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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Early Christian symbol?	Claire	Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Question: Hello Br. Ignatius, I was told that the inverted 5-pointed star that Mormons have on their temples is an early Christian symbol, (5 points represent the 5 wounds of Jesus),and that it was used prior to Constantine. Constantine introduced the symbol of the cross from a vision he had. Also that on one side of the cross he had put a star. Is any of this true? I had never heard about the pentagram being used as a very early Christian symbol. I always understood that the lamb and fish were early symbols of Christianity. But stars? Were any type of stars used? (Not including the Jewish star of David) thanks and God bless you, from Claire
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Claire: I found a website you probably were reading about Mormons that claimed that the inverted 5-point star represents the 5 wounds of Christ. I have found a few other references on this too, but I cannot find any credible verification. Sometimes the 6-pointed Star of David is mistaken for the 5-point pentagram. The Inverted Triangles (the 6-point Star of David) was an early Christian symbol in the early Church -- the single Triangle as a symbol of the Trinity and the 6-point star a very ancient symbol of creation. This, I believe, was the primary star used as a symbol in the early Church. The pentagram is an ancient symbol dating back to more the 3500 B.C. According to Eliphas Levi, author of Les Mysteres de la Kabbale (Paris, 1939) the inverted 5-pointed star (pentagram) is a symbol of the infernal. Nevertheless the Church has co-opted pagan symbols and assigned Christian symbolism to them (i.e. the Cross, the Fish, the dove). The "5-pointed star" used by the early Christians is most likely the Star of Bethlehem. This is not a pentagram. The 5-pointed pentagram is draw within on single stroke making the five points. In any event, any Christian symbolism the early Christians may have assigned to the inverted pentagram, such symbolism is no longer used and hasn't been used at least since the early middle ages (1500 years ago) or earlier. But I think this is being mistaken for the 5-pointed Star of Bethlehem. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Early Christian symbol?

Claire

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Question:

Hello Br. Ignatius,

I was told that the inverted 5-pointed star that Mormons have on their temples is an early Christian symbol, (5 points represent the 5 wounds of Jesus),and that it was used prior to Constantine. Constantine introduced the symbol of the cross from a vision he had. Also that on one side of the cross he had put a star. Is any of this true?

I had never heard about the pentagram being used as a very early Christian symbol. I always understood that the lamb and fish were early symbols of Christianity. But stars? Were any type of stars used? (Not including the Jewish star of David)

thanks and God bless you,
from Claire

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Claire:

I found a website you probably were reading about Mormons that claimed that the inverted 5-point star represents the 5 wounds of Christ. I have found a few other references on this too, but I cannot find any credible verification.

Sometimes the 6-pointed Star of David is mistaken for the 5-point pentagram. The Inverted Triangles (the 6-point Star of David) was an early Christian symbol in the early Church -- the single Triangle as a symbol of the Trinity and the 6-point star a very ancient symbol of creation. This, I believe, was the primary star used as a symbol in the early Church.

The pentagram is an ancient symbol dating back to more the 3500 B.C. According to Eliphas Levi, author of Les Mysteres de la Kabbale (Paris, 1939) the inverted 5-pointed star (pentagram) is a symbol of the infernal.

Nevertheless the Church has co-opted pagan symbols and assigned Christian symbolism to them (i.e. the Cross, the Fish, the dove).

The "5-pointed star" used by the early Christians is most likely the Star of Bethlehem. This is not a pentagram. The 5-pointed pentagram is draw within on single stroke making the five points.

In any event, any Christian symbolism the early Christians may have assigned to the inverted pentagram, such symbolism is no longer used and hasn't been used at least since the early middle ages (1500 years ago) or earlier. But I think this is being mistaken for the 5-pointed Star of Bethlehem.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum