Enter this article to learn with us all about the christian stroke. Which is, that symbol or figure in the form of a little fish used by Christian believers.
What is Christian Ichtus?
You may have come across many times, in texts, stamps, adhesive labels, etc., the figure of a fish, representing Jesus or the Christian faith. That figure or symbol of a fish is what is known as Christian Ichtus.
The term ichtus or ichthys comes from the Greek word ijcís (ΙΧΘΥΣ), whose meaning is fish. The graphic representation of the Christian ichtus is a very basic or elementary figure that symbolizes a fish, formed by two arc strokes placed one on top of the other in opposition.
The ichtus in turn resembles what is known as a fish bladder or vesica piscis in the Latin language. This Christian ichtus began to be used by the first followers of Christ Jesus who lived their faith in secrecy, due to persecution.
The first Christians were victims of the persecutions of the Roman Empire. Learn about them, entering the article, Christian persecutions: story of terror and pain.
By reading this article you will be able to better understand why the first believers must have used the Christian ichtus as a secret code. With this secret symbol, the followers of Christ could recognize each other in hiding, since it was an acronym with which they proclaimed their faith.
The Ichtus as a symbol of the Christian underground
Starting from the fact that Jesus Christ himself was persecuted and crucified, it is clear that his disciples, the apostles, were also persecuted along with anyone who converted to the Christian faith. The Romans were very cruel in these persecutions and the first Christian communities had to live their faith clandestinely.
In this historical context we can understand that Christians must have used various tools to find out if the other person was really a Christian. And not a fraud to whom they could give themselves away and run the risk of ending up in prison, to later be executed.
One of these tools was to use secret codes like the ichtus or fish. And it is believed, when two people met who suspected each other of being Christians.
One of these people drew a first arc on the ground, in response the other person drew the second arc, thus defining the figure of the fish. In this way the two people recognized each other as brothers in the faith of Christ Jesus.
What was the hidden code in the figure of the Christian fish or ichtus?
The Greek letters that form the ancient Greek word for fish, ΙΧΘΥΣ, form an acronym. Which indicated a hidden code that only a Christian could recognize, that acronym was:
- I: Ἰησοῦς: Iēsous
- X: Χριστός: Christos
- Θ:Θεοῦ ͑:THeou
- Y: Υιός: Yios
- Σ: Σωτήρ: Sōtēr
What does it mean in Spanish: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”. Also learn with us about Tabernacle: What is it?, meaning, and much more, as well as Disciple: What is it? Characteristics, qualities and more.
