10 Christian Symbols Explained
AncientPages.com | July 28, 2018
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Most people associate Christianity with the cross, but there are also other symbols that have a deep meaning and significance. In this top list we explain the meaning of ten important Christian symbols.
10 Christian Symbols
1. Ichthys – The Fish
The fish is a sacred Christian symbol. In Greek, the first letters - Iesous Christos, Theou Yios, Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior) make the word ‘ichthys’ – fish, with a strong symbolic association of Christ with fish.
“I will make you fishers of men". (St. Mark 1: 16-18)
The ichthys symbol became of great in importance and started to appear in Christian art during the late 2nd century, and its use spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries. The fish appears in many Biblical stories, for example, the fish that swallowed Jonah is believed to symbolize Christ’s incarceration in the tomb. The story of Tobias, who survives an attack by a large fish and then uses the gall of the fish to restore his blind father’s sight, symbolizes God’s blessings.
In a miracle, traditionally known as the 'Miraculous Draught of Fish', the symbol is representation of abundance and wisdom. Luke's account of Christ's miracle predicts Peter's later and important role as a 'fisher of men'. Read more about the Ichthys
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