SYMBOL AND SYMBOLIC PRESENTATIONS DEFINITION Symbols or symbolic

SYMBOL AND SYMBOLIC PRESENTATIONS

DEFINITION � Symbols or symbolic presentations are decorations or figures of animals, plants, monograms, and many other signs which portray religious concepts and truths

EARLY DAYS � Many of the symbols of our Church derive from the symbolism which our Lord used in His sermons and parables � such symbolic presentations were especially numerous in the early days of Christianity

PURPOSES FOR THEIR USE They were developed for several purposes: � To visualize the basic truths of the Christian faith � To decorate the places of worship � As a means of identification among Christians � As guides to the places of worship, especially during the times of the persecutions, i. e. the first three centuries of Christendom

SYMBOLI C PRESENTATIONS The most common of these symbolic presentations maintained by the Orthodox Church are the following:

VINE BRANCHES � The Vine-branches which represent Christ Himself, His teachings and the Christian Church: “I am the real vineyard” and “I am the vineyard and you are the branches, ” said our Lord

THE OLIVE BRANCH The Olive-branch which is a symbol of peace of the soul

THE PALM TREE-BRANCH The Palm tree-branch, an emblem of glory and immortality

THE LYRE The Lyre, the symbol of spiritual joy

THE SHIP The Ship, representing the Church which leads the believers to the harbor of salvation

THE FISH � The Fish (ΙΧΘΥΣ). The letters of the Greek word for fish ΙΧΘΥΣ are the first letters of the words “Iesus Christos, Theou Yios, Soter” (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour) � Thus, the sign of the fish is a symbol of Christ and His divinity

THE LAMB � The Lamb, the symbol of Christ, Who came to earth to be sacrificed. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, ” said St. John the Baptist when he saw Christ approaching the Jordan River

THE GOOD SHEPHERD � The presentation of the Good Shepherd � It shows a young man carrying a lamb on his shoulders � This is a symbol of the Christ carrying the lost sheep. � Christ Himself said: “I am the good shepherd” � In the early days of Christianity, there were presentations of the Good Shepherd even in carving

THE DOVE The Dove is the special symbol of the Holy Spirit. It also represents the innocence of the soul

THE EYE The Eye in a radiating triangle is the symbol of the knowing power of God

SYMBOLIC MONOGRAMS � Besides these symbols, we also find in our churches symbolic monograms Α-Ω Χ ΙΧ ΧΡ Ο ΩΝ

A-Ω � The A-Ω that is, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, which mean that God is the beginning and the end of all things. This symbol is found in the “Revelation” � “ ‘I am the Alpha and Omega, ’ says the Lord God, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty. ” (Rev. 1: 8)

X IX AND XP � The X alone or intertwined characters IX AND XP meaning Christ or Jesus Christ � The last one is the most frequent, being that which Constantine the Great had placed on his banner

Ο ΩΝ � The phrase Ο ΩΝ. This is usually placed over the halo of Christ as the Almighty or the Highest Priest, meaning ‘the being’ � This is also derived from the Revelation: “Grace to you and peace from Him Who is Who was and Who is to come” Rev. 1: 4

THE CROSS � The most frequently used and acknowledged as the most sacred among all the symbols is the Cross. � This is the symbol of the Saviour’s Crucifixion by which He saved mankind � We may find this symbol painted or carved not only in the churches but in other places, as well. � The Cross has even become a personal ornament

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS � According to the rule of our Church, we make the sign of the cross with three fingers joined (the thumb, the forefinger, and the middle finger), thus confessing our faith to the Holy Trinity � The other two fingers, pressed upon the palm of the right hand, signify the two natures of Jesus Christ (God-Man or Theanthropos), through which our salvation has been accomplished

VOCABULARY EXERCISE I A. Find words in the text with the following meanings: general notion or idea to come from, to originate short allegorical story illustrating a religious principle, some truth or moral lesson. to form a mental image of way recognition kept, preserved symbol the act of saving emitting light crossed circle of light above the head of a sacred figure having unlimited power admitted to be real or true declaring

VOCABULARY EXERCISE II Match the following terms with their definitions: Vine branches, Olive - branch, Palm tree-branch, Lyre, Ship, Fish, Lamb, Good Shepherd, Dove, Eye _______ A symbol of Christ carrying a lamb in his shoulders _______ represent Christ Himself, His teachings and the Christian Church. 3. _______ symbolizes the Church which leads the believers to the harbor of salvation 4. ________ is the symbol of Christ, Who came to earth to be sacrificed 5. _______ in a radiating triangle is the symbol of the allknowing power of God 6. _______ symbolizes the peace of the soul 7. _______ is an emblem of glory and immortality 8. _______ represents the Church which leads the believers to the harbor of salvation 9. ________ is a symbol of Christ and His Divinity 10. ________ symbolizes spiritual joy 1. 2.