Christogram
Medium: Vintage hand carved Chi-Rho plaque by liturgical artist, Joseph Noe, 1800’s English Bible, antique wood cutting board, Nepalese Paper, Waxed Linen Thread, Ethiopian Coptic Stitching
Artist Statement: A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a religious symbol within the Christian Church. Christograms represent an effort to convey the profound teachings of Christianity in a concise way, which is closely associated with an understanding of Christ as the power of the Word.
The Chi-Rho (pronounced “KEE-roe”) is one of the earliest forms of a Christogram consisting of the intersection of the capital Greek letters Chi (Χ) and Rho (Ρ), which are the first two letters of “Christ” in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, Christos). The Chi-Rho can represent either Christ or Christian. It is also behind the practice of abbreviating ‘Christ’ in Christmas to ‘X’.
History has it that the symbol appeared to Constantine in a dream before he fought the Battle of the Milivian Bridge in 312 A.D. and he had it put on his soldiers’ shields. His army won the battle and subsequently, the deeply affected emperor legalized the religion of Christianity across the Roman Empire. Later, the symbol also appeared on the coins of Emperor Constantine and his successors.
28H X 18W X 5D
