Banbury, England ~ February 15, 2010
OF YOUR CHARITY
PRAY
FOR THE SOUL OF
THE VERY REV. GEORGE ABRAHAM
BRABAZON V.P.
FOR 32 YEARS PRIEST OF THIS MISSION
WHO DIED JULY 15TH 1929
AGED 60 YEARS
If anyone knows about the interwoven "S" symbol, please give us a clue! It was on a number of the markers, or at least more than one.
February 28: Several of you found helpful information.
Renee said, "It's actually three letters: I, H and S. And it is Latin for "In hoc signo vince” or in English, “In this sign you shall conquer.”
Francisca sent this link:
http://newenglandoddities.com/2008/06/02/headstone-symbols-in-hoc-signo-vince/
VP gave us this link:
http://www.christiansymbols.net/
And
Stan Hollenbeck sent a long, descriptive e-mail:
I am assuming that this was an Roman Catholic Church graveyard and believe the symbol to be a graphic representation of the christogram "In Hoc Signo".
Legend has it that the Emporer Constantine was marching with his army when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "εν τούτῳ νίκα" ("by this, be victorious!", often rendered in Latin as In hoc signo vinces) and decided it meant he must convert to Christianity. In Hoc Signo (IHS) became a common symbol for Roman Catholics and remains so to this day. I've attached a jpeg of a simpler but similarly themed grave marker.
The ribbon-like details are a part of the clerical vestment known as the stole, called a epitrachilion in Orthodox churches, which is a long, narrow garment that is worn around the neck so that it hangs down in front of the wearer’s legs, ending below the knees. They came into the church, probably as a cloth that the celebrant could use to clean the Communion ware as part of the service, and for that reason, the stole became a Eucharistic garment.
The four interlaced stoles form an I-H-S and probably indicate that those who lie beneath the marker were clergy of the Roman Catholic faith.
Thanks to all of you - we've learned something!
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