The "Chi-Rho" or " Chrismon " is one of the oldest symbols of Christendom
The artistic representations of early Christians, mainly focus on a graphic narration of the evangelical events and by reproducing symbolic and allegorical images, through cryptographic methods.
The frescoes of the catacombs in Rome, from the early 3rd century, represent the central themes of the Christian faith, and some of its earliest artistic representations.
The very idea of a god being condemned to death and by a punishment reserved for the worst of criminals, was considered absurd by the Romans, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”(1 Cor 18).
The Chi -Rho is formed by the Greek letters C and R the first letters of the name of Christ, in Greek, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, as an abbreviation of the word Christos, “Anointed”, the Christ, which then was the distinctive symbol of the Christian community.
On the 27th of October, 312 AD, Constantine experienced a vision of Christ, who showed him the sign of the Chrismon and told him to have it painted on the shields of his army, saying, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES, "In this sign thou shalt conquer", before the battle of Ponte Milvio, against Magencio, and in which, Constantine was victorious.
The historian Eusebius tells us how Constantine experienced an open conversion to the faith, he ordered a statue to be raised in the Roman Forum, “holding in his right hand the sign of salvation, with the inscription,“ IN HOC SIGNO VINCES ” recounting his vision and victory.
Only after the acceptance of Christianity by Constantine the Great, the cross began to be reproduced profusely, slowly replacing the Chrismon.
The artistic representations of early Christians, mainly focus on a graphic narration of the evangelical events and by reproducing symbolic and allegorical images, through cryptographic methods.
The frescoes of the catacombs in Rome, from the early 3rd century, represent the central themes of the Christian faith, and some of its earliest artistic representations.
The very idea of a god being condemned to death and by a punishment reserved for the worst of criminals, was considered absurd by the Romans, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”(1 Cor 18).
The Chi -Rho is formed by the Greek letters C and R the first letters of the name of Christ, in Greek, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, as an abbreviation of the word Christos, “Anointed”, the Christ, which then was the distinctive symbol of the Christian community.
On the 27th of October, 312 AD, Constantine experienced a vision of Christ, who showed him the sign of the Chrismon and told him to have it painted on the shields of his army, saying, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES, "In this sign thou shalt conquer", before the battle of Ponte Milvio, against Magencio, and in which, Constantine was victorious.
The historian Eusebius tells us how Constantine experienced an open conversion to the faith, he ordered a statue to be raised in the Roman Forum, “holding in his right hand the sign of salvation, with the inscription,“ IN HOC SIGNO VINCES ” recounting his vision and victory.
Only after the acceptance of Christianity by Constantine the Great, the cross began to be reproduced profusely, slowly replacing the Chrismon.