2017-02

I’m sure that you are
familiar with seeing cars
with fi sh symbols on
the back – they usually
look like an elongated
‘a’. Sometimes you will see
variations on them like a fi sh
with feet and ‘Darwin’ written
across it.
The fi sh symbol (1) isn’t
a sign that the car driver is
a keen angler but that they
wish to identify themselves
as Christians. The sign itself
is very ancient, dating back
to the very fi rst years of the
Christian church when to be
known as a Christian was to
invite discrimination, persecution
and execution – which is the case
today with Christians throughout
the Middle East and Asia.
In the time of the Roman
persecution Christians needed
to know where was a safe place
to pray, and who might be a safe
person to talk to about their faith.
They developed an elaborate
series of signs that to the Romans
were nothing more than graffi ti,
but to Christians promised safety.
The fi sh was the most famous
of these symbols. A fi sh was
chosen partly because
the fi rst disciples were 4
fi shermen, but mostly
because the letters of
the Greek word for fi sh
(ichthus) were also the
fi rst letters of the word for
Jesus Christ, God, Son,
Saviour.
Other signs also played with the
Greek alphabet. The Alpha and
Omega symbol (2) and the Khi
Rho symbol (3) both took Greek
letters and placed one over the
other. Alpha and Omega are the
fi rst and last letters of the Greek
1
2 3
alphabet and symbolised the
timeless and unending nature of
God. Khi and Rho are the fi rst
two letters of Christ (Christos).
Both these motifs can be seen in
St Chad’s on the newly-restored
wooden reredos above the
Communion Table.
Sadly the persecution of
Christians is as terrible – in fact
probably worse – than at any time
in history and with this new wave
of persecution a new sign has
begun to emerge. Christians in
the West, in solidarity with their
suffering brothers and sisters
in Iraq and Syria have
taken the letter ‘N’ from
the Arabic alphabet and
begun using it across
social media (4). For
Christians evicted from
their homes, a letter ‘N’ is
often scrawled on the wall
by the Islamic State fi ghters. It
stands for ‘Nazarene’ after Jesus
of Nazareth. Perhaps one day
these to will fi nd their way into
churches as a reminder of the
terrible cost born by some who
dare to follow Jesus.
Rev Toby Hole
The Secret Signs of Faith
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Church Offi ce: Linden Avenue, Sheffi eld S8 0GA
Tel: (0114) 274 5086
Page 17
email: offi ce@stchads.org
website: www.stchads.org