Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Nazarius, John Paul Dominican theologian, b. in 1556 at Cremonia; d. in 1645 at Bologna. He entered the order at an early age in his native town and from the beginning was noted for his spirituality and love of study. It is most probable that he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Bologna. … Continue reading “Nazarius, John Paul”

Nazarius and Companions, Saint In the Roman Martyrology and that of Bede for 12 June mention is made of four Roman martyrs, Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, who suffered death under Diocletian. Their names were taken from the “Martyrologium Hieronyanum”, in the Berne MS. of which (ed. De Rossi-Duschesne, Acta SS., Nov. II [77] ) … Continue reading “Nazarius and Companions, Saint”

Nazarius and Celsus, Saints The only historical information which we possess regarding these two martyrs is the discovery of their bodies by St. Ambrose. Paulinus relates (Vita Ambrosii, xxxii-xxxiii) that Ambrose, at some time within the last three years of his life, after the death of the Emperor Theodosius (d. 395), discovered in a garden … Continue reading “Nazarius and Celsus, Saints”

NAZARITES Those under the ancient law who made a vow of observing as Samson and John the Baptist. The Nazarites engaged by a vow to abstain from wine and all intoxicating liquors; to let their hair grow without cutting or shaving; not to enter into any house that was polluted by having a dead corpse … Continue reading “Nazarites”

NAZARITE Under the ancient Hebrew law, a man or woman engaged by a vow to abstain from wine and all intoxicating liquors, and from the fruit of the vine in any form; to let the hair grow; not to enter any house polluted by having a dead body in it, nor to be present at … Continue reading “Nazarite”

Nazareth, Sisters of Charity of Founded Dec., 1812, by the Rev. B.J.M. David (see DIOCESE OF LOUISVILLE). Father David, while establishing his seminary on the farm of St. Thomas, near Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky, took charge of the missions among the surrounding Catholic population. Here he found children without instructors, sick, aged, and poor without … Continue reading “Nazareth, Sisters of Charity of”

NAZARETH A city of lower Galilee, about seventy miles north of Jerusalem, in the territory of the tribe of Zebulun. It was situated on the side of a hill overlooking a rich and beautiful valley, surrounded by hills, with a narrow outlet towards the south. At the mouth of this ravine the monks profess to … Continue reading “Nazareth”

NAZARENES Christians converted from Judaism, whose chief error consisted in defending the necessity or expediency of the works of the law, and who obstinately adhered to the practice of the Jewish ceremonies. The name of Nazarenes, at first, had nothing odious in it, and it was often given to the first Christians. The fathers frequently … Continue reading “Nazarenes”

Nazarene, Church of the Formerly Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene A religious movement which began in the United States towards the close of the 19th century , in New England, in New York City, and in Los Angeles, California. The founders were dissenters from the Methodist churches because they believed that full liberty to emphasize … Continue reading “Nazarene, Church of the”

NAZARENE An epithet applied to Christ, and usually translated “of Nazareth,” as in Mat 21:11 Mal 2:22 4:10. It was foretold in prophecy, Psa 22:7,8 Isa 53:2, that the Messiah should be despised and rejected of men; and this epithet, which came to be used as a term of reproach, showed the truth of these … Continue reading “NAZARENE”