Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

nimbus (Latin: cloud) In Christian art, a glow or ornamental circle around the head of a saint, emblematic of his sanctity. Natural phenomena in the refraction of light may have suggested the symbolical nimbus. The pagans used a disc-shaped halo or circle of light for gods, heroes, and persons of distinction. In early Christian art … Continue reading “Nimbus”

Nimbarka An Indian thinker and theologian of the 12th century A.D., of Vedantic (q.v.), Vishnuite persuasion, who assumed the world and the human soul to be essentially and eternally different from Vishnu, yet constituting a certain unity with him because ofcomplete dependence. — K.F.L. Fuente: The Dictionary of Philosophy

Nilus the Younger Of Rossano, in Calabria; born in 910, died 27 December, 1005. For a time he was married (or lived unlawfully); he had a daughter. Sickness brought about his conversion, however, and from that time he became a monk and a propagator of the rule of St. Basil in Italy. He was known … Continue reading “Nilus the Younger”

Nilus, Saint (Neilos) Nilus the elder, of Sinai (died c. 430), was one of the many disciples and fervent defenders of St. John Chrysostom. We know him first as a layman, married, with two sons. At this time he was an officer at the Court of Constantinople, and is said to have been one of … Continue reading “Nilus, Saint”

Nilus Of Rhodes an Eastern prelate of note, flourished as metropolitan of Rhodeabout A.D. 1360, and was a native of Chios. He was the author of several works, of which the most important is a short history of the nine ecumenical councils, published by Justellus as an appendix to the Nomocanon of Photius (Paris, 1615, … Continue reading “Nilus Of Rhodes”

Nilus, an ascetic of Sinai Nilus (3), a famous ascetic of Sinai, probably born in Galatia, as he speaks of St. Plato martyr of Ancyra as his countryman. He became prefect at Constantinople, married, and had two children, when he determined c. 390 to retire to Sinai with his son Theodulus. His epistles are very … Continue reading “Nilus, an ascetic of Sinai”

Nilus the great river of Egypt, which even in the most ancient times received divine honors from the inhabitants of that country. This deity was more especially worshipped at Niopolis, where he had a temple. Herodotus mentions the priests of the Nile. Lucian says that its water was a common divinity to all of the … Continue reading “Nilus (3)”

Nilopolis A titular see and a suffragan of Oxyrynchos, in Egypt. According to Ptolemy (IV, v, 26) the city was situated on an island of the Nile in the Heraclean nome. Eusebius (“Hist. eccl.”, VI, xli) states that it had a bishop, Cheremon, during the persecution of Decius; others are mentioned a little later. “The … Continue reading “Nilopolis”

Niloa an anniversary festival among the ancient Egyptians in honor of the tutelar deity of the Nile. Heliodorus alleges it to have been one of the principal festivals of the Egyptians. Sir J. G. Wilkinson thus describes the Niloa: It took place about the summer solstice, when the river began to rise; and the anxiety … Continue reading “Niloa”

Nilles, Nikolaus Born 21 June, 1828, of a wealthy peasant family of Rippweiler, Luxemburg; died 31 January, 1907. After completing his gymnasium studies brilliantly, he went to Rome where from 1847 to 1853, as a student of the Collegium Germanicum, he laid the foundation of his ascetic life and, as a pupil of the Gregorian … Continue reading “Nilles, Nikolaus”