137+ Christian Religious Symbols: Crosses, Fish, Doves and More 

Christian religious symbols have been used for centuries to express faith, remember biblical events, and communicate important ideas in Christian art and worship. The cross, fish, Chi-Rho, Alpha and Omega, dove, anchor, and other symbols each have their own history and meaning.

This guide brings together the most useful information about Christian religious symbols in one place. You will find symbol names, meanings, old Christian symbols, copy-and-paste characters, tattoo ideas, clip art guidance, and examples of symbols from other religious traditions.

If you are researching Christianity, creating a religious design, looking for a Christian symbol to copy, or simply want to understand the meaning behind different signs, the sections below cover both familiar and less common Christian symbolism.

What are the 3 Main Symbols of Christianity

Christianity has many important symbols, so there is no universal rule that limits Christian symbolism to only three signs. However, the cross, Ichthys fish, and Chi-Rho are among the most recognizable historical Christian symbols.

The Cross ✝

The cross is the central visual symbol of Christianity for many Christians. It refers to the crucifixion of Jesus and is commonly used in churches, jewelry, artwork, books, tattoos, profiles, and religious decorations.

The Ichthys Fish

The fish is commonly called Ichthys, a Greek word meaning fish. It became an important early Christian symbol and is still used today in Christian artwork, car decals, jewelry, and digital designs.

The Chi-Rho ☧

The Chi-Rho is a Christogram made from the Greek letters Chi and Rho. These letters are associated with the beginning of the Greek word for Christ. It became an important Christian symbol in historical art and manuscripts.

Christian Symbols and Meanings

Christian symbols can represent Jesus, biblical teachings, Christian virtues, important events, or particular traditions. Their meaning may change slightly depending on historical and cultural context.

The cross is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. The fish is connected with early Christian identity. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and are used in Christian symbolism to express the beginning and the end.

The dove frequently appears in Christian art as an image associated with the Holy Spirit. The anchor has also appeared in early Christian visual culture and can represent hope. These meanings should be understood as common associations rather than fixed meanings for every use.

Images of Christianity Symbols With Names

Seeing a symbol beside its name makes it easier to identify different Christian designs. Some symbols have several visual variations, so the exact shape can depend on the artistic tradition.

Unicode officially names several cross characters, including LATIN CROSS (✝), ORTHODOX CROSS (☦), CHI RHO (☧), CROSS OF LORRAINE (☨), and CROSS OF JERUSALEM (☩). Unicode also lists several other Christian-related cross characters.

A text character is useful for websites, usernames, captions, and messages, while an image or vector file is usually better when you need an exact historical design.

Christianity Symbol Name

There is no single symbol that represents every Christian tradition. Instead, Christianity uses many symbols with individual names and histories.

Some common Christian symbol names include:

• Latin Cross — ✝
• Orthodox Cross — ☦
• Chi-Rho — ☧
• Cross of Lorraine — ☨
• Cross of Jerusalem — ☩
• Maltese Cross — ✠
• Ichthys — Christian fish symbol
• Crucifix — cross showing the figure of Jesus
• Alpha and Omega — Α Ω
• Celtic Cross — cross design associated with Celtic Christian art
• Anchor — historical Christian symbol associated with hope
• Good Shepherd — Christian artistic image associated with Christ

A useful distinction is that a crucifix is not simply another name for every cross. A crucifix specifically includes a representation of Jesus on the cross.

Unicode’s current character charts also distinguish between several visually related cross characters instead of treating them as one universal character.

Free Christian Symbols

If you need Christian symbols for a text message, social media profile, website, document, or simple design, these characters can be copied directly.

Christian Symbols To Copy

• ✝ — Latin Cross
• ✞ — Shadowed White Latin Cross
• ✟ — Outlined Latin Cross
• ✠ — Maltese Cross
• ☦ — Orthodox Cross
• ☧ — Chi-Rho
• ☨ — Cross of Lorraine
• ☩ — Cross of Jerusalem
• 🕊 — Dove
• Α — Greek Capital Alpha
• Ω — Greek Capital Omega

Unicode identifies ✝ as LATIN CROSS and ☦ as ORTHODOX CROSS. These are actual Unicode characters rather than made-up text symbols.

How To Use Christian Symbols

You can place a symbol:

• Before or after a name
• In a social media bio
• In a religious quote
• In a church announcement
• In a digital invitation
• In a personal message
• In a website heading
• In decorative text

Keep in mind that the appearance of a Unicode symbol depends on the font and device. If a character is not supported, it may appear as an empty box or a different-looking glyph.

Christian Religious Symbols and Their Meanings

Christian religious symbols often communicate ideas that would otherwise require a longer explanation. Here are some of the most useful examples.

Cross

✝ Cross — Represents Christianity and is strongly associated with the crucifixion of Jesus.

Crucifix

Crucifix — A cross displaying the body of Jesus. It is especially prominent in Catholic and some other Christian traditions.

Fish

Ichthys — The fish is associated with Jesus and early Christian identity. Its Greek name became closely connected with a Christian confession of faith.

Chi-Rho

☧ Chi-Rho — A Christogram formed from Greek letters associated with Christ. It is especially important in historical Christian art.

Alpha And Omega

Α Ω — Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Christian symbolism, they are associated with the beginning and the end.

Dove

🕊 Dove — Often used in Christian art to represent the Holy Spirit, particularly in imagery related to baptism.

Anchor

⚓ Anchor — An early Christian symbol commonly associated with hope. It could also visually suggest a cross.

Lamb

The lamb is connected with the Christian title Lamb of God and appears in Christian religious artwork.

The United Methodist Church’s explanation of Christian symbolism also identifies the Chi-Rho, Alpha and Omega, anchor, fish, cross, dove, pelican, and other images as Christian symbols.

Non-Judeo-Christian Religious Symbols

Non-Judeo-Christian religious symbols are symbols associated with religious traditions outside Judaism and Christianity. These traditions are diverse, and each symbol should be understood according to its own historical and cultural setting.

The phrase “non-Judeo-Christian” covers many different traditions, so these symbols should not be treated as one religious category. Unicode’s religious-symbol documentation separately identifies symbols associated with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hindu traditions, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other traditions.

Christian Religious Symbols Tattoos

Christian religious symbols are popular tattoo subjects because they can represent faith, remembrance, family traditions, personal beliefs, or an important life experience.

Common Christian tattoo ideas include:

• ✝ Cross — Simple and immediately recognizable.
• Crucifix — A more detailed representation of the crucifixion.
• Ichthys Fish — A smaller and less elaborate Christian design.
• ☧ Chi-Rho — A historical Christian symbol.
• Α Ω Alpha and Omega — A meaningful paired-letter design.
• Dove — Often associated with the Holy Spirit.
• Crown of Thorns — Connected with the Passion of Christ.
• Praying Hands — Common religious artwork, although not an ancient Christian symbol in the same way as the cross or Ichthys.

Before choosing a historical symbol for a tattoo, check its exact design and meaning. Crosses that look similar may belong to different traditions, and a modern decorative version may not have the same historical significance as the original symbol.

Christian Religious Symbols Clip Art

Christian clip art can be useful for church newsletters, Bible-study materials, worksheets, presentations, invitations, posters, websites, and religious event graphics.

Popular Christian clip-art subjects include:

• Crosses
• Churches
• Bibles
• Doves
• Fish
• Crucifixes
• Angels
• Praying hands
• Nativity scenes
• Alpha and Omega
• Chi-Rho symbols
• Decorative Christian borders

When using clip art, always check the license. The fact that an ancient religious symbol is old does not automatically mean that every modern illustration of it is free to use.

For simple digital text, Unicode characters such as ✝, ☦, and ☧ can be easier than downloading an image. For professional printing, however, a properly licensed vector graphic can provide greater control over size and appearance.

Non Christian Religious Symbols

Religious symbolism is found across many faiths and cultures. Some symbols are strongly associated with a particular tradition, while others have developed broader cultural meanings.

These symbols should not automatically be described as exact equivalents of Christian symbols. Their history, religious function, and modern usage can be very different.

Unicode’s current emoji documentation lists the Latin Cross and Orthodox Cross separately from symbols such as the Star of David, Wheel of Dharma, Om, Yin-Yang, Star and Crescent, and Khanda.

Old Christian Religious Symbols

Christian symbolism existed in many forms before and during the development of the familiar cross-centered visual language. Early Christian art used signs that could communicate faith, hope, identity, and biblical ideas.

Ichthys

The Ichthys fish is one of the best-known early Christian symbols. The Greek word for fish was used in Christian symbolism and became connected with a statement of belief about Jesus Christ.

Chi-Rho

The ☧ Chi-Rho is another important early Christian symbol. It combines Greek letters associated with the word Christ and appears in historical Christian art and manuscripts.

Alpha And Omega

The Α Ω combination became an important Christian motif. Alpha is the first Greek letter and Omega is the last, making them useful symbols for the idea of beginning and end.

Anchor

The anchor appears in early Christian visual culture and is commonly interpreted as a symbol of hope. Its shape could also resemble a cross, giving it an additional Christian association.

Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is a familiar Christian image connected with Jesus’ description as a shepherd caring for his sheep. Early Christian artists used shepherd imagery in religious art.

Peacock

The peacock appears in some historical Christian artwork and could be associated with immortality or resurrection. Its meaning depended on the artistic and cultural context.

Dove

The dove became an important Christian image, especially in representations associated with the Holy Spirit. It remains common in Christian paintings, logos, church materials, and religious decorations.

These older symbols demonstrate that Christian symbolism is broader than the cross alone. Historical Christian art includes monograms, animals, objects, letters, and biblical images, each carrying different associations.

FAQ

What is the most recognized Christian symbol?

The cross is the most widely recognized symbol associated with Christianity. It is used by many Christian traditions and is strongly connected with the crucifixion of Jesus.

What does the Christian fish symbol mean?

The Christian fish, commonly called Ichthys, is associated with Jesus Christ and early Christian identity. Its Greek name also became connected with a Christian statement of faith.

What is the difference between a cross and a crucifix?

A cross is a cross-shaped symbol, while a crucifix includes a representation of Jesus on the cross. Different Christian traditions use these forms in different ways.

Can I copy and paste Christian symbols?

Yes. Characters such as ✝, ✞, ✟, ☦, and ☧ can be copied and pasted into many digital applications when the character and font are supported.

Are all religious symbols Christian?

No. Religious symbols belong to many different traditions. Examples include the Star of David in Judaism, Om in Hindu traditions, the Wheel of Dharma in Buddhism, and the Khanda in Sikhism.

Conclusion

Christian religious symbols provide a visual language for expressing faith, remembering biblical events, and understanding Christian history. The cross, Ichthys, Chi-Rho, Alpha and Omega, dove, anchor, and other symbols each offer a different connection to Christian beliefs and traditions.

For everyday digital use, copy-and-paste symbols such as ✝, ☦, and ☧ are convenient. For tattoos, artwork, church materials, and historical projects, it is worth checking the exact form and background of the symbol before using it.

The most useful approach is to look at both the symbol and its context. A shape may have different meanings in different traditions, while some symbols have several historical interpretations. Understanding the name, history, and common meaning helps you use Christian religious symbols more accurately and respectfully.

Ethan Brooks

I’m Ethan Brooks, an American writer passionate about stories that explore modern life, relationships, ambition, and personal growth. I love creating characters who feel real and face challenges readers can recognize. Through my writing, I hope to entertain, inspire, and encourage readers to see everyday experiences from a different perspective.

Three Books:

The City Between Us
After the Last Goodbye
A Different Tomorrow