Showing posts with label Thorn representations in Chrismon ornaments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thorn representations in Chrismon ornaments. Show all posts

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Three Crown of Thorns Chrismon Patterns

Triclavianism is the belief that three nails were used to crucify Jesus Christ.
 The exact number of Holy Nails has been a matter of theological debate for centuries.
       The mocking of Jesus occurred several times, after his trial and before his crucifixion according to the canonical gospels of the New Testament. It is considered part of Jesus' passion.
       According to the gospel narratives, Jesus had predicted that he would be mocked (Matthew 20:19, Mark 10:34, and Luke 18:32). The mocking of Christ took place in three stages: immediately following his trial, immediately following his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, and when he was being crucified.
       The New Testament narratives of Jesus being mocked are filled with irony, while the mockery focuses on Jesus' prophetic and kingly roles.
       According to three of the canonical Gospels a woven crown of thorns was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. It was one of the instruments of the Passion, employed by Jesus' captors both to cause him pain and to mock his claim of authority. It is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew (27:29), Mark (15:17), and John (19:2, 5) and is often alluded to by the early Church Fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and others. Read more...
This Crown of Thorns is surrounded by a "sun halo." This type of halo is used on Chrismon trees as a symbolic reference to: the Deity of Christ who is the son of God. It is the appropriation of one symbol to contextualize another.
Read more about the "IHS" symbol for Christ here.
Scripture References for a Crown of Thorns Chrismon:
  • "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13 (NLT)
  • "And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains." Genesis 3:17-18 (NLT)
  • "But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." Hebrews 2:9 (NIV)
  • "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)
  • "And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands." John 19:2-5 (ESV)
  • "and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
     
    Matthew 27:29 (NIV)
Crown of thorns, Alpha and Omega plus the Chi Rho Chrismon Stencil.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

The Sacred Heart Symbols

       There are two Sacred Heart symbols here, on top is the symbol standing for Jesus. His heart is embraced by a thorny crown. This crown is an illusion to the crown of suffering worn by him during his humiliation before the cross. The flames coming from the heart symbolize Christ's passion for his people and The passion story relating to the last days of his life on Earth. 
       The sacred heart below belongs to Mary the mother of Jesus. We know this because of the lily that blooms through it's top and the crown of roses that encircle it's heart shape. Roses are often used in Christian symbolism to represent Mary. Lilies are symbolic of the Annunciation. Both symbols are distinct to Catholicism. 

The devotion to the Sacred Heart (also known as the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacratissimi Cordis Iesu in Latin) is one of the most widely practiced and well-known Roman Catholic devotions, taking Jesus Christ's physical heart as the representation of his divine love for humanity. Read more...
Scripture References for Sacred Heart Chrismons:
  • "As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
  • "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
  • Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
  • "Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart." Psalm 119:2 (NIV)