The Chi Rho (☧, English pronunciation /ˈkaɪˈroʊ/; also known as chrismon[1]) is one of the earliest forms of the Christogram, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi and rho (ΧΡ)—of the Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (rom: Christos) in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi.[2]
The Chi-Rho symbol was used by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (r. 306–337 AD) as part of a military standard (vexillum). Constantine's standard was known as the Labarum. Early symbols similar to the Chi Rho were the Staurogram () and the IX monogram ().
In pre-Christian times, the Chi-Rho symbol was also used to mark a particularly valuable or relevant passage in the margin of a page, abbreviating chrēston (good).[3] Some coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes (r. 246–222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.[4]
Although formed of Greek characters, the device (or its separate parts) is frequently found serving as an abbreviation in Latin text, with endings added appropriate to a Latin noun, thus XPo, signifying Christo, "to Christ", the dative form of Christus,[5] or χρ̅icola, signifying Christicola, "Christian", in the Latin lyrics of Sumer is icumen in.
^From a supposed Middle Latin crismon), specifically applied to the "Chrismon of Saint Ambrose" in Milan Cathedral. Crismon (par les Bénédictins de St. Maur, 1733–1736), in: du Cange, et al., Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, ed. augm., Niort: L. Favre, 1883‑1887, t. 2, col. 621b. "CRISMON, Nota quæ in libro ex voluntate uniuscujusque ad aliquid notandum ponitur. Papias in MS. Bituric. Crismon vel Chrismon proprie est Monogramma Christi sic expressum ☧"; 1 chrismon (par les Bénédictins de St. Maur, 1733–1736), in: du Cange, et al., Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, ed. augm., Niort : L. Favre, 1883‑1887, t. 2, col. 318c Archived 2016-08-26 at the Wayback Machine.
^Steffler 2002, p. 66.
^Southern 2001, p. 281; Grant 1998, p. 142, citing Bruun, Studies in Constantinian Numismatics.
^von Reden 2007, p. 69: "The chi-rho series of Euergetes' reign had been the most extensive series of bronze coins ever minted, comprising eight denominations from 1 chalkous to 4 obols."
^For example as inscribed on the monumental brass of Thomas de Camoys, 1st Baron Camoys (d.1421) in St George's Church, Trotton, Sussex, England
letters—chi and rho (ΧΡ)—of the Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (rom: Christos) in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi. The Chi-Rho...
RhoChi (ΡΧ) is an international honor society for pharmaceutical sciences. It was founded on May 19, 1922, to "encourage high scholastic achievement...
Alpha ChiRho (ΑΧΡ), commonly known as Crows, Crow, or AXP, is a men's collegiate fraternity founded on June 4, 1895, at Trinity College in Hartford,...
Spearman's rho In options theory to represent the rate of change of a portfolio with respect to interest rates The letter rho overlaid with chi forms the Chi Rho...
the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, a christogram formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) – Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ)....
One of the oldest Christograms is the Chi-Rho (☧). It consists of the superimposed Greek letters chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ), which are the first two letters of...
This is a list of notable members of Alpha ChiRho. Bloomberg: "York Capital's Dinan Finds Value in Tel Aviv Funds, Tyco Duplex" By Richard Teitelbaum...
ChiRho Omicron (ΧΡΟ) is a Filipino-based fraternity founded in 1995 at California State University, Fresno. It has chartered ten chapters in California...
Greek letters chi and rho were normally used in medieval manuscripts to abbreviate the word Christ. In Insular Gospel books, the initial ChiRho monogram was...
before the war begins against Maxentius. He describes the sign as Chi (Χ) traversed by Rho (Ρ) to form ☧, representing the first two letters of the Greek...
Europe in the 5th and 6th centuries. The ChiRho is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ", meaning...
letters is used as a Christian symbol, and is often combined with the Cross, ChiRho or other Christian symbols. A (a) and Z (z) share the similarity with alpha...
Christian God. This was interpreted as a promise of victory if the sign of the ChiRho, the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek, was painted on the soldiers'...
Dartmouth. The second Phi Nu chapter of Alpha ChiRho is unrelated to the first chapter. The men of Alpha ChiRho again broke away from the national group...
Church of England, and Episcopalian liturgical use of various forms of chi-rho monogram. In English, "X" was first used as a scribal abbreviation for...
Lactantius's earlier text, involving the Greek letters rho (Ρ) and chi (Χ) ligatured as the chirho (☧), a monogram of Ancient Greek: χριστός, romanized: khrīstós...
appears from c. the 4th century, used as a monogramma Christi alongside the Chi-Rho and other variants, spreading to Western Europe in the 5th and 6th centuries...
the national fraternity, Alpha ChiRho. The house was located in the back of the present White Church. Alpha ChiRho flourished at Dartmouth for about...
Instead at first it was represented by symbolic depictions such as the ChiRho, the first two Greek letters of Christ, encircled by a wreath symbolizing...
This page is a list of chapters of the men's collegiate fraternity Alpha ChiRho. Active chapters are shown in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italics...
other four are relatively plain loop-in-loop chains, although one has a Chi-Rho symbol (☧) on the clasp, the only Christian element in the jewellery. Necklaces...
writers. Here Lactantius preserves the story of Constantine's vision of the ChiRho before his conversion to Christianity. The full text is found in only one...
popularized by the 1951 movie Quo Vadis. Christianity portal Awareness ribbon ChiRho and Labarum Depictions of Jesus Eagle catching Fish Ichthus Christian Fellowship...