What does xp stand for in the Christian faith?

Answer 1

The letters are not 'X' and 'P' but the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (p) which look very similar to the X and P of the English alphabet.

These letters are the first two letters of the word Christos (Christ) and so this symbol, with the X and P joined was one of the first Christian symbols, and, together with a Fish symbol was used, sometimes instead of a cross, as a secret symbol between two Christians so they could recognise each other secretly during times of persecution.

The @Chi-Rho' sign, as it is called, dates from the first century and can be seen scratched on the walls of the earliest catacombs in Rome along with fishes, crosses, and other Christian symbols such as anchors.

Incidentally, the word 'Xmas', often used instead of Christmas, should never be pronounced 'EX-mass' as the 'X' in this case is also a letter Chi, so that Xmas is a shortened form of Christmas and should be prounounced Christmas for that is what it is.