Coptic cross
Each line terminates in three points, representing the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Altogether, the cross has 12 points symbolizing the Apostles, whose mission was to spread the Gospel message throughout the world.
[citation needed] Bertran de la Farge dates it to the 4th century and cites it as a predecessor of the Occitan cross.
[4][better source needed] Old Coptic crosses often incorporate a circle,[5][better source needed] as in the form called a "Coptic cross" by Rudolf Koch in his The Book of Signs (1933).
[6] Many Copts have the cross tattooed as a sign of faith on the inside of their right arm at the wrist.
Coptic letters ( Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲪϮ ) are abbreviated nomina sacra for " Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ " ( Iêsous Piekhristos Epshêri Emefnouti ; Jesus Christ, Son of God )
