according to human being.” In relation to the “direct image”, such symbols were already relics of “Jewish immaturity”

One can come to an understanding of Christianity 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 represents the title, where it was written “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; the upper end of the cross is the path to Heavenly Kingdom which Christ showed.
The seven-pointed cross is a variation of the Orthodox cross, where the title is attached not across the cross, but on top.

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 Golgotha Cross is monastic (or schematic). It symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ.

Widespread in ancient times, the cross of Golgotha is now embroidered only on the paraman and the lectern.

4. Grapevine

The vine is the gospel image of Christ. This symbol also has its own meaning for the Church: its members are branches, and the grapes are a symbol of Communion. In the New Testament, the grapevine 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 boxes of the words “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior”. Often depicted allegorically - in the form of a fish. Ichthys was also a secret identification 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 an olive branch to Noah marked the end of the Flood.

7. Lamb

The Lamb is the Old Testament symbol of Christ's sacrifice. The Lamb is also a symbol of the Savior himself; this refers believers to the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Cross.

8. Anchor

The 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 burial places of ancient Christians.

9. Chrism

Chrisma is a monogram of the name of Christ. The monogram consists of the initial letters X and P, often flanked by the letters α and ω. Christianity became widespread 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 Christ. These are the three letters of the Greek name for 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 side personifies the Hypostasis of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All sides are equal and together form a single whole.

13. Arrows

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

14. Skull

The skull or Adam's head is equally a symbol of death and a symbol of victory over it. According to Sacred Tradition, the ashes of Adam were on Golgotha when Christ was crucified. The blood of the savior, having washed Adam’s skull, symbolically washed all of humanity and gave him a chance for salvation.

15. Eagle

The eagle is a symbol of ascension. He 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. It is usually depicted inscribed in a triangle - a symbol of the Trinity. Can also symbolize hope.

17. Seraphim

Seraphim are the angels closest to God. They are six-winged and carry fiery swords, and can have from one to 16 faces. As a symbol, they mean the purifying 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. Over the centuries, the number of rays changed until it finally reached eight. It is also called the Virgin Mary 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

The bread is a reference to the biblical episode when five thousand people were satisfied with five loaves of bread. Bread is depicted in the form of ears of corn (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the apostles) or in the form of bread for communion.

21. Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is a symbolic representation 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 become entrenched in Christianity; parishioners are often called the flock, and priests are shepherds.

22. Burning Bush

In the Pentateuch, the Burning Bush is a thorn bush that burns but is not consumed. 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 Mother of God touched by the Holy Spirit.

23. Leo

The forest is a symbol of vigilance and the 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

Taurus (bull or ox) is a symbol of the Evangelist Luke. Taurus means the sacrificial service of the Savior, his Sacrifice on the Cross. The ox is also 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.

Signs and symbols have existed on earth for a long time. They depict an attitude towards a certain culture, religion, country, clan or thing. The symbols of Christian Orthodox culture emphasize belonging to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, through faith in the Holy Trinity.

Orthodox Christians express their faith with Christian signs, but few, even those who are baptized, know their meaning.

Christian symbols in Orthodoxy

History of symbols

After the crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior, persecution began against Christians who believed in the coming of the Messiah. In order to communicate with each other, believers began to create secret codes and signs to help avoid danger.

Cryptogram or secret writing originated in the catacombs where early Christians had to hide. Sometimes they used long-known signs from Jewish culture, giving them new meaning.

The symbolism of the early Church is based on man's vision of the Divine world through the hidden depths of the invisible. The meaning of the emergence of Christian signs is to prepare early Christians to accept the Incarnation of Jesus, who lived according to earthly laws.

Secret writing at that time was more intelligible and acceptable among Christians than sermons or reading books.

Important! The basis of all signs and codes is the Savior, His Death and Ascension, the Eucharist - the Sacrament left by the Mission before His crucifixion. (Mark 14:22)

Cross

The cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ; its image can be seen on the domes of churches, in the form of crosses, in Christian books and many other things. In Orthodoxy there are several types of crosses, but the main one is the eight-pointed one, on which the Savior was crucified.

Cross: the main symbol of Christianity

A small horizontal crossbar served for the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The hands of Christ are nailed to the large crossbar, and His feet to the lower one. The top of the cross is directed to heaven, and the Eternal Kingdom, and under the feet of the Savior is hell.

About the cross in Orthodoxy:

Fish - ichthys

Jesus called fishermen as his disciples, whom he later made fishers of men for the Kingdom of Heaven.

One of the first signs of the early Church was a fish; later the words “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior” were written into it.

Fish is a Christian symbol

Bread and vine

Belonging to a group is expressed through drawings of bread and grapes, and sometimes wine or grape barrels. These signs were applied to sacred vessels and were understandable to everyone who accepted faith in Christ.

Important! The vine is a type of Jesus. All Christians are its branches, and the juice is a prototype of the Blood, which cleanses us during the reception of the Eucharist.

In the Old Testament, the vine is a sign of the promised land; the New Testament presents the vine as a symbol of paradise.

The vine as a symbol of heaven in the New Testament

A bird sitting on a grape vine symbolizes rebirth to new life. Bread is often drawn in the form of ears of corn, which is also a sign of the unity of the Apostles.

Fish and bread

The loaves depicted on the fish refer to one of the first miracles performed by Jesus on earth, when He fed more than five thousand people who came from afar to listen to the preaching of the Mission with five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:13-14).

Jesus Christ - in symbols and codes

The Savior acts as the Good Shepherd for his sheep, Christians. At the same time, He is the Lamb slain for our sins, He is the saving cross and anchor.

The Ecumenical Council of 692 banned all symbols relating to Jesus Christ in order to shift the emphasis not on the image, but on the Living Savior, however, they still exist today.

Lamb

A small lamb, obedient, defenseless, is a prototype of the sacrifice of Christ, who became the final sacrifice, for God became displeased with the sacrifices made by the Jews in the form of slaughtering birds and animals. The Most High Creator wants Him to be worshiped with pure hearts through faith in His Son, the Savior of mankind (John 3:16).

Symbol of Lamb with Banner

Only faith in the saving sacrifice of Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life, opens the way to eternal life.

In the Old Testament, the lamb is a type of the blood of Abel and the sacrifice of Abraham, to whom God sent a lamb to sacrifice instead of his son Isaac.

The Revelation of John the Theologian (14:1) speaks of a lamb standing on a mountain. The mountain is the universal Church, the four streams - the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which nourish the Christian faith.

Early Christians in secret writing depicted Jesus as the Good Shepherd with a lamb on his shoulders. Nowadays priests are called shepherds, Christians are called sheep or flock.

Monograms of the name of Christ

Translated from Greek, the monogram “crisma” means anointing and is translated as a seal.

By the blood of Jesus Christ we are sealed to His love and salvation. Hidden behind the letters X.P is an image of the Crucifixion of Christ, God Incarnate.

The letters "alpha" and "omega" represent the beginning and the end, symbols of God.

Monograms of the name of Jesus Christ

Little-known encoded images

Ship and anchor

The image of Christ is often conveyed by signs in the form of a ship or an anchor. In Christianity, the ship symbolizes human life, the Church. Under the sign of the Savior, believers in a ship called the Church sail towards eternal life, having an anchor - a symbol of hope.

Pigeon

The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove. A dove landed on Jesus' shoulder at His baptism (Luke 3:22). It was the dove that brought the green leaf to Noah during the flood. The Holy Spirit is One of the Trinity, Who was from the beginning of the world. The dove is the bird of peace and purity. He flies only where there is peace and quiet.

The symbol of the Holy Spirit is a dove

Eye and triangle

The eye inscribed in the triangle means the all-seeing eye of the Most High God in the unity of the Holy Trinity. The triangle emphasizes that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are equal in Their purpose and are one. It is almost impossible for a simple Christian to understand this. This fact must be accepted by faith.

Mother of God star

At the birth of Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem, which in Christianity is depicted as eight-pointed, lit up in the sky. In the center of the star is the bright face of the Mother of God with the Child, which is why the name Mother of God appeared next to Bethlehem.

Christian symbolism- a set of symbols and signs used by various Christian churches.

The emergence of Christian symbols

Main article: Symbolic images in the Roman catacombs

Christian painting in the catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus (Joseph Wilpert, colorized black and white photograph, 1903)

Eucharistic bread and fish (catacombs of St. Callistus)

The first Christian symbolic images appear in the paintings of the Roman catacombs and date back to the period of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. During this period, the symbols had the character of secret writing, allowing fellow believers to recognize each other, but the meaning of the symbols already reflected the emerging Christian theology. Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann notes:

L. A. Uspensky associates the active use in the ancient Church of various symbols, rather than iconographic 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 a direct image" Also, symbolic images, in his opinion, were used as a way of hiding Christian sacraments from catechumens until the time of their baptism. So Cyril of Jerusalem wrote: “ All are permitted to hear the gospel, but the glory of the gospel is reserved to the sincere Servants of Christ alone. The Lord spoke in parables to those who could not listen, and He explained parables to the disciples in private.».

The oldest catacomb images include scenes of the “Adoration of the Magi” (about 12 frescoes with this plot have been preserved), which date back to the 2nd century. Also dating back to the 2nd century is the appearance in the catacombs of images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or the fish symbolizing it. Among other symbols of catacomb painting, the following stand out:

anchor - an image of hope (an anchor is the support of a ship at sea, hope acts as a support for the soul in Christianity). This image is already present in the Epistle to the Hebrews of the Apostle Paul (Heb. 6:18-20);
dove - symbol of the Holy Spirit;
phoenix - symbol of resurrection;
eagle - symbol of youth ( “Your youth will be renewed like an eagle”(Ps. 103:5));
the peacock is a symbol of immortality (according to the ancients, its body was not subject 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;
lion is a symbol of strength and power;
olive branch - 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 at the Annunciation);
the vine and the basket of bread are symbols of the Eucharist.

Characteristics of individual characters

Cross

Golden Visigothic cross, V-VIII centuries Main articles: Cross in Christianity, Crucifix (decorative arts)

Cross (Crucifixion)- an image of the Crucifixion of Christ, usually sculptural or relief. The image of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified is the main symbol Christian religion, it is necessarily present in Christian churches, as well as among believers as body symbols. The prototype of the symbol of the cross is the Cross of the Lord, on which the Son of God was crucified.

In the first centuries, Christians did not make images of the cross. Actually, crucifixes first appear in the 5th-6th centuries, and on the oldest of them Christ is depicted alive, in robes and crowned. The crown of thorns, wounds and blood collected in a cup 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.

Ichthys

Ίχθύς (marble stele, beginning III century)

Ichthys(ancient Greek Ίχθύς - fish) - an ancient acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ, consisting of the initial letters of the words: Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior) that is, expresses in brief th form of confession of the Christian faith.

The New Testament connects the symbolism of the fish with the preaching of Christ's disciples, some of whom were fishermen.

Often depicted in an allegorical way - in the form of a fish. Moreover, the image of the fish itself also has a Eucharistic meaning associated with the following meals described in the Gospel:

feeding the people in the desert with loaves and fishes (Mark 6:34-44, Mark 8:1-9);
the meal of Christ and the apostles on Lake Tiberias after his Resurrection (John 21:9-22).

These scenes were often depicted in the catacombs, connecting with the Last Supper.

Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd (Catacombs of St. Callistus, Rome)

Good Shepherd(Greek ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς, ho poimen ho kalos, lat. pastor bonus) - a symbolic naming and image of Jesus Christ, borrowed from the Old Testament and repeated by Christ in the New Testament in an allegorical description of his role as a teacher (John 10:11-16).

The Good Shepherd was not essentially an icon of Jesus, but is an allegorical image. For this reason, together with the ichthys, it became the first image of Christ in early Christian art. Also, due to its similarity with images of pagan deities (Hermes Kriophoros, Orpheus Boukolos), it was safe during the years of persecution, since it did not contain obvious Christian themes and could not reveal 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 chosen ones and a prototype of the coming Kingdom of God.

Lamb

The image of a lamb is also a symbolic image of Jesus Christ and represents the Old Testament prototype of his sacrifice on the cross (Abel’s sacrifice, Abraham’s sacrifice, Easter sacrificial lamb among Jews). In the New Testament, John the Baptist calls Jesus Christ a lamb - “behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”(John 1:29). The Lamb is also a Eucharistic image (in Orthodoxy the lamb is part of the prosphora with which believers receive communion) and its image is found on liturgical vessels.

Lamb of God (mosaic of the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna)

The image of a lamb in early Christianity was widely used as a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which was convenient because it was incomprehensible to non-Christians. With the spread of Christianity, the use of this image was prohibited by the Sixth Ecumenical Council:

Chrism

Main article: Chrism

Monogram of the name of Christ surrounded by vines (sarcophagus of the 6th century)

Chrism or chrismon (Chi-Rho) - monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters of the name (Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ) - Χ (hee) and Ρ (ro), crossed with each other. Greek letters are placed along the edges of the monogram Α And ω . This use of these letters goes back to the text of the Apocalypse: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”(Rev. 1:8; see also Rev. 22:13). Christianity became widespread in epigraphy, on the reliefs of sarcophagi, in mosaics and probably dates back to apostolic times. It is possible that its origin is connected with the words of the Apocalypse: "seal of the living God"(Rev. 7:2).

Historically, the most famous use of chrismon for labarum (lat. Labarum) - an ancient Roman military standard (vexillum) of a special type. Emperor Constantine the Great introduced it into his troops after he saw the sign of the Cross in the sky on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312). The labarum had a chrism at the end of the shaft, and on the panel itself there was an inscription: lat. "Hoc vince"(glory: “By this you win”, lit. “By this you win”). The first mention of labarum is found in Lactantius (d. about 320).

Alpha and Omega

Main article: Alpha and Omega

Cross

This term has other meanings, see Cross (meanings).

Some types of crosses. Illustration from the book Lexikon der gesamten Technik (1904) von Otto Lueger

Cross(praslav. *krьstъ< д.-в.-н. krist) - геометрическая фигура, состоящая из двух или более пересекающихся линий или прямоугольников. Угол между ними чаще всего составляет 90°. Во многих верованиях несёт сакральный смысл.

History of the cross

Cross in paganism

Symbol of the sun god Ashur in Assyria

Symbol of the sun god Ashur and the moon god Sin in Mesopotamia

The first civilized people to widely use crosses were the ancient Egyptians. In the Egyptian tradition there was a cross with a ring, an ankh, a symbol of life and gods. In Babylon, the cross was considered a symbol of Anu, the god of heaven. In Assyria, which was originally a colony of Babylon (in the second millennium BC), a cross enclosed in a ring (symbolizing the Sun, more often a lunar crescent was depicted under it) was one of the attributes of the god Ashur - the god of the Sun.

The fact that the symbol of the cross was used in various forms of pagan worship of the forces of nature before the advent of Christianity is confirmed by archaeological finds throughout almost all of Europe, India, Syria, Persia, Egypt, and North and South America. For example, in ancient India, a cross was depicted above the head of a figure killing children and in the arms of the god Krishna, and in South America the Muiscas believed that the cross drives out evil spirits and placed babies under it. And the cross still serves as a religious symbol in countries that are not influenced by Christian churches. For example, the Tengrians, who already before the new era professed faith in the Heavenly God Tengri, had the sign “aji” - a symbol of submission in the form of a cross painted on the forehead with paint or in the form of a tattoo.

The acquaintance of Christians with pagan symbols as early as the first centuries of Christianity gave rise to various comments about common symbols. Thus, Socrates Scholasticus describes events during the reign of Theodosius:

During the destruction and cleansing of the Serapis Temple, so-called hieroglyphic writings were found in it carved on stones, between which there were signs in the shape of crosses. Having seen such signs, Christians and pagans adopted their own religion. Christians argued that they belonged to the Christian faith, because the cross was considered a sign of Christ’s saving suffering, and pagans argued that such cross-shaped signs were common to both Christ and Serapis, although they had a different meaning for Christians and a different meaning for pagans. While this dispute was taking place, some who had converted to Christianity from paganism and understood hieroglyphic writing interpreted those cross-shaped signs and declared that they meant future life. According to this explanation, Christians began to attribute them to their religion with even greater confidence and exalt themselves before the pagans. When it was revealed from other hieroglyphic writings that when the sign of the cross appeared, signifying new life, the temple of Serapis would come to an end, then many pagans turned to Christianity, confessed their sins and were baptized. This is what I heard about those cross-shaped designs. I do not think, however, that the Egyptian priests, drawing the image of the cross, could know anything about Christ, for if the mystery of his coming into the world, according to the word of the Apostle (Col. 1:26), was hidden from time to time and from generation to generation and unknown the very chief of evil, the devil, then all the less could it have been known to his servants - the Egyptian priests. By the discovery and explanation of these writings, Providence did the same thing that it had previously revealed to the Apostle Paul, for this Apostle, wise by the Spirit of God, in the same way led many Athenians to faith when he read the inscription inscribed on the temple and adapted it to his sermon. Unless someone will say that the word of God was prophesied by the Egyptian priests exactly as it once was in the mouths of Balaam and Caiaphas, who prophesied good things against their will.

Cross in Christianity

Main article: Cross in Christianity

Graphic types of crosses

Ill. Name Note


	Ankh	Ancient Egyptian cross. Symbol of life.
	Celtic cross	Equal beam cross with a circle. It is a characteristic symbol of Celtic Christianity, although it has more ancient pagan roots. Nowadays it is often used as a symbol of neo-Nazi movements.
	Solar cross	Graphically represents a cross located inside a circle. It is found on objects from prehistoric Europe, especially during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
	Greek cross	A Greek cross is a cross in which the lines are of equal length, perpendicular to each other and intersect in the middle.
	Latin cross	Latin cross (lat. Crux immissa, Crux capitata) is a cross in which the transverse line is divided in half by a vertical line, and the transverse line is located above the middle of the vertical line. It is usually associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and thus with Christianity in general. Before Jesus, this symbol denoted, among other things, the staff of Apollo, the sun god, son of Zeus. Since the fourth century AD, the Latin cross has become what it is associated with now - a symbol of Christianity. Today it is also associated with death, guilt ( bear the cross), in addition - with resurrection, rebirth, salvation and eternal life (after death). In genealogy, the Latin cross indicates the death and date of death. In Russia, among Orthodox Christians, the Latin cross was often considered imperfect and was contemptuously called “ kryzh"(from Polish. krzyz- cross, and associated with steal- trim, chop off).
	St. Peter's Cross / Inverted Cross	The Cross of the Apostle Peter is an inverted Latin cross. The Apostle Peter suffered martyrdom in the year 67 by crucifixion upside down.
	Cross of the Evangelists	Symbolic designation of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
	Archangel cross	Archangel's Cross (Cross of Golgotha, lat. Golgata cross) denoted a special cross.
‡	Double cross	Double six-pointed cross with equal crossbars.
	Cross of Lorraine	Cross of Lorraine (fr. Croix de Lorraine) - a cross with two crossbars. Sometimes called patriarchal cross or archiepiscopal cross. Refers to the rank of cardinal or archbishop in the Catholic Church. This cross is also cross of the Greek Orthodox Church.
	Papal Cross	A variation of the Latin cross, but with three crossbars. Sometimes such a cross is called western triple cross.
	Orthodox cross	An Orthodox Christian cross most often used by the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches; contains, in addition to the large horizontal crossbar, two more. The top symbolizes the tablet on the cross of Christ with the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (INCI, or INRI in Latin). NIKA - Winner. The lower oblique crossbar is a support for the feet of Jesus Christ, symbolizing the “righteous standard” that weighs the sins and virtues of all people. It is believed that it is tilted to the left, symbolizing that the repentant thief crucified according to right side from Christ, (first) went to heaven, and the thief crucified on the left side, with his blasphemy of Christ, further aggravated his posthumous fate and went to hell. The letters ІС ХС are a christogram, symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ. Also, on some Christian crosses, a skull or skull with bones (the head of Adam) is depicted below, symbolizing the fallen Adam (including his descendants), since, according to legend, the remains of Adam and Eve were buried under the site of the crucifixion - Golgotha. Thus, the blood of the crucified Christ symbolically washed the bones of Adam and washed away original sin from them and from all his descendants.
	Byzantine cross
	Lalibela Cross	The Lalibela Cross is a symbol of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian people and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
	Armenian cross	Armenian cross - a cross with decorative elements on the arms (sometimes of unequal length). Crosses of similar shape (with trefoil-square endings, etc.) have been used since the beginning of the 18th century in the coat of arms of the Armenian Catholic Mekhitarist community, which has monasteries in Venice and Vienna. See Khachkar.
	St. Andrew's Cross	The cross on which the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was crucified, according to legend, was X-shaped.
	Templar Cross	The Templar cross is a sign of the spiritual knightly order of the Templars, founded in the Holy Land in 1119 by a small group of knights led by Hugh de Payns after the First crusade. One of the first religious military orders to be founded, along with the Hospitallers.
	Novgorod cross	Similar to a Templar cross, including an enlarged circle or diamond-shaped figure in the center. A similar form of crosses is common in the lands of ancient Novgorod. In other lands and among other traditions this form the cross is rarely used.
	Maltese cross	Maltese cross (lat. Cross of Maltese) - a sign of the powerful knightly order of the Knights Hospitallers, founded in the 12th century in Palestine. Sometimes called the Cross of St. John or the Cross of St. George. The symbol of the Knights of Malta was a white eight-pointed cross, the eight ends of which denoted the eight beatitudes awaiting the righteous in the afterlife.
	Short claw cross	Straight equal-pointed cross, a variant of the so-called cross in lat. Cross pattee. The rays of this cross taper towards the center, but, unlike the Maltese cross, do not have cutouts at the ends. Used, in particular, in the depiction of the Order of St. George, the Victoria Cross.
	Bolnisi cross	The type of crosses most widely known and used in Georgia since the 5th century. It is used everywhere along with the cross of St. Nina.
	Teutonic cross	The Cross of the Teutonic Order is a sign of the spiritual-knightly Teutonic Order, founded at the end of the 12th century. Centuries later, based on the cross of the Teutonic Order, various versions of the well-known military order of the Iron Cross were created. Also, the Iron Cross is still depicted on military equipment, as identification mark, flags and pennants of the German Armed Forces.
	Schwarzkreuz (black cross)	Insignia of the German Armed Forces. Known today as the Bundeswehr Army Cross.
	Balkan less often Balkenkreuz, etc. beam cross	The second name is due to its use as an identification mark military equipment Germany from 1935 to 1945[ source not specified 1153 days]
	Swastika, gamma cross or catacomb	A cross with curved ends (“rotating”), directed clockwise or counterclockwise. An ancient and widespread symbol in culture different nations- the swastika was present on weapons, everyday items, clothing, banners and coats of arms, and was used in the decoration of temples and houses. The swastika as a symbol has many meanings, most peoples had positive meanings before it was compromised by the Nazis and removed from widespread use. Among ancient peoples, the swastika was a symbol of the movement of life, the Sun, light, and prosperity. In particular, the clockwise swastika is an ancient Indian symbol used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
	Hands of God	Found on one of the vessels of the Przeworsk culture. During World War II, due to the presence of a swastika, the vessel was used by the Nazis for propaganda purposes. Today it is used as a religious symbol by Polish neo-pagans.
	Jerusalem Cross	Inscribed on the flag of Georgia.
	Cross of the Order of Christ	Symbol of the spiritual knightly Order of Christ.
	Red Cross	Symbol of the Red Cross and Emergency Medical Services. The green cross is a symbol of pharmacies. Blue - veterinary service.
	Clubs	The symbol of the suit of clubs (another name is “crosses”) in a card deck. Named after the cross, depicted in the form of a trefoil. The word is borrowed from French, where trefle is clover, in turn from the Latin trifolium - the addition of tri “three” and folium “leaf”.
	Cross of St. Nina	A Christian relic, a cross woven from grapevines, which, according to legend, the Mother of God gave to Saint Nina before sending her to Georgia.
	Tau cross or St. Anthony's cross	T-cross. Anthony's Cross is a T-shaped cross in honor of the founder of Christian monasticism, Anthony. According to some sources, he lived 105 years and spent the last 40 on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea. The cross of St. Anthony is also known as the lat. crux commissa, Egyptian or Tau cross. Francis of Assisi made this cross his emblem at the beginning of the 13th century.
	Basque cross	Four petals curved in a shape reminiscent of the solstice sign. In the Basque Country, two versions of the cross are common, with the direction of rotation clockwise and counterclockwise.
	Cantabrian cross	It is a forked St. Andrew's cross with pommels at the ends of the crossbars.
	Serbian cross	It is a Greek (equilateral) cross, at the corners of which there are four stylized Ͻ And WITH-shaped flint. It is a symbol of Serbia, the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
	Macedonian cross, Velus cross
	Coptic cross	It consists of two crossed lines at right angles with multiplied ends. The three curved ends represent the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The cross is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt.
	Crossed arrows

Cultural influence

Russian expressions

To take under the cross is an old expression with a not entirely clear meaning (under the cross, a promise to pay, to return?) “To take under the cross” means to borrow, without money. Previously, the practice was to issue goods from a store on credit, and an entry was made in the debt book. The poorest part of the population was, as a rule, illiterate and they put a cross instead of a signature.
There is no cross on you - that is, (about someone) unscrupulous.
Carrying your cross means enduring difficulties.
To put up a cross (also: To give up) - (allegorically) to completely put an end to something; cross out with an oblique cross (in the shape of the letter of the Russian alphabet “Her”) - cross out from the list of cases.
Procession of the Cross - a solemn church procession with a large cross, icons and banners around the temple or from one temple to another, or from one place to another.
The sign of the cross is a prayer gesture in Christianity (to cross oneself) (Also: “Axe!” (call) - “Cross oneself!”)
Baptism is a Sacrament in Christianity.
Godfather name is the name adopted at baptism.
The godfather and godmother are a spiritual parent in Christianity, who, during the sacrament of baptism, accepts responsibility before God for the spiritual education and piety of the godson (goddaughter).
Tic-tac-toe is a game that in the old days was called “heriki” after the shape of the letter of the Russian alphabet “Her” in the form of an oblique cross.
To renounce - to refuse (originally: to protect oneself with a cross).
Crossing (in biology) is hybridization, one of the methods of selection of plants and animals.

Symbols of Christianity.

Quote from the message Vladimir_Grinchuv Read in full In your quotation book or community!
Symbols of Christianity

Hurry now to accept salvation.
Jesus is ready to embrace you now!
But if you are indifferent to salvation,
Something terrible will happen: you might be late!

The early Church did not know the icon in its modern dogmatic meaning. The beginning of Christian art - painting of the catacombs - is symbolic in nature. 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 lives.

For centuries, Christians have used symbols to express their faith. It is unlikely that anyone who visits a church or picks up a religious book will not see some symbols. They help communicate the Gospel (evangelize), nourish faith, and create a special atmosphere during worship services. They serve us as “way signs” on 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 actually originally intended for.

Cross - Crucifixion is an image of the Crucifixion of Christ, usually 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 necessarily present in places of worship, as well as among believers at home or as body decoration. 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. Actually, crucifixes first appear in the 5th-6th centuries, and on the oldest of them Christ is depicted alive, in robes and crowned. The crown of thorns, wounds and blood collected in a cup 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 one God in three persons and three persons in one Godhead... we must worship both the trinity in unity and the unity in the trinity.” We hear God speaking of Himself in the Scriptures as existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but as one Godhead in three persons. That's why we talk about Him as the Trinity, which means “three in one.”
Triangle serves as a general symbol of the Trinity. Each of his equal sides represents the personality of the Deity. All the sides together form a single whole Being. This sign can be found in many different forms, although the meaning of each 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 Jews sacrificed a white lamb “without spot or blemish” 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 became a symbol of the atonement, 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 left hand Christ or directly under his throne, a scene unfolds of the weighing of souls, which is carried out by the Archangel Michael. He holds scales in his hand, and on their two cups are the souls of the righteous (on the right of the archangel) and the sinner (on the left). The soul of the righteous is heavier, and it outweighs; The sinner's cup is pulled down by the devil. This is how the resurrected ones presented to this Judgment are distributed - some to heaven, some to hell.
Vine - a Eucharistic image, as well as a symbol of the people of God, the Church. In his last conversation with his disciples, Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser...”
Water - a symbol of fast-flowing time and Baptism. It is not for nothing that one of the many symbols of Christ is a stream. The same 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 will never thirst.”
A dove with a green branch is a symbol of new life, it came from the Old Testament: after the flood, the dove returned to Noah with a green branch in its beak, thus notifying Noah that the water had already receded and God’s wrath had changed to 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 withered trees was associated with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, which stood side by side in the Garden of Eden.
Mirror - a transparent sphere in the hands of an angel with the inscription "IS HR" - a symbol indicating that the angel serves Jesus Christ and is a spirit, but not an anthropomorphic being.
Keys
Ship depicts the church leading the believer safely through the stormy waves of the sea of life. The cross on the mast symbolizes the message of Christ, which gives authority and guidance to the church. The name of the part of the church where the community is located, nave, means "ship".
Five point cross - around the cross we draw a circle 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. This visual model gives some idea of the relationship between time and eternity within Christian culture.
Blood of Christ , poured out from his wounds on the cross, has, according to Christian doctrine, redemptive power. Therefore, it was common to depict it as pouring abundantly. It can flow onto the skull (of Adam) lying at the base of the cross. The skull is sometimes depicted upside down, and then the holy blood collects in it, like in a cup.
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 just as the moon receives its light from the sun, so the Law (Old Testament) becomes understandable only when illuminated by the Gospel (New Testament). Sometimes the sun was symbolized by a star surrounded by flames, and the moon by a woman's face with a sickle. There are also explanations of the figures of the sun and moon as indicating the two natures of Christ or as symbols of Christ himself (sun) and the church (moon).
Olive branch - a symbol of establishing peace between God and man. The olive branch is a symbol of hope and peace.
Nimbus - halo, symbol of holiness, glory. Depicted as a circle around the head.
Hourglass
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 ancient times that personified Christ. In the oldest part of the Roman catacombs, an image of a fish was discovered carrying on its back a basket of bread and a vessel of wine. This is a Eucharistic symbol, denoting the Savior, who gives food of salvation and new life.

The Greek word for fish is made up of the initial letters of the phrase "Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior." This is the first encrypted creed. The image of a fish was a very convenient sign, since it did not mean anything to people 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 St. Patrick and the coat of arms of Ireland.
Candles are still used in the Church today due to their symbolism. They stand for Christ, who is the Light of the world. The 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. Then the bird burned, but emerged again from its own ashes and lived for several more centuries before its death and “resurrection” were repeated. Christians borrowed the symbol from this pagan myth.
Bowl reminds us of the cup that Christ blessed at the Last Supper and which we share every 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 supporting the throne of God: “The likeness of their faces is the face of a man and the face of a lion (with right side all four of them), and on the left side - the face of a calf (all four) and the face of an eagle (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 , since his Gospel devotes Special attention humanity or human nature of Christ. It begins by listing Jesus' human ancestors. The winged lion represents St. Mark, since his Gospel pays special attention to 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, since his Gospel pays special attention to the divine nature of Christ. The eagle soars higher than any other animal into the skies.
These four symbols represent the main events in the life of Christ: the winged man - 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 torment of hell. When a saint is depicted with a flame in his hand, it 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 that entwines big fish, is a symbol connecting the signs of Christ and salvation. Anchors were used to decorate the wedding rings of Christians, 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 signifies 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 Power; Thy right hand, O Lord, has slain the enemy.”. We see the hand of God coming from 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 those who fear Him and trust in His mercy.” The Eye of God signifies God's loving care and involvement 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.”
Chrism - A monogram is usually two or more letters - initials that identify a person.

Early Christians used monograms to identify them as 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 written on altars and paraments.

Chi Rho - the first two letters of the Greek name of Christ - Xristos. Christ means “Anointed One.” Old Testament prophets and kings were anointed: olive oil was poured on their heads to dedicate 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 the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the 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 made 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 Your Hand are my days.” The hand signifies 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 by power; Thy right hand, O Lord, has slain the enemy.” We see the hand of God coming from 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 trust in His mercy.” The Eye of God signifies God's loving care and involvement 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 (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 cups and lamps. The Good Shepherd essentially did not appear icon of Jesus, but acts as an allegorical image. For this reason, together with the ichthys, it became the first image of Christ in early Christian art. Also due to its similarity with images of pagan deities, it was safe during the years of persecution, since it did not contain obvious Christian themes and could not to betray the owner, a secret Christian. At the same time, in the conditions of persecution of Christianity, the image expressed the idea of special patronage of the chosen ones and a prototype of the coming Kingdom of God.

Stork - a symbol of prudence, vigilance, piety and chastity. Since the stork announces 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 stems 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 eats snakes. Thus, he points to Christ and his disciples who destroyed satanic creatures.
Angel with a fiery sword - a symbol of Divine justice and wrath. The Lord God, having expelled our first parents from paradise after their fall, placed “a Cherubim with a fiery sword to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Gen. 3.24). In the Revelation of the Evangelist John it is said about the Son of Man: “From His mouth came sharp on both sides sword".
Angel with trumpet - a symbol of resurrection and the Last Judgment. Christ says about the coming of the Son of Man: “He will send His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Likewise, the Apostle Paul says about the second coming of Christ: “The Lord himself, with a proclamation, with the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Squirrel - among Christians it means greed and greed. In European mythology, the squirrel Ratatosk ("gnawtooth") appears, constantly scurrying along the trunk of the world tree and sowing discord between the eagle at its top and the dragon gnawing the roots, transmitting their words about each other. She is associated with the devil, who is embodied in this reddish, swift, elusive animal.
Ox - a symbol of the martyrs who were killed for Christ. St. speaks about this symbol. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Naziyanz.
Magi - Melchior (senior), Balthazar (middle), Caspar (junior). However, there is another relationship: the eldest is Caspar (or Jaspir), the middle is Balthazar (he can be portrayed as a black man), the youngest 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 black man.
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. Pomegranate comes from Asia and is one of the earliest fruits consumed by humans. Ancient Carthage was crushed by the Romans and died irrevocably. They say that only the “Carthaginian” or “Punic” apple remains from it. This name for the pomegranate - punica granatum - was given by the Romans. It is believed that the tail on 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 the enemy of snakes and basilisks.
Goose - in the Gnostic tradition, the goose is the embodiment of the holy spirit, a symbol of forethought 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 mounts for witches.
Dolphin - in Christian art, the dolphin can be found much more often than other marine inhabitants. He became a symbol of resurrection and salvation. It was believed that the dolphin, the strongest and fastest of sea creatures, carried the souls of the deceased across the sea to the next world. A dolphin, depicted with an anchor or 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 the 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 is a winged serpent, which, however, represented a combination 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 the opposite symbols of water and fire). In the Bible this is a symbol that is highlighted; It is interesting to note that Herod's anagrams in Syriac - ierud and es - mean "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 out, the ancient serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was cast out to the earth, and his angels and wives were cast out 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 was associated with the cult of the Virgin Mother goddess and early Christian theologians began to associate it with the virginity of Mary and the Incarnation of Christ. A biblical symbol of power and strength, it is used as such in the coat of arms of Britain. In the “Mirror of the Sacraments of the Church,” Honorius of Oten wrote: “A very fierce animal, having only one horn, is called a unicorn. To catch it, a virgin is left in the field; then the animal approaches her and is caught, for it lays on her womb. This animal represents Christ ", the horn is his invincible strength. He, lying on the Virgin's bosom, was caught by hunters, that is, found in human form by those who loved him."
Rod - the club is a symbol of strength and authority, therefore each bishop is given a staff during consecration. “The bishop’s rod,” says Archbishop Simeon of Thessalonica, “denotes the power of the Holy Spirit, the establishment and management of people, the power to govern, to punish the disobedient, and to gather those who have gone away together.” The bishop's staff is crowned with two snake heads and a cross. Snake heads are a symbol of wisdom and archpastoral power, and the cross should remind the bishop of his duties to shepherd his flock in the name of Christ and for His glory.
Vicious circle - a symbol of eternity. The circle of the sky expressed in the Middle Ages the idea of eternity, infinity and perfection.
Star - The wise men went to the birthplace of Jesus after 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 Proto-Gospel of James there is no direct reference to the star, but only speaks of 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 bright light in the 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 have done this, you are cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field; you will go on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life." Asp in Christianity also symbolizes evil, poison. The snake by the tree in paradise, which seduced Eve into disobedience, appears in medieval Jewish legend under the name Samael (corresponding to the prince of darkness Lucifer). The following thoughts are attributed to her: “If I talk to a man, he will not listen to me, since it is difficult to break a man. Therefore, I would rather first talk to a woman who has a lighter disposition. 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 does not know how to swim and therefore devours near the shore dead fish. He brings the latter for food to his cubs. “Like ibises, those carnivorous-minded people who greedily consume the deadly fruits of their deeds as food, and even feed their children with them, to their damage and destruction” (Unterkircher). “This ibis is the worst of all, for its shoots are sinful from sinners” (“Physiologus”).
Calendar - a person’s memory of 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 Pope of the Renaissance, looking at the image of a saint, allegedly said: “It’s good that he holds a stone, this sign of the penance he voluntarily accepted, because without this he would hardly be 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. Antonia. In the Gospel of Matthew, the goat is an emblem of sin and curse (“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 legends, Satan was present at the Sabbaths in the guise of a black goat. In Christian symbolism, the goat is a “smelly, dirty, constantly seeking satisfaction” creature, which at the Last Judgment is doomed to eternal punishment in hell. Directly associated with the scapegoat - a symbol of shifting one's own guilt onto someone else. Hence the traditional meaning of the goat as an infiltrator and its sinister association with the devil.
A spear is one of the instruments of the Lord's passion. The Gospel of Nicodemus says, and then repeats in the Golden Legend, that the name of the warrior who pierced Christ with a spear was Longinus. He was blind and, according to the Golden Legend, he was cured of blindness miraculously - by the blood flowing from the wound he inflicted on Christ. Subsequently, according to legend, he was baptized and suffered martyrdom. As a rule, he is depicted on the “good” side of Christ. The artists made it clear to the viewer in different ways that Longinus is blind: the spear that he seeks to thrust into the body of Christ can be directed by a warrior standing nearby, 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’ attribute is the monstrance, into which, as 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 lambed 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 people.
Jug and fake l indicate sexual moderation: water extinguishes the fire of lust.
Font - a symbol of the virgin’s immaculate womb, from which the initiate is born again.
Lamp - lamp of knowledge. Since ancient times, lamps have been lit to dispel physical darkness - the darkness of the night. With the beginning of the 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 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 means 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 that shines from the pages of Holy Scripture does not 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 keep the lamp burning at all times.” The lamp burning in the tabernacle symbolized the constant presence of the Lord among His people. Today, undying lamps in some churches remind us of the presence of Christ through the Word and Sacraments. This suggests that Christians gathered around the Word serve God always and everywhere. “Incarnate Word of God, O Supreme Mind, O Truth eternal and unchanging, O Light in darkness, we glorify you, shining from the sacred pages, illuminating our paths with eternal light.”
Shack (dilapidated building) - it symbolized the Old Testament, which Christ appeared in the world to replace with the New.
A lion, like the eagle, an animal. symbolizing dominance, often appears in heraldry and is characterized in fables as the “king of beasts.” A symbol of vigilance and vigilant and spiritual strength - since it was believed that he sleeps with his eyes open. A sentinel who maintains the foundations of the church. A symbol of 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” talks about the amazing circumstances of the birth of lion cubs: “When a lioness gives birth to a cub, she gives birth to it dead and stays awake near the body until the father comes on the third day and begins to blow on its face.. (the lioness) sits opposite him for three whole days and looks at him (the cub). But if she looks away, he will not be revived." The male lion awakens him by blowing the breath of life 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, Hadrian, Euphemia, etc.). In the Old Testament, Judas, Dan, Saul, Jonathan, Daniel and others are compared with Leo, and Leo himself is characterized as “a mighty 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 will separate one from another, 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 side: Come, you 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 something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I 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 did we see you hungry and feed you? or to the thirsty and gave them something to drink? when did we see you as a stranger and accept you? or naked and clothed? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, just as 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, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and they did not accept Me; I was naked, and they did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and they did not visit Me. Then they too will answer Him: 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, just as 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 everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.
Fox - a symbol of greed and cunning, wickedness and deceit. As a traditionally established symbol of cunning and deceit, the fox has become a symbol of the devil. Images of foxes often appeared in medieval sculpture; during the Renaissance, the fox became the main character in book illustrations. The reddish color of its fur resembles fire, which (along with the lynx and squirrel) ranks it among the rump (retinue) of the devil. The negative assessment of the fox is also expressed in medieval books about animals, for example, when it comes to the fact that as a deceiver and cunning animal, he is unsurpassed. “When he’s hungry and doesn’t find anything to eat, he digs in the red clay until he looks like he’s bloody, stretches out like a dead man, and cuts to the sides. The birds see how he supposedly bled to death and his tongue fell off, and they think, that he died. They are on him, and he then 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 him" (Unterkircher). “A fox on coats of arms. Whether on banners generally signifies an evil mind, and among such, if they are erected on coats of arms, word and deed are one in essence.”
Boat is a symbol of the church through which one can be saved; the net is a Christian doctrine, and the fish are people (“humans”) converted to the Christian faith. Many of Jesus' disciples were fishermen before they were called to apostolic ministry. Jesus may have called them “fishers of men,” as if alluding to their former profession. Who does he compare the Kingdom of Heaven to a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of all kinds? One day, when the people were crowding towards 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, leaving them, washed their nets. Having entered 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 stopped teaching, he said to Simon, “Sail out into the deep and let down your nets to catch.” Simon answered Him: Master! We toiled all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will let down the net. Having done this, they caught a great many fish, and even their net was broken. And they gave a sign to the comrades who were on the other boat to come help them; and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. Seeing this, Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said: Depart from me, Lord! because I am a sinful person. For horror seized him and all those who were with him from this fishing of fish they caught; also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's companions. 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 just as the moon receives its light from the sun, so the Law (Old Testament) becomes understandable only when illuminated by the Gospel (New Testament). Sometimes the sun was symbolized by a star surrounded by flames, and the moon by a woman's face with a sickle. There are also explanations of the figures of the sun and moon as indicating the two natures of Christ, or as symbols of Christ himself (sun) and the church (moon).
Copper washbasin and towel symbolize virgin purity.
Sword - a symbol of justice. St. Paul himself explains this symbol to us in his Epistle to the Ephesians: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
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 teeth, 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 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 scenes of the worship of the Magi, the monkey is present along with other animals.
Deer - deer are usually depicted near springs. This is a symbol of the soul that longs for God. The psalmist says: “As a deer longs for streams of water, so does my soul long for You, 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. The eagle is usually considered a symbol of the Resurrection. This interpretation is based on the early idea that the eagle, unlike other birds, flying near the sun and plunging into water, periodically renews its plumage and regains its youth. This interpretation is further revealed in Psalm 103:5: “...thy youth is renewed like the eagle.” In addition, the eagle often serves as a symbol of the new life that began with the baptismal font, as well as the soul of a Christian, which grows stronger thanks to virtue. “But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles...” The eagle is able to soar in the air, rising so high until it is out of sight, and also to gaze intently 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 reflection. Less often, when the eagle is depicted as a sacrifice, it personifies a demon captivating 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 eagle's wings to the very Throne of God." In a more general sense, the eagle became a symbol of the inspiring idea of the Gospels. It was based on this interpretation that the lecterns from which the Gospels were read were often made in the shape of an eagle spreading its wings.
Pelican - according to the ancient legend transmitted by Pliny the Elder, the pelican, in order to save its chicks, poisoned by the poisonous breath of the snake, from death, feeds them with its blood, which it exudes from a wound inflicted on its chest with its beak. A pelican feeding children with its blood is a symbol of the sacrificial death of Christ. So 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 - 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, self-satisfaction, temperance, calmness, hope. And two more - piety and repentance. There are sixteen in total, but moderation and abstinence are essentially the same thing. Thus, there are only fifteen different virtues. Thirty-three angels correspond to the number of years Christ lived.
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; Christ calls the former fishermen, and after the apostles, “fishers of men,” and likens the Kingdom of Heaven to “a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of all kinds.” In the first centuries of Christianity, people wore glass, mother-of-pearl or stone fish around their necks - future pectoral crosses. The Eucharistic significance of fish is associated with educational gospel meals: the feeding of the people in the desert with loaves and fishes, the meal of Christ and the apostles on Lake Tiberias after the Resurrection, which is often depicted in the catacombs, converging with the Last Supper. In Scripture, Christ says: “Is there such a person among you who, when his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? And when he asks for a fish, would give him a snake?” According to interpreters, the image of a 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 for fish. The symbolism of the fish turns out to be connected with the sacrament of Baptism. As Tertullian says: “We are little fish, led by our ikhthus, we are born in water and can only be saved by being in water.” This is an important and frequently used symbol by the early Christians. Fish was for them, firstly, a symbol of rebirth from water - St. baptism. The water intake where the baptism took place was called pistina in Latin, which means fish pool. And that cat, when baptized, was immersed in it, and was called a fish, in Greek ihtis. “We are fish,” says Tertullian, “and we cannot escape otherwise than in the water” - i.e. through baptism. The Greek word ihtis (fish) was also a symbol of Christ because each letter in Greek composes the words Jesus Christ, God's Son the Savior. (Isus Christos Teu Ius Soter). Obviously, the symbol of the Fish was a sign by which early Christians found and recognized each other, especially during times of persecution. Scratched on a wall, on the floor of a market square, or near a fountain, in crowded places, it allowed wandering Christians to find out where their brothers in faith were gathering.
Fish with a coin in its mouth - a symbol of the Miracle performed by Jesus Christ. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of didrachms approached Peter and said: Will your teacher give didrachms? He says yes. And when he entered the house, Jesus warned him and said: What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take duties or taxes? from your own sons, or from strangers? Peter says to Him: from strangers. Jesus said to him: So the sons are free; but, so that we don’t tempt them, go to the sea, throw a fishing rod, and take the first fish that comes along, and when you open its mouth, you will find a statir; 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 Peter would first come across would be the coin it had swallowed, 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 as a candlestick supports a candle."
Pig (Boar ) - serves as the personification of the demon of sensuality and gluttony, and therefore it is often one of the attributes of Anthony the Great, who defeated this demon. Gluttony, selfishness, lust, stubbornness, ignorance, but also motherhood, fertility, prosperity and luck. The positive attitude towards pigs in most myths contrasts with their largely negative symbolism in the world's religious traditions.
Christian paintings often depict the scene of the exorcism of demons from a possessed person. Jesus allowed them to enter a herd of 2,000 pigs, which then jumped off a cliff into the sea. In Christian art, the pig symbolizes gluttony and lust (usually trampled upon by the allegorical figure of Chastity), as well as laziness. The parable of Jesus casting out two possessed demons, who then entered a herd of pigs (Gospel of Matthew), symbolizes a person’s desire to be cleansed of sensual excesses.
Seven bells (flowers) - have a double symbolic meaning: firstly, they hint at 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 will rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and will be filled with the fear of the Lord.”
Heart . Found in images dating back to the 15th century. Often emits tongues of flame (“fiery heart”), which symbolizes spiritual combustion.
Net - Christian doctrine.
Scorpion - indicates the life of a hermit in the desert. Scorpio, biting with its tail, embodied deceit. Scorpio is one of the symbols of evil. The sting at the end of a scorpion's tail contains poison, and a person stung by a scorpion experiences terrible agony. It is often mentioned in the Bible: “...and its torment is like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man” (Rev. 9:5). Because of its treacherous way of stinging, the scorpion became a symbol of Judas. Scorpio, 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 mortal betrayal, sometimes envy or hatred. Scorpio 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. Later church fathers, and then other medieval authors, changed their attitude towards it. During the Renaissance, the dog in portraits of humanist scientists and religious figures became a symbol of devotion to the truth. Hunter's dogs (there are usually four of them) personify 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 is an 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 have wounded our heart with Your love, and in it we have kept Your words, which pierced our womb”). Three arrows piercing the heart symbolize Simeon's prophecy. At the first sacrifice of Jesus in the Temple, Simeon was present, 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 Baby in his arms, sang his last song, “Now You Let Go,” and prophesied to His surprised Mother: “Behold, this One lies for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel and for the subject of controversy - and A weapon will pierce your soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There are three predictions in this prophecy, each of them referring to one person: Jesus (“This One”), Israel and Mary.
Three nails became one of the symbols of the Holy Trinity. In art up to 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 destroyed because God “nailed [them] to the cross.”
Shoes kicked 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 sandals from your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy ground.”
Triumph flag - white banner with a red cross. This image appears in the so-called Rathmann Missal from the mid-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; from that time on, the flag - a sign of his victory over death - became a characteristic feature of all subsequent images of the Resurrection of Christ. As an emblem of the Good Shepherd, a banner with a cross was sometimes depicted, attached to a shepherd's staff.
Bread and Wine - “And while they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And He took the cup, gave thanks, and 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 of corn (sheaves symbolize the meeting of the Apostles), or in the form of communion bread. In the catacombs of early Christians, you can see an image on the walls: a fish carries on its back a basket of bread and a bottle of scarlet wine - this is how Christ was depicted then 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 feeding 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 tombs of martyrs in the catacombs as a symbol of passing human life. In the book of Job we read: “The man who is born of a woman is short-lived and full of anxiety. He 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 the flower of the grass; the grass withered, and its flower fell.”
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 drank from this cup before him. Since the Middle Ages, the cup has become a symbol Christian faith, and snake - 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 a skull is the inclusion of the Memento mori motif (Latin – 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 women

Encrypted fish. Symbols of Christianity***

For the holiday of the Nativity of Christ

For the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, an exhibition “Christian symbolism” was created at the Nativity scene of the Prince Vladimir Cathedral:

A symbol (Greek σύμβολον - sign, identifying mark) is a conventional sign of any concepts, ideas, phenomena that are revealed through its interpretation.
“symbol” is Greek for “connection”, and means either a means that brings about connection, or the discovery of an invisible reality through visible naturalness, or the expressibility of a concept by image.
The first Christian symbolic images appear in the paintings of the Roman catacombs and date back to the period of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. During this period, the symbols had the character of secret writing, allowing fellow believers to recognize each other, but the meaning of the symbols already reflected the emerging Christian theology.
A symbol is a fragment of the material world, capable of demonstrating spiritual reality and connecting to it. But a symbol can reveal spiritual reality and associate it with it only due to the fact that it itself is involved in this reality. It should be noted that Christian symbols are not a product of human creativity, they are “what is given as a result of Revelation, since symbols are always rooted in the Bible... This is the language of God, Who more and more initiates us into a hitherto unknown reality, Who reveals to us us the world, whose shadow in some way is the symbol.” (Argenti Kirill, priest. The meaning of the symbol in the Orthodox liturgy // Alpha and Omega, 1998, No. 1(15), pp. 281-
Full text of the message:
http://www.vladimirskysobor.ru/novosti/hristianskaja-simvolika-chast-1
Everyone knows what kind of persecution and persecution the first Christians were subjected to during the times of Ancient Rome. And, of course, they had to come up with special signs by which they could recognize friends and associates among ordinary people. These plot compositions and ornamental fragments were borrowed from the Roman catacombs, where the first Christians gathered, where they buried their fellow believers in burial chambers, and where they took communion.
All images are symbolic to hide the meaning from the uninitiated. The language of symbols is universal, with its help it is possible to convey an abstract concept, polysemy, therefore, even after Christianity was declared the state religion, the language of symbols was preserved and continued to develop. Let's dwell on the most striking and famous images.

Vine.
When the Romans saw an image of a man with a grapevine or just a grapevine, the first thing that came to their minds was that this was the altar of Bacchus, the patron saint of winemakers. In fact, the first Christians symbolized Jesus this way, comparing him to grapes. In the Gospel of John there are the following words: “...I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser...” (John 15:1) And also - after all, it was with wine that Jesus communed the apostles at the Last Supper: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20)

Shepherd and sheep.
The image of a beardless young man in a short tunic was taken by the Romans for the god Hermes. Meanwhile, this is a very well-known symbol of Christ - the shepherd of human souls. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd receives his life for the sheep; But a hireling, not a shepherd, to whom the sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs, and the wolf steals the sheep and scatters them; I am the good shepherd, I know Mine, and Mine know Me. I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these I must bring; and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:11-16) This symbol is often used in conjunction with a wooden cross or a tree with sheep grazing around - human souls.

Swastika.

Many do not see the difference between swastikas, associating them only with fascism. Meanwhile, this is a very ancient sun sign, used in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and, of course, Christianity. Please note that the swastika - the light of the world - is twisted clockwise (unlike the fascist one). Here is an image of a swastika on the mosaics of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Read more about the swastika here.
http://kolizej.at.ua/forum/22-235-1

And finally, the most interesting thing: fish.

Image of a fish from the catacombs of St. Callista
Ichthys (ancient Greek Ίχθύς - fish) is an ancient acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ; consists of the initial letters of the words: Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior) and expresses in brief form the confession of the Christian faith.
The New Testament talks about the calling of the apostles: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19); The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to “a net that was cast into the sea and caught fish of every kind” (Matthew 13:47).
The feeding of the people in the desert with loaves and fishes is a prototype of the Eucharist (Mark 6:34-44, Mark 8:1-9); fish is mentioned in the description of the meal of Christ and the apostles on Lake Tiberias after His Resurrection (John 21:9-22).
An image of a fish carrying on its back a basket of bread and a vessel of wine in the oldest part of the catacombs of St. Callista is a Eucharistic symbol representing Christ, who gives people new life.
Using the symbol of the fish in his treatise on Baptism, Tertullian writes:
“We, fish, following our “fish” (Ίχθύς) Jesus Christ, are born in water, we preserve life only by remaining in water.”

Early Christian mosaic. Tabha. Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes

Marble stele, 3rd century
The image of two fish flanking a vertical anchor topped with a cross was used as a secret “password” during the times when the early Christians were persecuted by the Romans.

Continuing this topic, it is worth remembering that Jesus, living in Capernaum, on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, recruited his disciples from among the fishermen.
Early Christian frescoes in the Roman catacombs depict fish as a symbol of the Eucharist, and early Middle Ages left images of the last, last supper, where on the refectory table, along with bread and a cup of wine, there is also fish.

And the story of how he fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish...
I found an interesting explanation for this event. I'm sharing.

There are many images of the zodiac constellation Pisces, which archaeologists discovered during excavations of early Christian monuments, which suggests that. that those who left these signs were perfectly familiar with the astrological symbolism of the new era and the religion of Christ that personified it. But not only the name of Christ was associated with the symbol of the Fish - the followers of Christ themselves called themselves “fish”, “pisciculi”, and the baptismal font quite early began to be likened to piscina (“fish tank”). Of course, the fact that fishermen were among the first disciples of Christ and became “fishers of men” is all just a reflection in the Gospel tradition of the main mythologem of Christianity - the mythologem of the zodiac sign Pisces.

Images of the constellation Pisces on the “ancient Egyptian” zodiacs and on the star map of A. Durer. On the Theban color zodiac "OU" Pisces is not depicted.
The image of the cosmic era of Pisces was clearly manifested in the gospel myth about the miracle that Christ performed by feeding a huge number of people with two fish. This image symbolized the future wide spread of Christianity, which is a typically “Fish” religion, since the believers themselves are likened to fish, being baptized in holy waters. Saint Pietro Damiani drew a parallel between monks and fish, since “all pious people are nothing more than fish jumping in the net of the Great Fisherman.” Indeed, Christ - Ichthys - is the “fisher of men,” but in a symbolic sense it was also interpreted as a fishhook and bait on the fishing rod of God, with the help of which Leviathan, symbolizing death and destruction, is caught.
Fish, inhabitants of the waters, serve as a fitting emblem of those whose lives were saved by Christ in God, and who emerged alive from the waters of the flood - the waters of judgment and retribution. The authoritative English religious scholar E.M. Smith wrote: “Those who are to dwell forever in the living water are one with Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God.” On an early Christian inscription of the 4th century. believers are called "divine descendants of the great fish." The influence of pre-Christian cults, in which fish was the main object of worship, is definitely felt here. In the Near and Middle East, the image of fish has a long and expressive history.

Vishnu in the form of a fish saves the first man Manu, the progenitor of the new race.
According to Indian mythology, the savior fish Manu is known. In Babylon, the fish-like god Oannes was worshiped, whose priests clothed themselves in scaly robes, and in Phenicia, the object of worship was immediately a pair of divine fish - the goddess Derketo-Atargatis - who was herself half a fish, and her son named Ichthys (fish).

Reverse of the coin of Demetrius III with the image of the goddess Derketo.
In the temples of Atargatis there were cages with fish, which no one was allowed to touch. In addition, ritual fish meals were held in temples.

Atargatis in the form of a fish in bas-relief. Felista (Syria)
The Belgian religious historian Franz Cumont writes in “Religions of the East”: “This cult and these rituals, originating in Syria, could well have Christian times give rise to the symbolism of Ichthys” (remember, Ichthys in Christianity is an anagrammatic abbreviation for “Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior”). The Syrian Greeks identified Derketo-Atargatis and her son Ichthys with the constellation Pisces. But it was not only the Syrian divine mother and son who were associated with fish. Similar motifs are also found in Egyptian and Greek mythologies. Fleeing from persecution, Isis and the baby Horus turned into Pisces, and in the same way Aphrodite and her son escaped in the waters of the Euphrates. In Lycia they worshiped a divine fish named Orthos or Diorthos - the son of Mithras and Cybele. Judging by the fact that in Carthage fish were sacrificed to Tanit, and in Babylon to Ea and Nin, one can judge that the cults of these deities were close to the cults of all the listed divine fish, as well as those worshiped by the inhabitants of Siena, Elephantine and Oxyrhynchus.
Through the symbol of the fish, the figure of Christ was assimilated into the world of ideas of pagan origin, saturated with astrological symbolism.

The Babylonian hero Oannes was himself a fish, and Christ was also associated with the fish ritually eaten at Eucharistic Christian meals. In the Jewish tradition, the historical development of which was Christianity, the mystical Eucharistic food preserved for the faithful in Paradise is the king of fish, Leviathan.

Leviathan
It should also be noted that, according to the Talmud, devout Israelis living in the “water of teaching” are likened to fish, and after death they even put on the clothing of fish. The Talmud (Sanhedrin) says that the Messiah “will not come until fish is found and provided for the weak.” The Zohar, developing what was said in the Talmud, says: “Through fish we will find a cure for the whole world.”
In view of such a wide distribution of the fish symbol, its appearance in the early Christian tradition should not be surprising. In connection with all of the above, it would not be inappropriate to correlate Christ through the fish with the new era that was emerging 2000 years ago.

Two fish swimming in opposite directions, which became a symbol of the Christian religion, were interpreted by early Christians as two opposing images, one symbolizing life and the other death. The fish swimming up towards the source against the current symbolizes Christ and the evolutionary path of his followers. A fish swimming downstream is a symbol of the enemy of God, a symbol of the Antichrist. In his research historical significance symbol of the fish, Jung categorically states: “In astrological interpretation we are obliged to emphasize the actual identification of Christ with only one of the fish, while the role of the second is assigned to the Antichrist.”

The constellation Pisces on modern astronomical maps.
In this zodiac sign, symbolized by living and dead fish, Neptune, the planet of secrets, riddles, mysticism and illusions, has its abode. Neptune (aka Poseidon) is not only the ruler of the earthly seas, but also the ruler of the sea of unconscious nature, which forms an integral part of the human soul. Neptune gives people faith, it opens the gates of another reality for a person, but since its nature is dual, just as the zodiac sign Pisces (ruled by it) is dual, then that other reality into which a person is immersed, under the influence of this planet, can manifest itself both from favorable and from the worst side. Neptune gives people not only mystical insights and revelations, but also plunges the human soul into a sea of illusions, fears, nightmares, alcohol and drug intoxication.
The entire history of mankind during the era of Pisces can be an excellent illustration of the zodiac mystery of this sign. The Age of Pisces became a time of flourishing of the arts - architecture, painting, music, literature, which became a natural manifestation of the beneficial influence of Venus - the planet of beauty and harmony, exalted in this sign. But this same era became the time of the development of occultism, the creation secret societies, waging bloody religious wars, painful searches for truth, and in all this one can read the influence of Neptune - the ruler of the zodiac sign of Pisces and the corresponding cosmic era.

The Age of Pisces is ending, and statements about the coming of the “end of times” seem quite understandable. In the minds of Christian believers, the upcoming era of Aquarius is indeed associated with the era of the Antichrist, since technocratic development modern society levels the spiritual values of Christian civilization, and future prospects, not unreasonably, seem even more bleak. Pisces is the last zodiac sign, a sign of the end of the path and summing up, and that is why the religious leaders of the era of Pisces for the last two thousand years have been persistently talking about the imminent approach of the last times and the inevitable end of the world. According to the Syrian apocalypse of Baruch, the time preceding the coming of the Messiah is divided into twelve parts, and the Messiah appears only at the end of the last of them. Such a temporary duodecimal division certainly points to the zodiacal circle, the twelfth messianic sign of which is Pisces. From the point of view of ancient astrologers, the transition of the precession point from the sign of Pisces to the sign of Aquarius is that very “time X” - the time of the Apocalypse and Armageddon.
There is every reason to believe that the Age of Aquarius will be the time of fulfillment of ancient eschatological prophecies.

In Sumerian drawings Enki (Aquarius) with two streams of water
Two streams pouring from the vessels of Aquarius are two immiscible streams of living and dead water. The symbolism of this sign implies the separation of good and evil, the final choice in one direction or another for each individual person and his direct participation in the final cosmic battle between the forces of light and darkness.
The era of Pisces, which was characterized by a confusion of moral and ethical concepts, and, as a consequence, the possibility of the existence of evil under the guise of good, is being replaced by a new time when the secret will become apparent, and the servants of evil will no longer cover up their evil deeds with noble phrases. The time of separation will force humanity to choose between the Antichrist and that person who can oppose the army of darkness with the power of truth, faith and reason.
Currently, the era of Pisces is coming to an end, and will be replaced by a new era of Aquarius. It is logical to assume that Christianity will be replaced by a new religion, since each cosmic era awakens new trends in human society and a certain charismatic personality appears on the historical stage, who is destined to become the head of a new religious movement. In any case, at the beginning of the era of Pisces, Jesus Christ appeared, and at the beginning of the cosmic era of Aries, which preceded the era of Christianity, the prophet Zarathushtra came to the world, proclaiming the religion of the one Lord Ahura-Mazda.
Zarathushtra brought people the cosmic teaching of the Avesta and predicted the birth of a “new” Savior from the Virgin and his second coming, the Last Judgment and the resurrection of the dead. From time to time, humanity, mired in sins and vices, seeking a way out of the vicious circle of problems it created, is sent an exceptional personality capable of awakening in people the best that was once given to them by the Great Creator. In the Zoroastrian tradition, such a person is called Saoshiant - i.e. "Savior". Zarathushtra came into the world during the cosmic epoch of Aries, the Christ he predicted was incarnated on Earth and the beginning of the epoch of Pisces. The coming era of Aquarius promises us a new coming of the Son of God, capable of gathering under his banner the purest part of humanity.
I thought... There is something in this...

http://kolizej.at.ua/forum/22-155-1
For the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, an exhibition “Christian symbolism” was created at the Nativity scene of the Prince Vladimir Cathedral.