separateurCreated with Sketch.

10 Symbols used in Christian art and their meaning

Chi-Rho

Chi Rho - This monogram superimposes the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. This symbol became widely popular after the Roman Emperor Constantine I adopted it for his vexillum, a flag-like military standard.

whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative
Philip Kosloski - published on 02/26/21
whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative

Christian art has a rich treasury of symbols that communicate various spiritual truths.

Help Aleteia continue its mission by making a tax-deductible donation. In this way, Aleteia’s future will be yours as well.


Donate with just 3 clicks

*Your donation is tax deductible!

Whenever you walk into a Catholic Church, you may notice various types of artwork on the walls or stained glass windows. These pieces of artwork were carefully crafted not only to be beautiful, but also to communicate divine truths.

Here are 10 such symbols and their spiritual meaning.

  1. The symbolism behind Mary’s Immaculate Heart
  2. Why is Jesus depicted with his heart outside his body?
  3. What do the parts of the human body symbolize in Christian art?
  4. 5 Colors and their symbolism in sacred art
  5. 5 Birds and their symbolism in Christian art
  6. The powerful symbolism of the lion in Christian art
  7. The surprising symbolism of dogs in Christian art
  8. 5 Fruits in art and their spiritual symbolism
  9. What does the peacock symbolize in Christian art?
  10. Ships in art: Symbols of the Church and our pilgrimage to heaven


ST PETERS; BASILICA
Read more:
A visual guide to the symbols of St. Peter’s Baldachin


CROSS
Read more:
How the cross came to be the symbol of Christianity

Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to read more like this?

Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. It’s free!

Aleteia exists thanks to your donations

Help us to continue our mission of sharing Christian news and inspiring stories. Please make a donation today! Take advantage of the end of the year to get a tax deduction for 2024.