Lamp Symbolism for Chrismons

An ancient Christian oil lamp with the initials of
 Christ (Chi-Rho) and two fish sculpted on it's surface.

         An oil lamp is an object used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day, although not commonly anymore. Here there are two ancient oil lamp illustrations that you may use for Chrismon patterns. They are actual drawings of early Christian lamps.

       Early oil lamps were often used by Christians to symbolize the wisdom, enlightenment and spiritual knowledge gained by exposure to Christ's teaching.

This ancient lamp depicts a shepherd with a lamb over his shoulders
 and grapes surrounding the vignette. Both are examples of early
Christian art in Rome.

Antique bronze oil lamp with the "Chi Rho",
a Christian symbol (replica)

Scripture References for Lamp Chrismons:

• "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 (NASB)
• "the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned." Matthew 4:16 (WEB)
• "Then Jesus spoke out again, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NET Bible)
• "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
  " Ephesians 5:14 (KJB)
• "And I have seen that wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness." Ecclesiastes 2:13 (Jubilee Bible 2000)

Amy Grant's song "Thy Word" is 

based upon Psalm 119:105 text.

Italian Lamb of God for Chrismons

   An Italian example of the twelfth century. It is noticeable for the Patriachal Cross to which the banner is attached, as well as for the Chalice which receives the Blood of the Covenant. This pattern would make a lovely embroidery or woodcut pattern for the Chrismon tree.

Lamb of God by Matt Maher. Published by spiritandsong.com, a division of OCP, www.ocp.org.Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

In the Mass of the Roman Rite and also in the Eucharist of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church the Agnus Dei is the invocation to the Lamb of God sung or recited during the fraction of the Host.

 

Based upon John the Baptist's reference in John 1:29 to Jesus ("Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world"), the text in Latin is:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

which means:

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Scripture References for The Agnus Dei Chrismon:

• "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
• "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 (ESV)
• "These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." Revelation 17:14 (KJB)
• "For the soul (or life) of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to reconcile your persons (or souls) upon the altar; therefore the same blood reconciles the person." Leviticus 17:11 (Jubilee Bible 2000)
• "The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:13 (NASB)
• "In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22 (NLT)
  

More About The Agnus Dei:

• Find more Agnus Dei symbols here
• Animated Agnus Dei symbols for the web

An additional Agnus Dei Chrismon stencil.

The Agnus Dei and Banner of Victory

 

Free little Agnus-Dei cross stitch design