Fish is a very important symbol in Christianity. We, in Galilee, are full of fish and their images. And this has been going on for a very long time. Here in the photo is an image of fish at the altar of the 5th century church at Tabgha on the northern shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee.

The image of a fish is both an element of landscape design and an illustration of gospel events.

Fish in the New Testament symbolizes Christ's disciples, eight of whom were fishermen. Matthew and Mark say that Jesus promised Peter and Andrew to make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19, Mark 1:17), and likened the Kingdom of Heaven to “a net that was cast into the sea and captured fish of all kinds” (Matt. 13:47).

Here he is, Peter, the successor of Jesus, with the staff received from the Teacher and a hefty fish. The statue is installed in Capernaum.

And Christ’s feeding of five thousand people with five loaves and two fish is one of the most famous gospel miracles. There are four loaves in the basket, because the fifth is on the altar. And the fish are exactly the same as those found in the lake now. And it's called St. Peter's fish.

In addition, the fish is a symbol of Christ Himself. The Greek word for fish is ichthys, which is an abbreviation for Greek phrase“Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior” (ΙΧΘΥΣ). Here they are, these Greek letters, on a green background.

Fish is also a symbol of Baptism. The font in which baptism took place was called in Latin “piscina”, which means “fish tank”. This font, carved from one huge stone, is from the fifth century.

The fish became a symbol of Christianity long before the cross. And no wonder, because the cross symbolized a terrible and humiliating execution. It was only in the fourth century, when crucifixion was abolished, that the cross began to acquire its current meaning. For some time these two symbols were equivalent.

The first Christians depicted fish in their letters, in temples and catacombs, on clothes and utensils. And today fish is an element of church decor.

But these three fish with one common head are an ancient symbol of the Trinity. Unmerged and inseparable.

Fish is a symbol of fertility. Each fish produces huge offspring. And this is also symbolic. Likewise, from a small group of apostles grew the world's largest religion, with more than two billion adherents. In Christianity, fish is also considered a symbol of selflessness.

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The symbolism of fish incorporates many diverse, sometimes polar opposite, meanings. Since ancient times, fish has been associated with Teachers, world Saviors, ancestors, and wisdom. The Hindu Vishnu, the Egyptian Horus, the Chaldean Oannes, and also Christ are related to the fish symbol. Disciples and followers living in the “water of teaching” are often likened to fish.

There are legends (records of which were preserved in the temples of antiquity) according to which the human race originated from creatures resembling amphibians. Their bodies were covered with scales and they breathed through gills. In a number of myths, fish perform the function of a demiurge, i.e. participate in the creation of the world: for example, fish bring silt from the bottom of the primordial ocean, from which land is created, or serve as the support of the earth.

The symbolism of fish is closely related to the symbolism of water, water element. In a variety of mythologies, water is the origin, the initial state of all things, the source of life. Therefore, fish that live freely in water, in the primordial ocean, are endowed with demiurgic power, and in a number of myths they also turn out to be the ancestors of people. Water is also associated with the unconscious; knowledge is hidden in the depths of the waters, which is difficult (or impossible) for a person to obtain, but which is accessible to fish. Water cleanses, ritual ablution symbolizes rebirth, a return to the beginning, so a fish living in water represents hope for a new birth. But water is a formidable element, which is reflected in numerous versions of the flood myth, and here a fish can also show its power and help a person escape, as happened in the myth of Manu.

Water is a symbol of the feminine principle, so fish becomes an attribute of many Great Goddesses (Atargatis, Ishtar, Astarte, Aphrodite). In this regard, it can symbolize not only fertility, fertility, abundance, sensual love, but also such negative aspects attributed to goddesses as vanity and greed.

In a number of mythological stories where a giant fish (or whale) swallows and then releases the hero (as, for example, in the myth of Jonah), the fish acts as a kind of equivalent lower world, the kingdom of the dead. These stories symbolize the process of initiation, rebirth after symbolic death.

In the Middle East, fish was an attribute of the Syrian goddess of love and fertility, Atargatis (each of her temples had a pond with sacred fish; her son’s name was Ichthys, which means “fish”). This goddess performed under different names- Ishtar, Derketo, Astarte - and was often depicted as a woman with a fish tail. The myths said that fish tail appeared to the goddess when she and her son rushed into the waters of the Euphrates, fleeing the monster. In Sumerian writing, the sign “fish” expressed the concept of “fertility” and “reproduction.” The Babylonian god Ea could be represented as a fish man. Ea was credited not only with power and wisdom, but also with healing abilities; There are known images of the “fish-shaped” Ea at the bedside of a sick child. Oannes, the Chaldean Savior, was depicted with the head and body of a fish and with human hands and feet. He came out of the sea and taught people writing, science, building cities and temples, agriculture, etc. Fish skin was used as clothing by the priests of Ea and Oannes.

IN Egyptian mythology the goddess of the city of Mendes was Khatme-hit. Her sacred animal is the fish, and her epithet is the First among fishes. She was depicted as a woman with a fish on her head; in the later period she was brought closer to Isis: it was believed that this goddess helped Isis collect parts of the body of Osiris killed by Set.

The Egyptian god Horus was sometimes represented as a fish. Isis, when she nursed little Horus, was also depicted with a fish on her headdress.

In Indian mythology, Vishnu, during his first incarnation as an avatar in the form of a fish, warns the progenitor of mankind, Manu, about the upcoming flood. Killing the demon Hayagriva, Vishnu returns what the demon stole from Brahma holy books knowledge - Vedas. In India, there is a ritual: on the twelfth day of the first month of the Indian year, a fish is placed in a vessel with water and the following appeal is addressed to it: “Just as you, O God, took the form of a fish and saved the Vedas, which were in the underworld, so save me.” !”

In Buddhism, fish symbolizes following the Buddha, liberation from desires and attachments. Buddha, like Jesus Christ, was called a fisher of men.

In Chinese mythology, fish symbolizes abundance, wealth, fertility, and harmony. One of the myths of ancient Chinese mythology speaks of a creature called Lingyu (“Fish Hill”), with the body of a fish; His arms, legs and head are human.

For the Greeks and Romans, fish were sacred in connection with the cult of Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love and fertility. Fish as a symbol of the power of water was also an attribute of Poseidon (Neptune). In rituals dedicated to Adonis, fish was used as an offering for the dead.

Among the ancient Semites, the beneficent deity in the form of a fish bore the name Dagon. It was also called Dag, which translated means “fish”, “guardian” or “Messiah”. In Judaism, fish represent the believers of Israel in their true element, in the waters of the Torah. Fish is the food of the Sabbath, a symbol of the heavenly feast.

In early Christianity, fish was adopted as a symbol of Christ by many Church Fathers. The sign of the fish was the first monogram of Christ. Mysterious Greek name Jesus means "fish". It was the fishermen brothers who became the first disciples of Jesus, who told them that they would be “fishers of men.” Believers, disciples of Christ, like himself, were often likened to fish, safe only in the “water of teaching.” The baptismal font quite early began to be likened to a fish tank (piscina). Three intertwined fish or three fish with one head symbolize the Trinity.

The coming of Christ was associated with the advent of the astrological era of Pisces. Jesus “was born as the first fish of the era of Pisces and was doomed to die as the last lamb of the declining era of Aries” (C. G. Jung, AION).

TALE OF THE FLOOD

Manu, the son of Vivasvat, the half-brother of Yama, settled on earth in a secluded monastery near the southern mountains. One morning, when he was washing his hands, as they do to this day, he came across a small fish in the water brought for washing. She told him: “Save my life, and I will save you.” “What will you save me from?” - asked the surprised Manu. The fish said: “The flood will come and destroy all living beings. I will save you from him." “How can I keep you alive?” And she said: “We fish, while we are so small, are threatened with death from everywhere. One fish eats another. You first keep me in a jug, when I grow out of it, dig a pond and keep me there; and when I grow even larger, take me to the sea and release me into the open, for then death will no longer threaten me from anywhere.” Manu did just that. Soon she grew up and became a huge jhasha fish with a horn on her head; and this is the largest of all fish. And Manu released her into the sea. Then she said: “In such and such a year there will be a flood. Make a ship and wait for me. And when the flood comes, board the ship and I will save you.”

And in the year that the fish indicated to him, Manu built a ship. When the flood came, he boarded the ship and the fish swam to him. Obeying her command, Manu took with him the seeds of various plants. Then he tied a rope to the horn of the fish, and it quickly pulled his ship along the raging waves. The earth was no longer visible, the countries of the world disappeared from the eyes; there was only water around them. Manu and the fish were the only living creatures in this watery chaos. Fierce winds rocked the ship from side to side. But the fish swam and swam forward through the watery desert and finally brought Manu’s ship to the highest mountain of the Himalaya. Then she told Manu: “I saved you. Tie the ship to a tree. But be careful, the water may wash you away. Descend gradually, following the decline of the water.” Manu followed the advice of the fish. Since then, this place in the northern mountains has been called “Descent of Manu”.

And the flood washed away all living creatures. Only Manu remained to continue the human race on earth.

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

Early Christian Creeds

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

Or “ichthys” - this is how this word sounds in Greek. He was revered for a reason: the word was an acronym for the popular phrase among Christians “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” (it sounded like “Jesus Christ Feu Ios Sotir”).

Also, do not forget about the miracles of the Savior, in which fish appeared. For example, about Sermon on the Mount, to which many people gathered, and when they wanted to eat, He multiplied 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish for everyone (therefore, in some places, fish were depicted together with bread). Or about the meeting of the Savior with the Apostle Peter, a fisherman - then he said: “As you catch fish now, so will you catch men.”

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

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

On the domes of some ancient churches you can see a cross that looks more like an anchor. There is an opinion that this sign means “the cross defeats the crescent,” that is, Islam. Although other historians of religion are sure: this is an anchor.

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

That is why the pelican became a symbol of self-sacrifice, bloody communion. This image was more often used during services.

• Eagle soaring over the city

Denotes the height of faith.

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

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

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

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

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

• Chrism

This is a monogram of two Greek words, “Anointed One” and “Christ.” It is often decorated with two more letters - “alpha” and “omega” (that is, “beginning” and “end”, which means Lord).

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

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

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

Sometimes the lily was depicted among thorns.

• Vine

As we know, Jesus said: “I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser.” The topic of wine is often mentioned in Christianity, because this is the drink used during communion.

Temples and ritual utensils were decorated with images of grapevines.

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

• dove (Holy Spirit),
• a cup of wine and a basket of bread (there is enough food, faith and the Lord’s blessings for everyone),
• olive tree branch,
• spikelet, ears of corn, sheaves (apostles),
• ship,
• Sun,
• house (or one wall made of brick),
• lion (the power and strength of God, the church),
• calf, ox, bull (martyrdom, service to the Savior).

Symbols known to modern believers

• Crown of thorns. Roman soldiers jokingly “crowned” Jesus with it as they led him to execution. This is a sign of suffering voluntarily brought for someone (in in this case- for all humanity).
• Lamb. A sign of the Savior's sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Just as young lambs or doves were laid on the altar as a sacrifice to God at that time, so the Son of God became a sacrifice for the sake of all people.
• Shepherd. This is how they designate Christ, who worries about the souls of people faithful to him, like a good shepherd about his sheep. This image is also very ancient. The first Christians painted an image of the Good Shepherd in their sanctuaries, since there was no “sedition” in it - it was difficult to immediately guess that this was the image of the Son of God. By the way, the image of the Shepherd was first mentioned in the Psalter, in the 22nd Psalm of King David.
• Pigeon. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity (Lord, His Son and the Holy Spirit). People still honor this ancient sign (like the Easter images of the Lamb).
• Nimbus. Means holiness and drawing closer to the Lord.

Orthodox signs

• Eight-pointed cross. Also known as "Orthodox", "Byzantine" or "St. Lazarus Cross". The middle crossbar is where the Son of God was crucified, the top one is the same tablet on which they cynically wrote “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The lower crossbar, according to church historians, was also nailed to the very cross on which Jesus offered his sacrifice.
• Triangle. Some people mistakenly consider it a sign of the Masons. In fact, this is a symbol of the trinity of the Trinity. Important: all sides of such a triangle must be equal!
• Arrows. On icons they are often placed in the hands of the Mother of God (just remember the “Seven Arrows” icon). This sign signifies the prophecy of Simeon the God-Receiver, who declared that Jesus is the Son of God almost immediately after His birth. In the prophecy, he told the Mother of God: “A weapon will penetrate your soul, and the thoughts of many people will be revealed to you.”
• Scull. Adam's head. At the same time a sign of death and resurrection. One legend says: on Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, there were the ashes of the first man Adam (that’s why on icons this skull is placed at the base of the cross). When the blood of the Savior was shed on these ashes, it symbolically washed all humanity from their sins.
• All-seeing eye. This eye of the Lord is a sign of His wisdom and omniscience. Most often this symbol is included in a triangle.
• Eight-pointed (Bethlehem) star. Symbol of the birth of Jesus. She is also called the Mother of God. By the way, in ancient centuries the number of its rays was different (constantly changing). Let's say in the 5th century there were nine rays, they meant the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Burning bush. More often - a burning thorn bush through which the Lord spoke to Moses. Less commonly, it is a sign of the Mother of God into whom the Holy Spirit entered.
• Angel. Means the earthly incarnation of the Son of God.
• . The six-winged angel is one of those closest to the Lord. Wears a fire sword. It can have either one face or many (up to 16). This is a sign of the Lord's love and cleansing heavenly fire.

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

And of course, we couldn’t help but talk about how different orthodox cross from Catholic. And although it is believed that it does not matter what kind of crucifix you wear, but what is important is faith, it is still not worth it pectoral cross violate the tenets of your religion. Tips for choosing this not jewelry, but the strongest amulet and sign of a conscious choice of life path are here:

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 the 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 by a poisonous snake, it will peck at its 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 above all a solid foundation 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

Monogram made from the first letters 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, new life. 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 human face or with a halo (sometimes there was a combined version). 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, Last Judgment and inheritance of 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.

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For our readers: the symbol of fish in Christianity with detailed description from various sources.

The image of fish is often found in the meeting places of early Christians, in the catacombs and cemeteries of Ancient Rome and Greece, as well as in medieval Christian architecture. There are several complementary theories as to why fish became a symbol of Christianity.

Instructions

Proponents of the first theory argue that the fish was chosen as a symbol of the new faith and an identifying mark among the early Christians, since the Greek spelling of this word is an acronym for the main tenet of the Christian faith. “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” - this was and remains to this day the religion of Christianity, and the first

these words in Greek (Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ) form the word Ίχθύς, “ichthys”, “fish”. According to this theory, early Christians, depicting the sign of the fish, professed their faith and at the same time recognized their fellow believers. In Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel “Quo vadis” there is a scene in which the Greek Chilon tells the patrician Petronius exactly this version of the origin of the fish sign as a symbol of Christians.

According to another theory, the sign of fish among the early Christians was a symbolic designation of followers of the new faith. This statement is based on frequent references to fish in the sermons of Jesus Christ, as well as in His personal conversations with his disciples, later the apostles. He metaphorically calls people in need of salvation fish, and the future apostles, many of whom were former fishermen, “fishers of men.” “And Jesus said to Simon: Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men” (Gospel of Luke 5: 10) The “Fisherman’s Ring” of the Pope, one of the main attributes of the vestment, has the same origin.
Biblical texts also claim that only fish survived the Great Flood, sent by God for the sins of people, not counting those who took refuge in the Ark. At the beginning of the era, history repeated itself, Greco-Roman civilization was experiencing a monstrous crisis of morality, and the new Christian faith was called upon to become the saving and at the same time cleansing waters of a new “spiritual” flood. “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind” (Gospel of Matthew 13:47).

Also worthy of attention is the theory that fish became a symbol of Christianity due to its main, food function. The new creed primarily spread among the most oppressed part of the population. For these people, simple food like fish was the only salvation from starvation. This is precisely what some researchers see as the reason why fish has become a symbol of salvation from spiritual death, the bread of new life and the promise of life after death. As evidence, supporters of this theory cite numerous images in the Roman catacombs in places of ritual, where fish acted as a Eucharistic symbol.

Most fish have large and round eyes, but they are designed completely differently from other animals. This raises the question of how well and how fish are able to see.

Instructions

Fish vision is designed in such a way that they can easily see colors and even distinguish shades. However, they see things a little differently, in

from the sushi abodes. At

up fish are able to see everything without distortion, but if

look

to the side, straight or at an angle,

picture

distorted due to the media of water and air.

The maximum visibility of the inhabitants of the water element does not exceed 10–12 meters in clear water. Often this distance is reduced even further due to the presence of plants, changes in water color, increased turbidity, etc. Fish distinguish objects most clearly at a distance of up to 2 meters. Due to the peculiarity of the structure of the eyes, when swimming to the surface of the water, fish begin to see objects as if through

porthole

Predators living in clear waters- grayling, trout, asp, pike. Some species that feed on bottom organisms and plankton (bream, catfish, eel, pike perch, etc.) have special light-sensitive elements in the retina that can distinguish weak light rays. Due to this, they can see quite well in the dark.

Being near the shore, the fish hear the fisherman very well, but do not see him due to the refraction of the ray of vision. This makes them vulnerable, so a big role

presence of camouflage. Experienced fishermen advise not to wear bright clothes when fishing, but

vice versa

Choose more protective colors as a camouflage that will blend into the general background. Much less likely to be noticed

will be in shallow water than when fishing close to the shore and in deeper places. Thus, while fishing, it is better to sit than stand, and also not

commit

sudden movements. That is why spinners who like to hunt from a boat are better off fishing (catching a predator by throwing bait) while sitting, which is not only safe, but will also help

get

noticeably larger catch.

What does this fish sign mean for Christians?

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Ichthys(ancient Greek Ίχθύς - fish) - an ancient acronym (monogram) of the name of Jesus Christ, consisting of the initial letters of the words: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior).

Often depicted in an allegorical way - in the form of a fish.

Symbolic meaning

The acronym IHTIS (ΙΧΘΥΣ) is built on the use of the following letters:

Thus, this abbreviation expresses in short form the confession of the Christian faith.

Gospel symbolism

The New Testament connects the symbolism of fish with the preaching of Christ's disciples, many of whom were fishermen. Jesus Christ calls his disciples " fishers of men"(Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17), and the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to" a net thrown into the sea and catching fish of all kinds"(Matthew 13:47).

“The Last Supper”, fresco from the 13th century. in the cave church, Cappadocia. The Body of Christ in the Grail is depicted as a fish

The image of a fish 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.

The sign was also associated with Alpha from the words of Jesus Christ: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13).

Symbol occurrence time

In early Christian art, images of Christ were an unacceptable subject due to persecution, so various symbolic codes arose. Images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or the fish symbolizing it appear in the Roman catacombs in the 2nd century. The widespread use of this symbol is evidenced by the mention of it by Tertullian at the beginning of the 3rd century:

We are little fish, led by our ikhthus, we are born in water and can only be saved by being in water.

Features of the symbol image

Ίχθύς Early Christian inscription,

• Monogram without any drawings.
• Fish(with and without the monogram ΙΧΘΥΣ) - can be depicted symbolically.
• A fish carrying on its back a basket of bread and a bottle of wine,- a symbol of Christ carrying the sacrament.
• Dolphin- symbolizes Christ as a guide through chaos and disastrous abysses. A dolphin with an anchor or a ship represents the church, and a dolphin pierced by a trident or chained to an anchor is Christ crucified on the cross.

Currently

At the end of the 20th century, ichthys became a popular symbol among Orthodox and Protestants in different countries. They place this sticker on cars.

Opponents of creationism began to parody this sign by sticking a fish sign with the word “Darwin” and small legs on their cars.

Notes

Links

• Ichthys // encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

As is known, in the Roman Empire in the first centuries the Church was subjected to severe persecution. Under these conditions, it was impossible not only to openly profess oneself as a Christian, but also to create images that directly spoke about faith. Therefore, in early Christian fine arts Various symbolic images appeared. They were a kind of secret writing by which co-religionists could identify each other. An example of such secret writing is given by the Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz in his wonderful book “Kamo khryadeshi”. The novel begins with the fact that one noble Roman fell in love with a young beautiful girl who turned out to be a Christian. And so he tells how he found this girl drawing something in the sand:

– What did she draw in the sand? Is it not the name of Cupid, or a heart pierced by an arrow, or something else, from which you could understand that the satyrs were already whispering into this nymph’s ear some secrets of life? How could you not look at these signs!

“I put on my toga earlier than you think,” said Vinicius. - Until little Aulus came running, I carefully examined these signs. I know that in both Greece and Rome girls often draw confessions in the sand that their lips refuse to utter. But guess what she drew?

– If it’s something else, I probably won’t guess.

The girl was a Christian, and it was no coincidence that she drew this drawing. Indeed, fish is one of the most common designs in early Christian painting. And it symbolized not just anyone, but the Lord Jesus Christ himself. And the reason for this is ancient greek language. The fact is that in ancient Greek fish ὁ ἰχθύς (ihthys). Christians saw in this word a kind of acrostic (a poem in which the first letters of each line form a meaningful text) telling about Christ. Each letter of the “ancient Greek fish” was for them, accordingly, the first letter of other, very important words expressing the confession of the Christian faith: Ἰησοῦς Χριστός Jεοῦ Uἱός Sωτήρ. From ancient Greek to Russian it is translated as follows: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. Those. the ancients read the ancient Greek word ἰχθύς (fish) as an abbreviation for this phrase.

In general, the symbolism of fish is often used in the New Testament. For example, the Lord says: “Is there a man among you who, when his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? and when he asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? If you, therefore, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:9-11). According to many interpreters Holy Scripture, the image of the fish here symbolizes Christ as the true Bread of Life, and the snake symbolizes the devil. Therefore, for example, sometimes fish in early Christian painting were painted together with baskets filled with bread and wine. Those. this image had a Eucharistic meaning.

Christ also feeds a multitude of people, taking seven loaves of bread and “a few fish”: “And taking the seven loaves and fishes, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. And they all ate and were filled” (Matthew 15:36-37). In another similar miracle, there were five loaves and two fish (see: Matthew 14: 17–21).