VINTAGE Cross Alpha & Omega Chi Rho Fish Basilica MEDAL

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VINTAGE Cross Alpha & Omega Chi Rho Fish Basilica MEDAL

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Sold Date: 02/24/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

VINTAGE MEDAL CROSS ALPHA AND OMEGA CHI RHO AND FISH, ON THE BACK T ARE BASILICAS CHURCH OF SAINT PIETRO, BASILICA CHURCH SAINT GIOVANNI LATERNAO, BASILICA CHURCH SAINT PAOLO, BASILICA CHURCH SAINT MARIA MAGGIORE.

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Condition: PERFECT WITH DETAILS NOT BROKE

Form: HEART

measures crucifix : 7/8" inches x 1" 1/8 inches approx. The thickness is of 1/16 " inches all approx

Color: silver

Material: SILVER GERMAN, SILVER GERMAN IS CALLED ALPACA. ALPACA IS STERLING SILVER WITH OTHERS ALLOYS.

In Christian Usage

The manner of expressing God's eternity by means of the first and last letters of the alphabet seems to have passed from from the synagogue into the Church. In place of the Aleph and Thaw, the Alpha and Omega were substituted. But the substitution of the Greek letters for those of the Hebrew tongue inevitably caused a portion of the meaning and beauty in thus designating God to be lost. The Greek letters Alpha and Omega have no relation to the word Truth. Omega is not the last letter of the word aletheia (truth), as Thaw is of the word Emeth . The sacred and mystical word Truth , expressing in Hebrew, through its letters Aleph and Thaw, God's absolute and eternal being, had to be sacrificed. "Alpha-Omega" (and its Hebrew equivalent) signify an absolute plenitude, or perfection. It is a Jewish saying that the blessing on Israel in Lev., xxvi, 3-13, is complete because it begins with Aleph and ends with Thaw. Jehovah's absolute perfection is expressed in Is., xli, 4; xliv, 6, by the phrase, "I am the first and the last". Plato, "De Legibus", IV, 715, describes God in the same manner: archen te kai teleuten kai mesa ton onton apanton echon , and quotes this phrase as a palaios logos . Cf. also Josephus , C. Apion., II, xxiii. The phrase fitly expresses the idea that God is eternal, the beginning and end of all things. The fourth Gospel, after stating that the " Word was God ", says, "and the Word dwelt among us full of grace and truth". Grace stands for goodness. The phrase is identical with Exodus 34:6, "full of goodness and truth". We have the two great divine attributes, Truth and Goodness, assigned to Christ in all their fullness. What Moses has said of God , the Evangelist says of Christ. In the Apocalypse the "Alpha-Omega" taking the place of its Hebrew equivalent occur in the first chapter to designate God , i, 8; but in the last two chapters to designate Christ (Ap., xxi, 6; xxii, 13). It is an argument that its author believed in the divinity of Christ. In the earlier ages of the Church the Alpha and Omega were used as the monogram of Christ. These letters became His crest. The poet Prudentius says, "Alpha et Omega cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post future sunt" (Cathemer., 9, 11). The "Alpha-Omega" symbol was written under the arms of the cross within a circle or triangle. (Fig. 1) . Sometimes the Alpha is found on the right and the Omega on the left to indicate that in Christ the beginning and the end are joined into one. (Fig. 2) . This crest is found on the coins of the Emperor Constans and Constantius (Martigny, 458-459). (Fig. 3) . The early Christians had the two letters engraved on their signet rings [ Fig. 4 (Vigouroux, Biblical Lexicon)]. Sometimes the Alpha and the Omega are written in the Nimbus, or halo, of the Lamb; for instance, in the paintings of the Catacombs of Petrus and Marcellinus, third century. We further find these two letters in frescoes and mosaics of several ancient churches; for instance, in the chapel of St. Felicitas, and in San Marco in Rome; in the world-famed mosaics of Ravenna, in Galla Placidia, St. Crisologo, St. Vitale. In the course of time Alpha and Omega ceased to be used as the monogram of Christ for church paintings and ornaments. During the last centuries the letters I.H.S. (see ABBREVIATIONS, ECCLESIASTICAL) have completely taken their place. Recent...