Early Christians used the fish symbol as a way to identify themselves as believers during times of persecution. The Greek word for "fish" (ΙΧΘΥΣ) contains the initials of the names and titles of Christ: Ι - Iasous = Jesus, Χ - Christos = Christ, Θ - Theos = God, Υ - Uios = Son, Σ - Soter = Savior