An Inhabited Cross Chrismon

Inhabited Cross, Florentine, 1491. All inhabited crosses have one of the
following depicted on them: people, animals and/or villages/cities.
Inhabited crosses look different depending on the culture of the artist
who designs the cross. The above is one of many types.

       The inhabited cross is an ancient variety of this symbol, described by Dante in his Divina Commedia, printed in Florence in 1491. This cross is resplendent with a glory far more radiant then the suns and constellations of every kind which blaze around it. Arriving with Beatrice in the planet Mars, the poet exlaims:

"For with so great a lustre and so red

Splendors appeared tome in twofold rays,

I said: "O Helios who dost so adorn them!"

Even as distinct with less and greater lights

Glimmers between the two poles of the world

The Galaxy that maketh wise men doubt,

Thus constelled in the depths of Mars,

Those rays described the venerable sign

That quadrants joining in a circle make.

Here doth my memory overcome my genius;

For on that cross as levin gleamed forth Christ,

So that I cannot find ensample worthy:

But he who takes his cross and follows Christ,

Again will pardon me what I omit,

Seeing in that aurora lighten Christ.

From horn to horn, and 'twixt the top and base,

Lights were in motion, brightly scintillating

As they together met and passed each other"

       Among the twelve little figures inhabiting the cross, representing the souls of valiant warriors, Dante gives the names of eight who occupy the arms of the cross, beginning from left to right. These are Joshua, Judas Maccabaeus, Charlemagne, and Roland in the left arm; and the right, William the Conqueror, Richard Coeur de Lion, Godfrey de Bouillon, and Robert Guiscard. Cacciaguida, and ancestor of the poet, is one of the four souls, not named, who are kneeling in the stem, and upper part of the cross. 

"This cross does not contain the Crucified in person, and yet Dante declares that there Christ shone resplendent; in fact, as has been said, the Cross is the symbol of Christ. Iconographically considered, the Son of God is in the Cross, as He is in the Lamb, and in the Lion; He is there hidden under the semblance of the instrument of punishment on which He died. The second Person of the Trinity is figured by an infinite number of different objects: three alone, the Lamb, the Lion, and the Cross, are symbols of our Lord. Even the Fish does not rise to the dignity of a divine symbol." (Didron, Christ. Ion., vol. i., p. 405.)

Scriptural References for Any Inhabited Cross Chrismon:

• "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King. God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold." Psalm 48:1-3
• "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2
• "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16

Planet Earth Symbol

       The planet symbol for Earth reminds us of our place of origin. Although it is a place where evil can reside, because of the Fall, God has also given us good things here: companionship, love, joy, etc... and most important, He has provided a way for our safe return through Christ.

Scripture References for The Planet Earth Chrismon:

• "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens." Genesis 2:5 (NIV)
• "He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, " Psalm 95:4-5 (NLT)
• "The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left." Isaiah 24:4-6 (NASB)
• "The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead, and to reward Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear Your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Revelation 11:18 (BSB)

Epiphany Star Pattern For a Chrismon Tree

The Epiphany Star is symbolic for
completeness. 12 Tribes of Israel, 12
Apostles are found in the Bible. An
 Epiphany Star has twelve points.

       Twelfth Night is a festival in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany. Different traditions mark the date of Twelfth Night on either 5 January or 6 January; the Church of England, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, celebrates Twelfth Night on the 5th and "refers to the night before Epiphany, the day when the nativity story tells us that the wise men visited the infant Jesus". In Western Church traditions, the Twelfth Night concludes the Twelve Days of Christmas; although, in others, the Twelfth Night can precede the Twelfth Day. Bruce Forbes writes:

In 567 the Council of Tours proclaimed that the entire period between Christmas and Epiphany should be considered part of the celebration, creating what became known as the twelve days of Christmas, or what the English called Christmastide. On the last of the twelve days, called Twelfth Night, various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities. The variation extends even to the issue of how to count the days. If Christmas Day is the first of the twelve days, then Twelfth Night would be on January 5, the eve of Epiphany. If December 26, the day after Christmas, is the first day, then Twelfth Night falls on January 6, the evening of Epiphany itself.

       A belief has arisen in modern times, in some English-speaking countries, that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night, a tradition originally attached to the festival of Candlemas (2 February), which celebrates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Other popular Twelfth Night customs include singing Christmas carols, chalking the door, having one's house blessed, merrymaking, as well as attending church services. Read more...

Scripture References for The Epiphany Star Chrismon:

• "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2
• "Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." 1 Corinthians 15:22
• "But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust." Hosea 6:7
• "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the "Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." Revelation 22:16

More Stars To Include On Your Chrismon Tree:

• Jesse Tree Ornament - The Natal Star
• Jesse Tree Ornament - The Sun
• The Star Over The Crib by Koch
• The Magen David Symbol

Sun Symbols for a Chrismon Christmas Tree

       The sun is a favorite emblem of the middle ages, doubtless intended to show our LORD as the Sol Justitiae. Very frequently the Sun appears, surrounded by stars, on a vault or ceiling. On either side of the Crucifixion the sun and moon usually appear, more often than not with human faces.

       The characteristics of the sun, as distinguished from the star, are the larger centre, and almost universally the alteration of straight and waved rays. The exception to this rule may be seen in the roses en soleil, which are drawn with straight rays.

Scripture References for the Sun Symbol Chrismon:

• "All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God." 1 John 4:15 (NKT)
• "For God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life" John 3:16 (BLB)
• "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

More About IHS Symbols:

• What does IHS mean?
• Looking for a contemporary "Sun/Son" symbol for a bulletin? 
• More IHS clip art here (Christograms)

The Magen David Symbol

The Magen David is the Star of David.

     During the 19th century the symbol began to proliferate amongst the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, ultimately being used amongst the Jewish communities in the Pale of Settlement. A significant motivating factor was the desire to imitate the influence of the Christian cross. The earliest Jewish usage of the symbol was inherited from medieval Arabic literature by Kabbalists for use in talismanic protective amulets (segulot) where it was known as a Seal of Solomon. The symbol was also used in Christian churches as a decorative motif many centuries before its first known use in a Jewish synagogue. Before the 19th century, official use in Jewish communities was generally known only in the region of today's Czech Republic, Austria and possibly parts of Southern Germany, having begun in medieval Prague.

Scripture References for the Magen David Chrismon:

• "When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever." 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (JPS Tanakh 1917)
• "And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Matthew 9:27 (ESV)
• ""What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." Matthew 22: 42-46 (NIV)

More About David's Star:

• David's Star with a Pentacle 
• The Medieval Stars of David