What does the fish symbol mean in Christianity?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The symbol of the fish in Christianity plays a very significant role. First, it is closely associated with the name of Jesus Christ. Secondly, it is directly related to the history of this religion. If we remember that in the first centuries of our era in the Roman Empire it was severely persecuted, it becomes clear why the fish is a symbol of Christianity.

This is due to the fact that at that time it was not possible to speak openly about the new faith and create images concerning it. Therefore, various symbolic signs and drawings appeared. They were a kind of secret writing, with the help of which fellow believers identified each other. The meaning of the fish symbol in Christianity will be discussed in detail in the article.

Mysterious acronym

In the ancient Greek language there is a word Ίχθύς, which in Russian is written as "ichthys" and means fish. At the same time, it is a monogram(acronym) of the name of Christ and consists of the initial letters of his full name in Greek. In Russian, this is - Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior. Instead of this name, the fish sign was often depicted, which in a short form expresses the profession of Christianity.

Because of the persecution of faith in the early stages of the image of Christ was an unacceptable plot, the specified acronym appears in the 2nd century in the Roman catacombs. The fish symbol in Christianity appeared long before the cross was used. After all, earlier a terrible and shameful execution was associated with him. It acquires its current significance only in the 4th century, when the crucifixion was canceled. In a certain period, both symbols were equivalent.

Images

Fish was depicted by the first Christians in the catacombs, in temples, on utensils (for example, on lamps), seals, clothes, in letters. Today it is an element of the decoration of churches. On the walls of the catacombs, you can see the image of a fish with a basket on its back. It contains bread and a bottle of red wine. This symbolizes the image of Christ in the Eucharist, that is, in the rite of communion.

In some drawings, a fish carries a ship on itself. This is an association with the Christian church. Three fish, having one common head, symbolically depicted the Holy Trinity, emphasizing its incongruity and at the same time inseparability. Just as modern Christians wear pectoral crosses, the early representatives of this religion wore fish, which were made from various materials, such asmetal, stone, mother-of-pearl, glass.

In his work “On the City of God”, Blessed Augustine wrote that the symbol of the fish in Christianity is a mysterious sign of Christ, saying that in the abyss of mortality, as if in the depths of the waters, he remained alive and sinless.

Gospel symbols

In the New Testament, this symbol is used in many ways. So, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks if there is a person among his interlocutors who will give his son a stone instead of bread when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake when he asks for a fish? According to the interpreters of Scripture, here the fish is a symbol of Christ as the true Bread of Life, while the snake is a symbol of the devil.

Also, Matthew speaks of feeding a large mass of people with seven loaves and a small number of "fish". Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks to God, broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples, who gave them to the people. All the people ate and were full. They were whiter than 4 thousand people. During another feeding miracle, there were two fish and five loaves.

All these episodes testify to the Eucharistic understanding of satiety and are symbolically reflected in the image of a swimming fish with a wicker basket on its back, in which there are bread and wine. This is, for example, in one of the catacombs of St. Callistus in Rome.

Holy Apostles

The symbol of the fish in Christianity is also associated with the disciples of Jesus Christ. Of these, eight were originally fishermen. Matthew and Mark tell that the Master promised Andrew and Peter that they would"fishers of men", that is, they will lead people behind them. The kingdom of heaven is likened by the Savior to a net that is thrown into the sea and captures all kinds of fish.

In Capernaum there is a statue of Peter, the successor of Jesus, holding a staff and a large fish received from the Master. The fish is also a symbol of fertility. Each gives rise to countless offspring, which is also used as an allegory of the fact that from the sermons of a small group of apostles, the largest religion was gradually formed, the adherents of which today number in the billions.

Understanding what the fish symbol means in Christianity, it should be said about its other interpretations.

Other characters

It should be noted that the Church Fathers compared Christians themselves with fish, saying that they followed Jesus "the water of eternal life." Thus, Tertullian, an outstanding Christian writer of the 2nd-3rd centuries, believed that the sacrament of water is life-giving, since by washing away the sins of their yesterday's blindness, people are freed for eternal life.

Writing about baptism, he emphasized that we are the same fish that, following the “fish” of Jesus, are born in water and preserve life by remaining in it. Thus, the fish is also a symbol of baptism. The font in which it takes place in Latin is called piscina (in Russian - "piscina"), which literally translates as "" fish tank ". And the new converts are called pisciculi, that is, “fish.”

Christ also sees fishing as an analogy to conversion. Related to this is the wearing of the so-called fisherman's ring by the Pope.

As mentioned above, the image of three fish with one head is a symbol of the Holy Trinity. As well as three woven together. Another fish among Christians symbolizes selflessness.

Picture Features

In conclusion, it remains to answer the question: "Which fish is the symbol of Christianity".

Images might look like this:

1. Monogram ΙΧΘΥΣ, not accompanied by any drawings.
2. Fish, which can be in the form of a picture or symbol, with or without a monogram.
3. With a basket on his back containing bread and a bottle of wine, a symbol of Jesus taking the sacrament.



4. Dolphin, which is a symbol of the savior as a guide, overcoming chaos and the disastrous abyss. The dolphin, together with the ship or anchor, is regarded as a symbol of the Church. And if he is depicted as pierced by a trident or chained to an anchor, then this is seen as the crucified Jesus.

Now you know what the symbol under study has to do with Christianity.