Your Question: What do the letters on either side of the cross at St. Hedwig's mean?

The letters on the horizontal bar of the cross at St. Hedwig’s are Greek letters that are often used in Eastern Christian icons and writings. On the left side are the letters ICXC. This is what we call a Christogram—a collection of letters that are an abbreviation for the name Jesus Christ. So, ICXC simply means, “Jesus Christ.”

The letters themselves come from the Greek name for Jesus Christ, Isous Christos: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. This is written in our alphabet in this way: IHCOYC XPICTOC. We take the first and last letters of these words to make the Christogram, ICXC.

On the right side of the cross is the word NIKA. This means “conquer” or “victorious” in Greek. This reminds us of Christ’s victory over sin and death brought through his Cross and Resurrection.

So, together ICXC NIKA means, “Jesus Christ Conquers,” or “Jesus Christ Victorious.”

There is one more set of letters above Jesus on the cross at St. Hedwig: INRI. This is commonly seen on our crucifixes in the West, and is a abbreviation for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” as it is written in Latin: "Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm." This is the inscription that Pontius Pilate had placed above Jesus on the cross in John 19:19-22.