The Divine Three in One

       Representations of the Divine Three in One were employed in art from its earliest ages. It was symbolized by the combination of three triangles, three circles, three fishes, and many other representations more obscure in their meanings. In later art the three persons of the Trinity have been represented by three human figures, each with its special attribute, that of the Holy Ghost being the dove. Another mode represents the Father and Son with the dove between them ; in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the dove was often seen hovering between the first and second persons of the Trinity, with the tips of the wings touching the lips of each. This representation is called the double procession of the Spirit; illustrative of the words of the Nicene Creed, "proceeding from the Father and the Son." This representation belongs to the Latin Church. In these representations, when the locality is heaven, the figures are always seated. There is a device called the Italian Trinity, which was popular from the twelfth to the seventeenth century. In this the Father holds a crucifix by the ends of the transverse beam, the figure of Christ hanging between his knees ; the dove proceeds downwards from the lips of the Father, and touches the head of the Son, or is merely sitting on the cross.

• Trinity scriptures here and here for teaching children while making Chrismons
• The Trinity Symbols by E. Goldsmith
• See also Holy Trinity Clip Art (Christian Symbolism)

Combined Triangle, Trinitarian, Dove Symbol - Many Trefoils

This trefoil shape also includes a descending dove; a reference to Christ's Baptism.

       Trefoil (from Latin trifolium, "three-leaved plant", French trèfle, Italian trifoglio, German Dreiblatt and Dreiblattbogen, Dutch klaver, "clover", same as clubs) is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism. The term is also applied to other symbols of three-fold shape.

       Trefoil is a term in Gothic architecture given to the ornamental
foliation or cusping introduced in the heads of window lights,  tracery,
 panellings, etc., in which the center takes the form of a three-lobed leaf
(formed from three partially overlapping circles). One of the earliest
examples is in the plate tracery at Winchester (1222–1235). The fourfold
 version of an architectural trefoil is a quatrefoil.

       A simple trefoil shape in itself can be symbolic of the Trinity,
 while a trefoil combined with an equilateral triangle was also
 a moderately common symbol of the Christian Trinity
during the late Middle Ages in some parts of Europe.

Scripture Reference for The Trinity Symbol With Dove:

• "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."John 14:26 (ESV)
• "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 (NIV)
  

Above and below, more Trefoil Triangle verions.

Trinity Emblems With The Name of God in Hebrew

 

       These Trinity symbols share three similar elements: divergent rays, simple triangles, and Hebrew text of God's Name. During the late 1800s through WWI times, it was usually to be seen painted over the altars In our churches, particularly in the classic ones built during the former two centuries, either encircled with divergent rays  or surrounded by clouds to give It prominence and effect. The inscription at the center of the triangle is the name of God or Jehovah, written in Hebrew characters.  The circle of rays may be accepted as symbolic of eternity; but when the idea of eternal existence is  desired to be distinctly expressed, a circle should be described around the emblem or a circular shape of rays, indicative of glory and brightness, may be placed around the triangle if considered desirable.

Scripture Resources for The Trinity Emblem in Hebrew:

• Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
• And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Genesis 3:22 (NIV)
• " Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." Genesis 11:7 (NIV)
• And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Let me announce the decree of the LORD that he told me: "You are my son, today I have become your father. Psalm 2:6,7 (ISV)
• For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. Isaiah 54:5 (ESV) (Maker from the Hebrew is plural.)
• "Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen." And now the Sovereign LORD and his Spirit have sent me with this message. This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow." Isaiah 48:16,17 (NLT) (three persons in reference)

 More About The Trinity:

• Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Found in the Old Testament? 
• Trinity: plural references to God in the Old Testament
• The Trinity in the Old Testament: A Canonical Approach
• What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?

Early Trinity Symbols in Chrismons

A Trine Compass, described by Chaucer.

       Triangle is said to be the oldest symbol to represent the Trinity. The importance of the Triangle as a Christian symbol is perhaps not fully realized, let the value of its significance be impressed by quoting from an authority in art. "Triangle. An equilateral triangle is a symbol of the Holy Trinity, and many figures in Christian ornament are constructed on this principle, as types of that mystery. The equilateral triangle is found in the most beautiful arches, in the proportions of the churches themselves, and next to the cross, is the most important form in Christian design." Fairholt's Dictionary of terms in Art
       The Circle is so well known as a symbol of eternity, or expressing that which has neither beginning nor ending, that its presence with the triangle seems to need no explanation.
       One form "apt and venerable" the trine compass (as it was called by Chaucer), or a circle inscribed within an equilateral triangle: denoting the co-equality and co-eternity of the three divine persons in the ever blessed and undivided Trinity" During the first eight centuries of Christian art, the use of the Triangle was not well developed. In that period the three persons of the Trinity were represented in art, but separately. The first time they seem to have been placed together, was in the fourth century, and that representation consisted of "the Hand, the Lamb, and the Dove, " which is said no longer to exist. There is instanced a drawing of a triangle on one of the grave-stones in the Catacombs, in which the monogram of the name of Christ is placed. Elizabeth Clifford Neff

• Scriptural References for The Holy Trinity here

A Shamrock Chrismon Symbol

       Trefoil (from Latin trifolium, "three-leaved plant", French trèfle, Italian trifoglio, German Dreiblatt and Dreiblattbogen, Dutch klaver, "clover", same as clubs) is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism. The term is also applied to other symbols of three-fold shape.

       Traditionally, shamrock is said to have been used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity when Christianizing Ireland in the 5th century. The first evidence of a link between St Patrick and the shamrock appears in 1675 on the St Patrick's Coppers or Halpennies. These appear to show a figure of St Patrick preaching to a crowd while holding a shamrock, presumably to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple deities, which could have aided St Patrick in his evangelization efforts. Patricia Monaghan states that "There is no evidence that the clover or wood sorrel (both of which are called shamrocks) were sacred to the Celts". However, Jack Santino speculates that "The shamrock was probably associated with the earth and assumed by the druids to be symbolic of the regenerative powers of nature ... Nevertheless, the shamrock, whatever its history as a folk symbol, today has its meaning in a Christian context. Pictures of Saint Patrick depict him driving the snakes out of Ireland with a cross in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other." Roger Homan writes, "We can perhaps see St Patrick drawing upon the visual concept of the triskele when he uses the shamrock to explain the Trinity".

       The first written mention of the link does not appear until 1681, in the account of Thomas Dineley, an English traveller to Ireland. Dineley writes:

"The 17th day of March yeerly is St Patricks, an immoveable feast, when ye Irish of all stations and condicions were crosses in their hatts, some of pinns, some of green ribbon, and the vulgar superstitiously wear shamroges, 3 leav'd grass, which they likewise eat (they say) to cause a sweet breath."

       There is nothing in Dineley's account of the legend of St. Patrick using the shamrock to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and this story does not appear in writing anywhere until a 1726 work by the botanist Caleb Threlkeld. Threlkeld identifies the shamrock as White Field Clover (Trifolium pratense album ) and comments rather acerbically on the custom of wearing the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day:

"This plant is worn by the people in their hats upon the 17. Day of March yearly, (which is called St. Patrick's Day.) It being a current tradition, that by this Three Leafed Grass, he emblematically set forth to them the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. However that be, when they wet their Seamar-oge, they often commit excess in liquor, which is not a right keeping of a day to the Lord; error generally leading to debauchery."

• Scriptural References for The Holy Trinity here

St. Patrick's Shamrock Symbol.

The Trinity Fish Symbols

       This trinity fish symbol is very old and not in common use anymore, except for it's use on Chrismon trees. This is because Chrismon trees depict the histories of many people.

       Some sources say that the converted Celtic Christians used this symbol prior to becoming Christians and then transferred it to Trinity worship because it represented the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit so perfectly. 

       Symbolic language in ancient times did change throughout history. Just as meanings attached to much of our own vocabulary changes over time. This is not a strange phenomena, in fact, it happens all of the time. In order to correctly establish meanings behind symbols, one should contextualize them for the time, place and their use by the people who used them. 

       The Lord brought many gentiles into his church and with this gift came much cultural heritage. This does not mean that every symbol that has former history must be eliminated from our memory. It does require, however, that that history be understood, taught and valuable lessons be learned from it.

• Scriptural References for The Holy Trinity here

       Above and below two more variations of Trinity Fish for visitors to use in Chrismon crafts.

Trinity ring symbols from the catacombs...

Above is the oldest, known symbol depicting the Holy Trinity by Christians in Rome. It was discovered in the catacombs.

       The first place to be referred to as catacombs was the system of underground tombs between the 2nd and 3rd milestones of the Appian Way in Rome, where the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul, among others, were said to have been buried. The name of that place in late Latin was catacombae, a word of obscure origin, possibly deriving from a proper name, or else a corruption of the Latin phrase cata tumbas, "among the tombs". The word referred originally only to the Roman catacombs, but was extended by 1836 to refer to any subterranean receptacle of the dead, as in the 18th-century Paris catacombs. All Roman catacombs were located outside city walls since it was illegal to bury a dead body within the city, providing "a place…where martyrs tombs could be openly marked" and commemorative services and feasts held safely on sacred days. Read more...

Catacombs are human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Above and below are Holy Trinity symbols found in the Roman catacombs made by early Christians. The symbol directly above was labeled "passim".

Scriptural References for The Above Trinity Rings:

• "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
• "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)
• "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

Three Rings Represent The Trinity

This symbol "is dogmatic, reverent, and in every sense unobjectionable.  From unity as the centre, Trinity springs, yet the centre of unity is only found by the conjunction of the Trinity." Didron gives this as from a French Miniature of the thirteenth century.

• The Trinity Symbols by E. Goldsmith
• See also Holy Trinity Clip Art (Christian Symbolism)
• Scripture References for The Holy Trinity Symbol

       "Advent in the church is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is the beginning of the Christian year and starts four Sundays before Christmas, December 25th. This year, Advent begins on November 30th. As part of the preparation, the church decorates for the celebration. A Christmas Tree is decorated with Chrismons. Chrismons are Christmas decorations with Christian symbols on them or made in the shape of Christian symbols. Some common shapes are..." (press video to read more)

Three-In-One, Holy Trinity Circles
simpler version