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Firefighter

FIREFIGHTER (MALTESE CROSS WITH FIREFIGHTER EQUIPMENT) - The Maltese Cross is derived from the emblem of the medieval military order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitaller who originally ran a hospital in Jerusalem for pilgrims to the Holy Land and then became their protectors.  There is a popular story concerning the connection between the Knights of Malta and fire fighters: The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem (later known as the Knights of Malta) fought in the First Crusade against the Saracen.

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Agnus Dei

AGNUS DEI - Symbol for the Lamb of God (Greek: Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Amnos tou Theou; Latin: Agnus Dei) is a title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

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Cross, Celtic or Irish

CELTIC OR IRISH CROSS - Episcopalians call this the Celtic Cross, while Catholics call it the Irish Cross.  Often used to denote the graves of Monks or Priests.  The Celtic cross is a symbol used today in many contexts, both religious and secular. The Celtic cross is like a traditional cross but with a ring around the intersection of the stem and arms. The whole cross is often decorated with ornate Gaelic patterns. Sometimes the Celtic cross is set on a tall base to resemble more closely the traditional Christian cross, and at other times the symbol stands alone.

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Compass & Square (Masonic)

COMPASS & SQUARE (MASONIC) - The Square and Compasses (or, more correctly, a square and a set of compasses joined together) is the single most identifiable symbol of Freemasonry.  Both the square and compasses are architect's tools and are used in Masonic ritual as emblems to teach symbolic lessons.  Due to slight Masonic jurisdictional differences around the world, this symbol does not always look exactly the same to all Freemasons.  Some jurisdictions call this symbol the Square and Compass, (non-plural) and a few jurisdictions omit the "G" at its center.

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Corn

CORN - Represents Rebirth and Fertility.  Also associated with the graves of farmers.

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Column, Broken

BROKEN COLUMN - Represents Loss of a family member; the draped column symbolizes mourning of that family member.  The draped or broken column also represents the "break" made by the deceased between the living and the dead, i.e., the transition between this world and your heavenly home. 

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Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century

COLONIAL DAUGHTERS OF THE 17TH CENTURY - An organization for women who descended from an ancestor who rendered service in the Colonial Wars from 1607 to 1699.

Hands, Kohanim (Cohanim)

KOHANIM (COHANIM) HANDS - Hands with thumbs (and sometimes forefingers) joined.  On Jewish tombstones you will sometimes see a symbol showing two hands arranged for the Priestly Blessing like the example here. This is a symbol of the Kohen or Cohen (Hebrew for priest). The plural form is Kohanim or Cohanim.  Kohanim are assumed to be direct male descendants of Aaron, who was the first Kohen and the brother of Moses.

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Child, Sleeping

SLEEPING CHILD - Children represent the untimely death of the innocent. A child sleeping is the tie between life and death; children are purity and innocence so they are shown as not dead but sleeping.

 

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Chi Rho

CHI RHO - The first two letters, X (Chi) and P (Rho) in the Greek alphabet.  A monogram of chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ) as the first two letters of Greek (Khristos or Christ) used as a Christian symbol.  Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the authority of Jesus, as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.

 

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