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Slava Isusu Christu!

My parish had its semiannual food festival this past weekend and I was giving a few friends a tour of the church. We had a table set up outside the sanctuary with the liturgical vessels and what not and one of my friends noticed that on top of the asterisk was a triangle with an eye in the middle. Being the conspiracy theorist that he is, Freemasonry popped into his mind and out of his mouth. I'd like to give him some definitive answer other than that it's a Trinitarian symbol. It did seem a little weird to me to find this particular symbol on it, as it is definitely known to the average person as a Masonic one. Is this a common symbol to be found on an asterisk?

Thanks!

Mikey,

I know this symbol was popular in 19th-century Italy, as I noticed it in several Italian churches when I was there, mostly dating from that period.

Any EC use would certainly be an example of a "Latinization."


Peace,
Deacon Richard

"The All-Seeing Eye of God" is, in every case that I have witnessed, a Western symbol. It is not exclusively Masonic, however, and can be found in many Roman Catholic churches.

It appears in stained glass windows of two separate Roman churches in my hometown.

Just because a symbol's present in a Roman church doesn't mean it isn't exclusively masonic. There have been freemason priests, bishops, cardinals and, some even say, popes.

Alexis

I have seen the Christian symbol of the 'All Seeing Eye' in Orthodox churches.

All-Seeing Eye: The All-Seeing Eye of God looks out from the triangle, which represents the Trinity. This reminds us that God always watches over us in love (Ps. 33:18).

Dear Friends,

Many Christian symbols have been adopted by the Masons - through the Knights Templar.

The Cross in the Crown symbol, the Constantinian Cross with "In Hoc Signo Vinces" et al. are all part of Masonic symbolism.

Alex

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg had an iconostasis topped with an icon of the All Seeing Eye surrounded by Christmas type lights in their old church. I thought it was strange and asked about it and the priest informed me the iconostasis was originally from my Byzantine Catholic parish's first church!!!

Me too. Especially in the old Ukrainan Orthodox pioneer churches in Western Canada. And some churches are over 100 years old.

St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in Ambridge has a stained glass window of the "All Seeing Eye" in it's santuary. It came from the old church.

This is a symbol of some antiquity. Like many good Christian symbols it has also been used by an anti-Christian element.

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Another example would be the outfit of the KKK which is traditionally used by Catholic penitents. You can still see them in Spain during Holy week.

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