We are surrounded by symbols that communicate particular religious beliefs, political platforms, ideological positions, corporate identities, product trademarks, practical instructions, and so on. A single symbolic image may have different meanings. For example, an upside down cross could be used to represent an anti-Christian attitude. On the other hand, an upside down cross could represent the Holy Apostle Peter, who, when facing martyrdom in Rome because of His faith in Christ, requested in humility to be crucified upside down. St. Peter believed himself unworthy to die upright in the manner of His Master.
As Orthodox Christians, we have been given knowledge of the true God. We can take symbols from the world that have meant one thing and give that symbol new meaning informed by knowledge of the true God in order to communicate the Gospel and the fullness of Holy Tradition. Giving old symbols new meaning requires communication and education. Orthodox Christians must always guard against falling into syncretism, that is, attempting to integrate false ideas into the true teaching of Holy Tradition. Any former meaning that contradicts the Truth is thoroughly rejected, but positive aspects of the former meaning that are in harmony with the Orthodox Tradition may be kept.
In order to emphasize that an image is being used to represent an Orthodox meaning, a Cross, Chi Rho, or other traditional Orthodox sign may be integrated into the design to clarify the message.
The dragon and phoenix compliment each other as an image of harmony within Chinese culture, especially harmony between Emperor/Empress, husband/wife, and male/female. Whatever its historical or popular meaning today, we can use this image to remind us of the Orthodox Way.
Within the Church, the serpent-like dragon can be an image of the Devil, who is the Serpent in the Garden of Eden and the seven-headed Great Red Dragon of the Apocalypse. A dragon killed by a sword or spear may represent victory over the demonic powers and triumph over the passions of the soul through prayer and fasting. Significantly, the serpentine dragon can also represent the bronze serpent in the Old Testament, a sign of God’s healing power, and, most significantly, the Crucifixion of our Lord. Christ spoke of His death on the cross, saying,
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3.14-16).
In Greek mythology, the phoenix experiences rebirth after death. According to some stories, the bird combusts into fire, then rises to new life from its own ashes. For centuries, the phoenix has been recognized as a suitable symbol for the resurrection of Christ and, by extension, our general resurrection at the end of the age. We can certainly apply this meaning to the Chinese Phoenix (a Fenghuang to be more precise), even though this bird’s story is different according to traditional Chinese mythology.
Paired together, the dragon and phoenix can serve as a sign for the Orthodox Way, the path of bearing the Cross and living new life as children of the Resurrection. We should be reminded of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, the King of All, Who was lifted up on the Cross, died, was buried, and bodily rose from the grave to immortality for our salvation. By extension, of course, we should also be reminded of the love between a husband and wife, who each strive to put to death self-love in order to love the other so that they may more perfectly live as disciples of the Crucified, Resurrected Lord.
A belief within ancient Greek culture that the the peacock’s flesh did not decay after death provided early Orthodox Christians with another a sign of resurrection and immortality. The beautiful, bright plumage of the peacock, full of eyes like the Cherubim, may also serve as a sign of the Divine Mystery. Since the peacock has remained a familiar motif in Chinese culture, representing virtues and high status, this beautiful bird provides another image representing the Way of Christ.
In Chinese culture, the fish is a sign of good fortune. Since ancient times, Christians have used the fish to represent Christ Himself. The word for fish in Greek (ixthus) has been understood as an acronym for the phrase, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. So, a Chinese representation of a fish can remind us, not of good luck or material prosperity, but of the One who blesses us, pours out His Grace upon us, and provides us with everything we need for the good of our salvation. Since the fish represents Apostles as fishermen who fish for human beings, drawing them into the kingdom of God, the fish can also remind us of our work to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to bring people into the Church.
For Taoists, the taijitu (太极图), a circular black and white symbol, depicts the duality of complimentary opposites, yet an Orthodox Christian can simply be reminded to maintain proper harmony among the various aspects of your spiritual life, involving both body and soul, directed toward the true and living God.
Read: Numbers 21.6-9; John 3.14-16; Ezekiel 10; Luke 5.1-11; 9:12-17
Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees / Photos of dragon and phoenix with cross and chi rho copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees