Shana Cross & Fish

The Heaven and Earth Collection is based on a simple design that combines two of the most sacred symbols of Christianity, the cross and the fish. When viewed from the front, the cross is clearly seen. When viewed from the side, the fish appears.

What are the origins of the fish as a symbol in Christianity?

The fish is a well recognized symbol to the followers of Jesus. In the Heaven and Earth Collection, it consists of two curved lines that resemble the image of a fish. The symbol is also known as an “Ichthys,” the root word from the Greek word for fish. IX?Y? is an acronym coming from the first letter of words that mean, “Jesus Christ God’s Son is the Savior.”

Those words are:

I – Iota or Iesous - Greek for Jesus
X – Chi or Christos - Greek for Christ
? – Theta or Theou - Greek for God
Y – Upsilon or Yios/Huios - Greek for Son
? – Sigma or Soter - Greek for Savior


One of the most notable references to fish is found in Matthew 4:19. Many of Jesus’ original disciples were fishermen by profession. According to the Gospel, Jesus told them that if they would follow Him, He would make them fishers of men. The symbolism to these fishermen represented their commission to bring souls into the knowledge and recognition of Jesus as their Savior. Spreading the good news of Jesus is at the very heart of the calling of all Christians still today.

There are other biblical scriptures that include fish such as the miracle Jesus performed by feeding five thousand listeners, when He multiplied a young boy’s “five small loaves and two fishes.” This story is told in all four Gospels, Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9 and John 6. The Jesus fish is a symbol that says, “With Jesus the Savior, all things are possible.”
 

We hope you will enjoy Heaven and Earth Collection, the symbol of the fish and the cross.