posted 04-10-2001 12:29 PM            

Can anybody help me out as to what that means?

Glory to Jesus Christ!

posted 04-10-2001 12:42 PM            

I find the Byzantine traditions to be beautiful and full of meaning.

And a Blessed Easter to you as well.

posted 04-10-2001 12:42 PM               

"IC XC" are, in Greek, the first and last letters of "Jesus" and "Christ."

"Icyc Xpictoc" is "Jesus Christ" in Greek and this is an abbreviated version which has also been called the "Christogram."

The "Chi Ro" symbol with the "P" or Greek "R" over the "X" refers to the first two letters of "Christ" in Greek.

It has been said that St Ninian of Galloway and other Celtic Saints took the "Chi Ro" symbol and developed the Celtic Cross from it, but this is only one version of that Cross's origin.

The Christogram "IC XC" is always placed on Icons of Christ to indicate the Word of God.

The Christogram also marks Crosses worn by Christians, according to an ancient Canon, to "differentiate the Cross of Christ from that of others."

The Christogram is also used by Priests and Bishops to bless the people with their hands.

The clergy extend the forefinger to represent "I" and incline the middle finger to represent "C." Then they cross the thumb with the finger next to the middle one to make "X" and then incline the pinky finger for the final "C."

Formerly, only the Pope in the RC Church blessed with the Christogram. I do see RC priests use it in blessing today.

The Old Rite Orthodox Christians are said to use a form of the Christogram in blessing themselves, rather than the three-fingered Sign of the Cross.

But they join the thumb to the last two fingers by way of difference and use the Jesus Prayer, not the invocation of the Trinity, in crossing themselves.

A happy and Blessed Pascha!

posted 04-10-2001 12:44 PM               

Some words are commonly abbreviated. The convention when abbreviations are used is to place a slanted line over the abbreviation, so you can tell it's an abbreviation.

IC XC is an abbreviation for the Greek words IESOUS XHRISTOS (Jesus Christ). As has been pointed out, the Greek letter for "s" looks approximately like the latin letter "c".

posted 04-10-2001 12:47 PM               

Hmm, Alex, I've actually never seen that. What I've usually seen is the blessing with the hand straight up and all fingers aligned. Where have you seen the RC priests blessing with the Christogram?

posted 04-10-2001 01:41 PM               

I have seen the Christogram used by RC priests on TV - Mother Angelica's program included.

Also, I have seen this used by RC priests at Masses that I sometimes attend near my place of work or at the cottage.

There is a Ukrainian Bi-ritual Jesuit priest I met at the Martyrs' Shrine. He used the Christogram and he told me he not only uses it, he encourages his Jesuit colleagues to use it as well.

But, you are right, normally the whole hand is used by RC priests, God love them!

And you too!