The anchor cross may be referred to as the "Cross of Hope," a concept dating back to (and perhaps before)
Hebrews 6:19: "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." The use of the anchor as a symbol has been attributed to
Seleucus I. The symbol was then adopted by the Jews living in the
Seleucid Empire on their coinage. Therefore, the anchor as a symbol would have been widespread and familiar to early Christians. Inscriptions found in the
catacomb of St. Domitilla dating back to the 1st century CE use the anchor as a symbol. The anchor is thus one of the oldest symbols used in Christianity, and in this instance it is combined with the cross, representing Jesus.
Clement of Alexandria is said to have approved the use of the anchor as a symbol because of its use in scripture. Hebrews 6.19 ties the anchor to the concept of "hope," and thus Christians' hope of salvation through Christ. Missionaries of the
United Methodist Church wear the anchor cross as a reminder that their work should always be "anchored in faith, hope and love". The region of
Camargue in France created their own
symbol, made to represent the "" of herdsmen and fishermen, and the three
theological virtues of
Christianity. It has the same elements as an anchored cross: • a
cross anchory with the three
fleur-de-lis replaced by
camargue tridents representing Christian
faith; • an
anchor representing
hope; along with • the
heart of
The Three Marys representing
charity ==St. Clement's Cross==