Endnote 3 – The Staurogram

Other examples of this “visual culture” are the so-called nomina sacra. They included Theos (“God”), Kyrios (“Lord”), Iesous (“Jesus”) and Christos (“Christ”). By the Byzantine period, some 15 words were treated as nomina sacra. The nomina sacra were written in abbreviated form, but were intended to be read as if spelled fully. These abbreviations were apparently intended to set off these words visually from the surrounding text. There is no indication, however, that the nomina sacra were read out or pronounced in any different manner, or that there was any sort of reverential gesture used when these words were read out in worship services or privately.