All for ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ sake

After a kindly older italian gentleman gave me a ride to the catacombs, I wandered around the grounds, seeing the beautiful landscaped grassy knoll, bought a couple of postcards, and waited for a guided tour to begin.

We gathered around our guide, who taught us about the symbols we would see in the catacombs, the reason the catacombs existed in the 1st century, and their discovery and excavation by Giovanni Battista de Rossi in the late 1800's. My favorite symbol being the Chi Rho - Formed by superimposing the first two letters of the Greek word 'ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ' meaning "Christ". In another superimposed symbol was 'MTP' in Greek letters which meant 'martyr'. Seeing that in person really hits you in the gut. I know there were martyrs in the past and continue to be today, but somehow it became a much bigger reality when it's branded on the tombstone in front of you. This Christian died for the same Jesus that I sometimes forget to live my life for. Humbling.

My own photo of a catacomb Chi Rho

The catacombs (meaning a "place of rest" as opposed to the typical burial grounds 'necropolis' meaning "city of the dead") were formed in the first century when Christians who had private lands offered their lands for Christian burials for those who didn't have enough money for other kinds. During the following centuries, they were taken over by the Church of Rome, considered Shrines, abandoned, damaged, discovered and excavated, and grave dug.

The tunnels with graves on the sides

When walking along those tunnels (which are quite extensive and glad we had a guide so as not to get lost in the labyrinth), I was brought to tears a couple of times. It's amazing to realize that I was walking where 1st century Christians walked. Where those persecuted and martyred were laid to rest. Where more than 1/2 a million Christians' bodies once were. Walking in those tunnels with Christian's tombs within inches on either side of me, I know that I will see those buried there in Heaven. I am part of that vast family of those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. How great our God is and how wonderful Jesus' death means for us.

They lived their lives for the sake of ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. And they died for the same.

~Elizabeth 

"Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." ~Isaiah 53:1-12