Long before smartphones, the first Christians had their own pictograms. In the Roman catacombs you can find a fish sketched in a few lines. The Greek word for fish is ichthus, and its five letters spell out the acrostic “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” A Jesus Christ emoji ahead of its time, then: clear to insiders, invisible to everyone else.
The name itself deserves a closer look. “Christ” isn’t a surname. It’s the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, “the anointed one.” Saying “Jesus Christ” is already a profession of faith, just like Peter’s answer: “You are the Christ.” The Chi-Rho, the first two Greek letters of the word, X and P laid over each other, went on to decorate sarcophagi, mosaics and altars. Later came the IHS monogram, still stamped on many hosts and carved over the doors of Jesuit churches.
Today we have 🐟 and ✝️, which is something. But the Chi-Rho, the IHS monogram, or a face of Christ inspired by icons, dignified and readable at tiny sizes, are still missing from our keyboards. The early Christians managed with a fish; now it’s your turn to pick up the pencil and show us your version.
Amen !by AI Generator
Amen !by AI Generator
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