What are some lesser known Christian symbols?

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Back in the first centuries, the little fish symbol became an underground sign of Christianity. What are some other Christian symbols that maybe some well-versed Christians might recognize? (besides a cross, for instance 😃 )
 
MarcoPolo said:
Back in the first centuries, the little fish symbol became an underground sign of Christianity. What are some other Christian symbols that maybe some well-versed Christians might recognize? (besides a cross, for instance 😃 )
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Crossing the fingers for luck supposedly comes from Christians not being able to legally display the sign of the cross during prayer.

And the fish I believe is called an icthys (sp?). If I remember rightly occasionally some would trace half the icthys in front of someone they had just met, if the person completed the icthys then they identified themselves as Christian.
 
The catacombs have roughly incised circles with a plus type sign within - symbolizing the bread of life.
Peacocks symbolized eternal life.
Pelicans appear in Irish medieval architectural art - symbolizing something I’m not clear about. (There were never any pelicans in Ireland)
 
Thing said:
The catacombs have roughly incised circles with a plus type sign within - symbolizing the bread of life.
Peacocks symbolized eternal life.
Pelicans appear in Irish medieval architectural art - symbolizing something I’m not clear about. (There were never any pelicans in Ireland)
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There was a discussion quite awhile ago here on the symbolism of the pelican in Christian art. It was thought that the pelican, in regurgitating its food for its young, was actually feeding its young with blood from its breast - thus it was seen as a figure of Christ nourishing us in the Eucharist.

This icon of St. Padre Pio, along with a prayer of St. Thomas, is are examples of the symbology.

puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/pio.html
 
MarcoPolo said:
Back in the first centuries, the little fish symbol became an underground sign of Christianity. What are some other Christian symbols that maybe some well-versed Christians might recognize? (besides a cross, for instance 😃 )
Click to expand...
The four nails, points touching in the form of a cross with the letters IC in the upper left quadrant; XC in the upper right quadrant; NI in the lower left quadrant and KA in the lower right quadrant. Meaning: Jesus Christ Conquers Death.

The “fish” symbol which is IXOYE spells fish in Greek but even deeper is the fact that it is also the acronym for Iecuc Xrictoc Theos Youios Soter. Or Jesus Christ God’s Son and Saviour.

There are others. I know a few more. I’ll tell you tomorrow…if interested.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
 
FCEGM said:
There was a discussion quite awhile ago here on the symbolism of the pelican in Christian art. It was thought that the pelican, in regurgitating its food for its young, was actually feeding its young with blood from its breast - thus it was seen as a figure of Christ nourishing us in the Eucharist.
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Yes indeed. I have seen stone carvings of the young ones taking blood from a wound on the pelicans breast.
 
A fresco in one of the catacombs depicts the Eucharist symbolically.

A fish is on a three-legged table. On one side stands a man in philosopher’s garb. On the other a woman praying with her hands outstrected.
 
 
I have always wondered why St. Thomas refers to the Lord as “Dear Pelican” in Adoro Te Devote!

thanks!!!🙂
 
I’m reading Pope Benedict’s encyclical on Hope and apparently the earliest known image of Jesus has him with a staff (shepherd) and book (philosopher)…the encyclical does make interesting and educational reading. Pope Benedict’s writings even I can understand and I am very definitely the ordinary Catholic layperson “in the street” not schooled in any theology or philosophy or even extremely well read in Church matters.

Blessings - Barb
 
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