WHAT IS A CHRISMON
A chrismon is one of a number of Christian symbols intended to represent aspects of the person, life or ministry of Jesus Christ and the life, ministry or history of the Church through a single image, emblem or monogram. The term “chrismon” comes from the Latin phrase “Christi Monogramma”, meaning “monogram of Christ”. The literal monogram of Christ is made up of the Greeks letter X (“chi”) superimposed on P (“rho”), the first two letters of the word “Christ.” Chrismons can be found in all sizes, any sort of construction, and are used in numerous applications. Often, the P is formed to look like a shepherd’s crook, and the X like a cross, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of his flock, the Church. Perhaps most commonly, chrismons are used to adorn Christmas trees during Advent and Christmas, where they are made from various materials ranging from needlepoint to woodwork and metalwork. They can also be found as decorations in and outside of Christian church buildings and homes, and even found on gravestones and personal stationery.
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