I was in a catholic church here in Italy what does this mean?

Question

On top of this thing it had the letters IHS on it, I believe that is correct what does that mean?

No it was IHS, I promise you that. Here is the real answer. Even the IHS imprint, according to Hislop, would have been interpreted by the pagan Egyptian to represent his chief deities, Isis, Horus and Seb. Go to this website to find out more http://www.chick.com/bc/1998/priestcraft.asp

Answer 1

Jesus Christ in Greek is ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ and written in the English alphabet is "IHCOYC XPICTOC" or "IHSOYS XPISTOS"

Starting in the third century the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus, were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as:

+ Jesus +
IH (iota eta)
IC (iota sigma) (first and last letter)
IHC (iota eta sigma)
IHS (iota eta sigma)
JH (iota eta)
JC (iota sigma)
JHC (iota eta sigma)
JHS (iota eta sigma)

+ Christ +
XP (chi ro)
XC (chi sigma) (first and last letter)
XPC (chi rho sigma)
XPS (chi rho sigma)

+ Jesus Christ +
IX
IC XC
IHS XPS
JX
JC XC
JHS XPS

The Greek letter sigma has been translated as both "C" and "S"
The Greek letter iota has been translated as both "I" and "J"

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

IHS is the anglicized rendering of the first three Greek letters in Jesus' name. In the early Church, especially during the time of Roman persecution, this became a popular way of writing Jesus' name as a sort of code. Since then it has become a universally-used insignia and shows up on all types of Catholic religious art and accoutrements.

Answer 3

Father Onesimus is correct. Another similar symbol is IHC, which is seen more often in Orthodox and Lutheran Churches and occasionally in Roman Churches as well. My Greek is bad, but I understand this is a short form of the Greek word for fish, which was symbolic of Christ in the early Church.

Father One. may be able to expand on this a bit.

Mark

Answer 4

It is an abbreviation for the name of Jesus in Greek. Although it looks like the letters of the Roman alphabet "IHS" it is actually the letters of the Greek Alphabet "iota-eta-sigma"--Greek, being the language of the Gospels and the other books of the Christian Bible, was the original language of the institutional church. You might also notice what looks like a "X-P" which is actually another Greek abbreviation--it is the 1st 2 letters of "Christ" in Greek "chi-rho"

Answer 5

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07649a.htm

A monogram of the name of Jesus Christ. From the third century the names of our Saviour are sometimes shortened, particularly in Christian inscriptions (IH and XP, for Jesus and Christus). In the next century the "sigla" (chi-rho) occurs not only as an abbreviation but also as a symbol. From the beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos.

Answer 6

Don't believed anything you see in the net. I can even make wrong information and put in google directly. For centuries protestant and other sects have been directly and indirectly assault Catholic but the Church itself stand still and become stronger. They are just trying to convert people and in doing these they will assault the church make the people believed from it.

Answer 7

a quick search and I found it

From the beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos.

Answer 8

Nice try. Had you left out the Chick tract reference, you might have had a credible question.

When you get to the part in "Death Cookie" where it says "IHS" is stamped on our Communion wafers, I can save you the five points for posting about it.

It's not.

Answer 9

Pangel and misty have the right answer. Though, Father Onesimus' answer is good, and historically accurate, liturgically, it's a monogram.

Answer 10

Not a sincere question. You lready had an answer in mind, which is a lie and slander against the Catholic Church.

you have been reported.

Have a nice day.