The Name of
CHRIST.
"The monogram of the name of Christ, formed of the two first
letters of that name in Greek,
X and P is the celebrated sign which appeared in the sky
at noon-day to the Emperor Constantine and his troops, and was
afterwards adopted by him on his standard; the monogram is hence
sometimes called the Labarum, as well as the Cross of Constantine. If
there had been any doubt as to the signification of the [symbol] an
instance occurs on one of the bas-reliefs in the Catacombs, of a rude
representation of a lamb 
whose
head is surmounted by the Labarum probably the date of this is the
latter part of the fourth century. In another instance figure occurs
bearing a sheep on his shoulders, while the 
surmounts the head of our Lord in
order to denote the divine character of the Good Shepherd.
In Plate xxxviii. are several examples, showing much ingenuity
displayed in combining the letters. In No. 9 we have the typical
wreath of Victory surrounding the device, and in Nos. 12, 15, and 16,
wreaths and palm-branches appear, no doubt in allusion to the motto
which was, according to Eusebius, inscribed on the Labarum, EN
TOYT
NIKA, meaning, 'Conquer by this.'
No. 11 is taken from an early piece of sculpture in the Catacombs,
and clearly represents a young Roman Christian bearing the form of
the Cross as a standard. One of the examples given (No.14.) was found
marked upon the plaster of an early tomb in the same series of
subterranean vaults. Between the lines of the monogram will be found
traced the letters ES[T] DEUS; some have supposed that the presence
of this monogram upon a tomb was a sign that he who was buried
beneath had suffered martyrdom.
In very many instances in the Catacombs the inscription commences
with this monogram, occurring sometimes in the form such as
IN ASELUS D(ORMIT)
but generally without the IN before it. A good typical example is
given in Plate xxxix. (No.20), which has the A and also
at the side. In these cases the "in" is no doubt understood, and
though this form becomes changed, probably the custom of commencing
inscriptions, deeds of gift, &c. throughout the Middle Ages with
the plain Greek cross, has its origin in this, being equivalent to In
nomine Christi .
One or two early
signet-rings have been found with the Labarum for a device, one of
which is here engraved... It was also used as a device for such
ordinary objects as lamps, &c...
"The more usual monogram of our Saviour in later times is the
IHS. (which are the first three letters of the Greek
, or JESus). This is constantly
found throughout the Middle Ages, whether carved in stone or painted
on glass. It is singular that the form should have been lost sight of.
while the IHS became so frequently used, for they both represent the
same great Name; the one is as expressive as the other..." The
Calendar of the Prayer-Book, Illustrated, With an Appendix of the
Chief Christian Emblems, published at Oxford, 1909.
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Power of the Name of Jesus.
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The text and other graphics are taken from The Calendar of the
Prayer-Book, Illustrated, With an Appendix of the Chief Christian
Emblems, published at Oxford, 1909. It is from the Anglican
tradition.
lab-a-rum (l^b2úr-úm) n. pl. lab-a-ra
(-úr-ú) 1. An ecclesiastical banner, especially one
carried in processions. 2. The banner adopted by Constantine I after
his conversion to Christianity. [ Latin] American Heritage
Dictionary.
Netscape apparently will not reproduce the Greek letters Omega
and Sigma, so I tried to put them in as graphics with limited
success, as you can see. Sorry.
This page is the responsibility of Rev. Roger J. Smith. You can
contact him at shnyves@i-link-2.net if you nave any comments.
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