TheChi Rho (☧, English pronunciation/ˈkaɪˈroʊ/; also known aschrismon[1]) is one of the earliest forms of theChristogram, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi andrho (ΧΡ)—of the GreekΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (rom:Christos) in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi.[2]
The Chi-Rho symbol was used by theRoman EmperorConstantine the Great (r. 306–337 AD) as part of amilitary standard (vexillum). Constantine's standard was known as theLabarum. Early symbols similar to the Chi Rho were theStaurogram (
) and theIX monogram (_I_193_4.jpg)
).
In pre-Christian times, the Chi-Rho symbol was also used to mark a particularly valuable or relevant passage in the margin of a page, abbreviatingchrēston (good).[3] Some coins ofPtolemy III Euergetes (r. 246–222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.[4]
Although formed of Greek characters, the device (or its separate parts) is frequently found serving as an abbreviation in Latin text, with endings added appropriate to a Latin noun, thusXPo, signifyingChristo, "to Christ", thedative form ofChristus,[5] orχρ̅icola, signifyingChristicola, "Christian", in the Latin lyrics ofSumer is icumen in.
According toLactantius,[6] aLatin historian ofNorth African origins saved from poverty by the EmperorConstantine the Great (r. 306–337), who made him tutor to his sonCrispus, Constantine haddreamt of being ordered to put a "heavenly divine symbol" (Latin:coeleste signum dei) on theshields of his soldiers. The description of the actual symbol chosen by Emperor Constantine the next morning, as reported by Lactantius, is not very clear: it closely resembles a Tau-Rho or a staurogram (_I_193_2.jpg)
), a similar Christian symbol. That very day Constantine's army fought the forces ofMaxentius and won theBattle of the Milvian Bridge (312), outsideRome.
Eusebius of Caesarea (died in 339) gave two different accounts of the events. In his church history, written shortly after the battle, when Eusebius had not yet had contact with Constantine, he does not mention any dream or vision, but compares the defeat of Maxentius (drowned in theTiber) to that of the biblicalpharaoh and credits Constantine's victory to divine protection.
In a memoir of the Roman emperor that Eusebius wrote after Constantine's death (On the Life of Constantine,c. 337–339), a miraculous appearance is said to have come inGaul long before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. In this later version, the Roman emperor had been pondering the misfortunes that befell commanders who invoked the help of many different gods, and decided to seek divine aid in the forthcoming battle from the One God. At noon, Constantine saw a cross of light imposed over thesun. Attached to it, in Greek characters, was the saying "Εν τούτῳ Νίκα!" ("In this, conquer!").[7] Not only Constantine, but the whole army saw the miracle. That night,Christ appeared to the Roman emperor in a dream and told him to make a replica of the sign he had seen in the sky, which would be a sure defence in battle.
Eusebius wrote in theVita that Constantine himself had told him this story "and confirmed it with oaths" late in life "when I was deemed worthy of his acquaintance and company." "Indeed", says Eusebius, "had anyone else told this story, it would not have been easy to accept it."
Eusebius also left a description of thelabarum, the military standard which incorporated the Chi-Rho sign, used by Emperor Constantine in his later wars against Licinius.[8]
An early visual representation of the connection between theCrucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection, seen in the 4th centurysarcophagus ofDomitilla in Rome, the use of a wreath around the Chi-Rho symbolizes the victory of theResurrection over death.[11]
After Constantine, the Chi-Rho became part of the officialimperial insignia.Archaeologists have uncovered evidence demonstrating that the Chi-Rho wasemblazoned on thehelmets of some Late Roman soldiers. Coins and medallions minted during Emperor Constantine's reign also bore the Chi-Rho. By the year 350, the Chi-Rho began to be used on Christiansarcophagi andfrescoes. The usurperMagnentius appears to have been the first to use the Chi-Rho monogram flanked byAlpha and Omega, on the reverse of some coins minted in 353.[12] InRoman Britannia, a tesselatedmosaic pavement was uncovered at Hinton St. Mary, Dorset, in 1963. On stylistic grounds, it is dated to the 4th century; its central roundel represents a beardless male head and bust draped in apallium in front of the Chi-Rho symbol, flanked bypomegranates, symbols of eternal life. Another Romano-British Chi-Rho, infresco, was found at the site of a villa atLullingstone (illustrated). The symbol was also found on Late Roman Christian signet rings in Britain.[13]
In 2020, archaeologists discovered inVindolanda in northern England a 5th-century chalice covered in religious iconography, including the Chi-Rho.[14][15]
InInsularGospel books, the beginning of Matthew 1:18, at the end of his account of thegenealogy of Christ and introducing his account of the life, so representing the moment of theIncarnation of Christ, was usually marked with a heavily decorated page, where the letters of the first word "Christi" are abbreviated and written in Greek as "XPI", and often almost submerged by decoration.[16] Though the letters are written one after the other and the "X" and "P" not combined in a monogram, these are known as Chi-Rho pages.
Famous examples are in theBook of Kells andBook of Lindisfarne.[17] The "X" was regarded as thecrux decussata, a symbol of the cross; this idea is found in the works ofIsidore of Seville and otherpatristic and Early Medieval writers.[18] The Book of Kells has a second Chi-Rho abbreviation on folio 124 in the account of theCrucifixion of Christ,[19] and in some manuscripts the Chi-Rho occurs at the beginning of Matthew rather than mid-text at Matthew 1:18. In some other works like theCarolingianGodescalc Evangelistary, "XPS" in sequential letters, representing "Christus" is given a prominent place.[20]
The Chi Rho symbol has twoUnicode codepoints:
Notes
Bibliography
Further reading
Media related toChi Rho at Wikimedia Commons
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