The Wide Appeal of Christian Tattoos

Because many of us still tend to associate tattoos with a disreputable, even vaguely criminal underclass, it may surprise you to realize that Christian tattoos are extremely popular. Yes, Christians do get tattoos – and for many of them, Christian tattoos represent a unique and personal way of keeping Christian iconography and religious imagery close at hand. Unlike the Jewish faith, Christianity does not have any rule or guideline against tattooing, except to caution young people to be modest with regard to the image they embody in the world. So, as long as it is tasteful and appropriate, a Christian tattoo is a powerful symbol that resonates with a lot of Christian youth.

The Christian Cross Tattoo

A Cross Tattoo

A great variety of Christian symbols have been turned into tattoo images – none more so than the cross. Christian tattoos depicting various forms of the cross are always plentiful; after all, this is the most apt and most recognizable Christian image of all. Some cross tattoos show Jesus on the cross, while others show the cross – often with realistic wood graining – with a crown of thorns hung over one arm. Other cross tattoos consist of crossed nails – big, rough looking nails like those that were used to hang Jesus on the cross.

Other popular cross images include the Celtic cross (probably one of the most popular Christian tattoos of all), the Russian cross, and the Egyptian ‘ankh’ – a cross with a circular shape on top, the ancient Egyptian symbol for ‘life’.

Other Christian Images

The Fish Symbol

Besides the cross, there are other Christian images that are often used in Christian tattoos. The fish symbol is a great example – based on various biblical references, a stylized fish symbol is often used as a symbol of Christ. This is a compact, but quite striking symbol that lends itself well to tattooing, especially in black.

Hispanic Christian Tattoos

Hispanic Christian tattoos – often gang related – are an intriguing sub-group. If you know anything about the culture, you won’t be too surprised to learn that most Mexicans and other Hispanic people, even if they are involved in gangs or other criminal activities, are deeply religious and rely on their Christian symbols to both identify and protect them. These Christian tattoos are rather more complex – many involve a tattooed image of a saint, Jesus, or the Virgin Mary. Hispanic tattoos often feature words, as well – usually a Bible verse, perhaps accompanied by a loved one’s name. Many Mexican gang members have multiple elaborate tattoos, allowing the individual to literally wear his identity and emotions on his skin, if not his sleeve!

Christian Religious Tattoos

In the 4th century AD, Saint Basil the Great, one of the most distinguished doctors of the Church, admonished the faithful: “No man shall let his hair grow long or tattoo himself as do the heathen, those apostles of Satan who make themselves despicable by indulging in lewd and lascivious thoughts. Do not associate with those who mark themselves with thorns and needles so that their blood flows to the earth. Guard yourselves against all unchaste persons, so that it cannot be said of you that in your hearts you lie with harlots”

An edict issued by the Council of Northumberland in 787 makes it clear that the Fathers of Church distinguished between profane tattoos and Christian tattoos. They wrote: “When an individual undergoes the ordeal of tattooing for the sake of God, he is greatly praised. But one who submits himself to be tattooed for superstitious reasons in the manner of the heathens will derive no benefit there from.” The heathen tattooing referred to by the Council was the traditional tattooing of the native Britons, which was still practiced at the time.

Medieval crusaders who reached the Holy Land had crosses tattooed on their arms as souvenirs of their travels, and it is likely the custom that continued throughout the Middle Ages.

One of the oldest souvenir religious tattoos is referenced in a manuscript written in 1612 by William Lithgow on writing about a pilgrimage to the Holy Land:

Early on the morrow there came a fellow to us, one Elias Areacheros, a Christian habitour at Bethlehem, and perveierfor the Friars; who did ingrave on our severall Armes upon Christ’s Sepulchur the name of Jesus, and the Holy Crosse; being our owne option, and desire; here is the Modell thereof. But I deciphered , and subjoined below mine, the four incorporate Crowns of King James, with this Inscription. In the lower circle of the Crowne, Viva Jacobus Rex; returning to the fellow two Piasters for his reward.

Several accounts of tattooing in Palestine can be found in travel journals of Christian pilgrims and the practice continued well into the twentieth century. In 1956, a professional tattooist, Jacob Razzouk was using tattoo designs carved on woodblocks that had been handed down from father to son in his family since the seventeenth century. The blocks he used were copied and published in Carswell’s book Coptic Tattoo Designs, printed in a limited edition of 200 copies in 1956. The book contains reproductions of 184 prints together with descriptions of the traditions and symbolism associated with each design. There are only two definite dates in the collection of woodblocks and one is Armenian and dates to 1749 and the other is Resurrection one dating to 1912.