The Reredos

A reredos is an ornamental screen or wall that often forms the back of an altar in a church or cathedral.  The reredos that currently hangs here on the wall of the current church lounge originally formed the back of the altar and choir loft in the church which burned in 1967.  It was salvaged from the wreckage of the fire, and is displayed here.

The focal point of the screen is the cross; it reminds us that we are saved from a life of sin to a life more abundant through Christ. There are more than four hundred known forms of crosses with about fifty used in Christian symbolism. At the center of this cross is the Agnus Dei, or symbol of the Lamb of God carrying the banner of victory. 

John the Baptist first applied the term “Lamb of God” to Christ. In the churches of the Anglican Communion the prayer, “O• Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us,” is often sung as an anthem in the communion service.

The four ends of the Cross have circles, each containing a monogram. The circle is used as the symbol of eternity. It has no beginning and no ending. Within the top circle appear the Greek letters IHS, or often more accurately IHC; Iota Eta Sigma, from the word Jesus, IHCOYC. Some ascribe the Latin translation rather than the Greek, Iesus Hominum Salvator, “Jesus Savior of Men.” But it was not until the 15th Century that this was generally done. The Greek is the earlier translation.

The monogram at the bottom used the cross to form the letters INRI, which is an abbreviation for the Latin inscription placed above Christ while on the cross: “Jesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum,” translated as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” 

The right circle holds the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.”

The left circle has the Chi Rho, XP monogram, the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, XPICTOC.

Each of the Gospel writers, also known as the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are displayed in the four corners of the cross. Known as a tetramorph, the four winged creatures of the tetramorph also represent the four facets of Christ. Matthew is symbolized as a man, because his gospel narrative begins with a genealogy; Mark as a lion (or king), roaring in the desert with prophetic power; Luke as an ox, the  lowly servant;  and John as an eagle, flying heavenward like the divine Word.