Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Holy Innocents

(Encyclopedia)Holy Innocents, in the New Testament, children of Bethlehem “from two years old and under,” killed by the order of Herod the Great in the attempt to destroy the infant Jesus. The Innocents have be...

Carco, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Carco, Francis fräNsēsˈ kärkōˈ [key], 1886–1958, French poet and novelist, b. New Caledonia of Corsican parents. His real name was François Carcopino. The bohemian Parisian life he cherished ...

crucifixion

(Encyclopedia)crucifixion, hanging on a cross, in ancient times a method of capital punishment. It was practiced widely in the Middle East but not by the Greeks. The Romans, who may have borrowed it from Carthage, ...

Bernardine of Siena, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Bernardine of Siena, Saint bûrˈnərdĭn, sēĕnˈə [key], 1380–1444, Italian preacher. He was a Franciscan of the Observant congregation and one of the most effective and most widely known preach...

Rolle of Hampole, Richard

(Encyclopedia)Rolle of Hampole, Richard rōl [key], c.1300–c.1349, English religious writer, a Yorkshire hermit. He wrote mainly in Latin, but his English works are important for the history of the language. Some...

Bethabara

(Encyclopedia)Bethabara bĕthăbˈərə [key], place, on the Jordan, traditionally located at a ford just above the Dead Sea, where in the New Testament John was baptizing when Jesus came to him. RSV: Bethany, foll...

Crapsey, Algernon Sidney

(Encyclopedia)Crapsey, Algernon Sidney, 1847–1927, American Episcopal clergyman, b. Fairmont, Ohio. In 1879 he became rector of St. Andrew's Church, Rochester, N.Y., which under his administration was known for i...

Satterlee, Henry Yates

(Encyclopedia)Satterlee, Henry Yates, 1843–1908, American Episcopal bishop, b. New York City. In 1896 he was consecrated as the first bishop of the diocese of Washington, D.C. The National, or Washington, Cathedr...

Daughters of the American Revolution

(Encyclopedia)Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a Colonial patriotic society in the United States, open to women having one or more ancestors who aided the cause of the Revolution. The society was organiz...

Bliss, Philip Paul

(Encyclopedia)Bliss, Philip Paul, 1838–76, American evangelist and writer of gospel songs, b. Clearfield co., Pa. A fine baritone voice and a handsome presence aided him in his work, and his songs became tremendo...

Browse by Subject