The Chrismon Tree
“CHRISMON” is a combination of parts of two words: Chris (for Christ) and Mon (for monogram). A Chrismon is just that – a monogram of Christ.
The Chrismon tree was developed by Frances Kipps Spencer, a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia in 1957. Since that beginning, they spread the idea to churches all around the globe, always with the same promise: that the symbols are never to be made for sale. A Chrismon tree is always a gift, and always a labor of love.
Chrismons are placed on an evergreen tree. Evergreen trees symbolize the eternal life which our savior has won for us. The lights inside the tree remind us of the Christ child, the light of the world. White, the liturgical color of Christmas, refers to our Lord’s purity and perfection, gold to his majesty and glory. Pearls represented the work of God.
Some Chrismons are simple copies of symbols of Christianity from its earliest days; others are new explanations of God’s never-changing presence in our ever-changing world; others are combinations of several elements, both old and new. We hope the guide below helps you understand the varied symbols on First Methodist’s Chrismon tree.
Our Chrismon tree was originally made in 1974 by The Fidelus Class. In 1982, responsibility of its maintenance was passed to The Pathfinders Class, who continued to add ornaments to the collection. In 1999, The Friendship Class began maintaining the tree, who made extensive repairs to the original ornaments, and then passed along responsibility to The Faith Journey Class in 2009, who takes care of it today.
Our thanks and gratitude go out to the hundreds of members who have worked to maintain this symbol of God’s power, faithfulness, and eternal love for all of creation.
May these symbols continually remind you of God’s Greatest Gift To Us All Jesus Christ.
Glossary of Chrismon Symbols
Click an item from the list of Chrismon symbols and you will be directed towards that symbol.
Children’s Corner
Hanging low on the tree, at eye-level to a child, you will find the Children’s Corner. At the center is a creche depicting Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. Surrounding this are Chrismons made of soft felt: a bell, a butterfly, a dove, a star, and various animals. These are all symbols a child can relate to.
It is always a treat to see the amusement in a child’s eye when they realize that, in order to see the baby Jesus, it is the grown-up who must kneel to look at the Holy infant.
Shepherd’s Crook with Alpha and Omega
Several symbols for our Lord are in this simple design. The Alpha and Omega on the shepherd’s crook show that this staff refers to eternal One, the Good Shepherd. The XP and the cross are also apparent. This symbol is also for the shepherds who visited the manager in Bethlehem.
John 10:11 | “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.
Jerusalem Cross
A symbol of the crusades, this cross was on the shields of the crusader kings of Jerusalem. Some suggest that the five crosses symbolize the five wounds of our Lord. Another interpretation: The four Tau crosses which make the center cross represent the Old Testament prophecies of a Savior. When the prophecies were fulfilled on a hill outside Jerusalem, our salvation was accomplished.
The Chi Rho (XP)
This symbol was widely used by the early church. In that day, the shame and pain of the cross was too immediate for most people to use the sign of the cross openly. Sometimes people say “Lets take the X out of Christmas!” This X, which is the Greek Chi, stood for Christmas for over a thousand years before the English language, of which the word Christ is a part, even began to develop.
Some versions of the Chi Rho include the symbols Alpha and Omega on them, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, suggesting the beginning and the end.
Iota Chi
The Iota (I) is the first letter of our Lord’s given name Jesus in Greek. The Chi (X) is the first letter of His Greek title Christ. When these two letters are superimposed, they become our Savior’s cipher, the symbolic interweaving of initials that some call a star.
Latin Cross With Alpha And Omega
While no one today truly knows the shape of the cross on which our Lord died, the church used this form, the Latin cross, most widely. Early Christians often combined the Alpha and Omega with the cross to declare the Savior’s divinity. Any cross, which has an upright that extends above the transverse beam and that is tall enough to make the leg longer that any other extension may be called a Latin cross.
Revelation 22:13 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”.
Three Entwined Circles
A symbol for the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons, each eternal, All One.
Epiphany Star And Rose
The symbolism of the rose is derived from Isaiah’s Prophecy of Zion’s glory.
Isaiah 35:1 | “The dessert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose”
Because some people interpret this as a messianic promise, the flower has come to symbolize the Messiah. In addition, the rose is widely used figure for our Lord’s mother, Mary. This association let to its also becoming a symbol for Christ’s human birth and his humanity. On the other hand, the star point to Jesus divinity (Matthew 2:2). “Epiphany” is derived from a Greek word that means the appearance or revelation of a God. The Epiphany star has five points; it specifically refers to the revelation or showing of our Savior as the Son of God. Thus a combination of the rose and five-point star in one design is a portrayal of the two natures of the Christ: He is true God, and he is true man.
Triquetra And Circle
The endless circle suggests eternity, God – the only eternal One, or eternal life with God. The triquetra, a complete figure which is composed of three separate and equal arches, symbolizes the one God who showed Himself to man in three separate and distinct Persons.
Serpent On A Tau Cross
This is a “type” of our Lord’s crucifixion, an Old Testament occurrence that parallels an event in Christ Jesus’ life.
John 3:14 | “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up”
Iota Eta Sigma (IHS) On A Greek Cross
This design employs the Iota Eta Sigma monogram. It is used here on a Greek cross suggesting the sacrifice that our Savior made for salvation.
Celtic Cross
The original meaning of this cross, so popular today, is lost in antiquity. Because centuries-old examples of this design are found in Ireland and on the Isle of Iona, it is also called the Irish cross and the Cross of Iona.
Triangle And Trefoil
Two geometric figures, a trefoil and an equilateral triangle, combine to define the Godhead. The triangle one of the oldest and most common symbols for the Triune, has three distinct parts united into a perfect whole. The trefoil, also of three equal parts, is modification of three interlaced circles that suggest the eternal nature of the three Persons.
Fish Bearing A Basket Of Bread
Because the fish was a popular symbol for our Lord, the early church used it in numerous ways to depict acts and attributes of the Savior. Since moderns are less accustomed to the use of a fish as the figure of Christ, their interpretation may be shallower. For most, a fish that carries a basket of bread evokes a recollection of Jesus’ miracles when He fed the multitudes.
Stylized Fish
IXOYX – The Greek word for fish. This is an acrostic for the Greek words meaning Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.
Early Christians used the fish widely as an easily made and recognized secret sign. During the times of the persecution of the church, Christians could find each other by using this simple password. To the outsider, the fish was a mere decoration; to the Christian, it was an affirmation of faith in the Christ.
Descending Dove
The dove is down descending through the nimbus (a cloud or radiance about the head of a divine or sacred sovereign) and its rays into the waters of the earth.
Matthew 3:16 | “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.”
Latin Cross Couped With Iota Eta Sigma (IHC) In Circle | Latin Cross Couped With Chi Rho (XP) In Circle | Latin Cross Couped With Alpha | Latin Cross With Omega
The basis of these designs is a Latin Cross – a cross on which the leg is longer than any other extension. Many variants of liturgical crosses developed during the Middle Ages as a means of identification. Although each design indicated a different family, all proclaim the supremacy of the cross.
Butterfly
The chrysalis stage of the butterfly, as it transforms from the pupa in the cocoon to the beautiful butterfly in flight reminds us of the resurrection of our Lord, and so has become a Christian symbol.
Philippians 3:20-21 | “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Crown Of Thorns
The crown of thrones is the symbol of our Lord’s passion and suffering, and the remembrance of his sacrifice.
Cross Of Victory
A cross supreme over the world, which is represented by the ball, symbolizes the triumph of the Savior over the sin of the world. The butterfly in flight reminds us of the resurrection of our Lord, and so has become a Christian symbol.
Eight-Pointed Star
The crossing lines reveal Chi’s, Rho’s and crosses to the initiate. When this design is used, one remembers that it was not always easy to be a Christian, not even in name only. In Christian symbolism, the eight-pointed star refers to regeneration through Holy Baptism.
Cross In Eternity
Once in history, God, through his Son, Jesus, made Himself known to man and provided for man’s eternal salvation. By the inspiration of the spirit of God, every person can walk with God eternally. Let men, women, children, let all believe and accept the one sacrifice that was made for all time.
Latin Cross
The cross is always a reminder of our Lord’s saving work for redeeming mankind though His sacrifice for our sins, by which we receive forgiveness and salvation.
Triad: White Fish
The triad is like an aura which encircles the blessed ones and sets them apart in spirit only. A fish in white is to suggest purity of our Savior, the Son.