IHS is a Christian emblem made from the first three Greek letters of Jesus’ name. It appears especially in Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and some other Protestant churches, often on an altar, sanctuary wall, stained-glass window, altar book, or vestment. The emblem points to Christ; it is not an acronym for an English phrase.
Where does the symbol IHS come from?
Written in Greek, Jesus’ name is ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Iēsous). IHS takes the first three letters, ΙΗΣ, and presents them in Latin-style capitals as I, H, and S. The S represents the Greek letter sigma. In this form, IHS is a shortened form of Jesus’ name, often called a Christogram.
The Greek abbreviation was later rendered with Latin letters as IHS. A familiar Latin interpretation, Iesus Hominum Salvator, means Jesus, Savior of humanity. It was offered as an explanation of the emblem in later Western Christian tradition, but it is not the original meaning encoded by the three Greek letters. For comparison, Chi-Rho is another Christogram, but it combines Greek letter shapes instead of spelling three letters in sequence.
What does IHS look like in church buildings?
The simplest form is three upright capital letters, often gilded, painted, carved, or embroidered. In a cross-and-IHS design, a vertical stroke rises from the H and horizontal arms extend from it, creating a cross above the letters. Three marks below the H may represent the nails of the Crucifixion. Other designs add Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
IHS can appear on an altar, a reredos (altar screen) or sanctuary wall, stained glass, processional cross, altar book, or vestments. It can be part of a larger emblem rather than stand alone. Although such a design often includes a cross, IHS is not a crucifix or another name for one; see the difference between a cross and a crucifix.
Which churches use IHS?
Roman Catholic churches commonly place IHS above the altar, including many churches with traditional or historic furnishings. It is also familiar in Anglican and Lutheran settings and appears in some other Protestant churches. Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches more often use ΙϹ ΧϹ (IC XC), a related Greek Christogram based on the first and last letters of Jesus’ name. IHS is not limited to one denomination or tied to one organization.
Common Catholic placements include an altar frontal (a cloth across the front of the altar), the cover of a missal or other liturgical book, or a priest’s vestments. In Anglican or Lutheran churches, IHS can be carved above the altar or worked into a window.
What should a first-time visitor notice?
Look above or behind the altar, on a processional cross, or in stained glass. IHS identifies the building with Jesus and, in many Christian settings, with Christ’s saving work. Seeing it does not call for a special gesture or response. During a service, you will usually see it as a visual emblem rather than hear it used as part of the spoken liturgy. People who refer to it in English usually say the three letters individually: I-H-S.