Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Van Beneden, Pierre-Joseph Born at Mechlin, Belgium, 19 Dec., 1809; died at Louvain, 8 Jan., 1894. Educated for the medical profession, he was appointed curator of the natural history museum at the University of Louvain in 1831. Five years later he became professor of zoology and comparative anatomy in the Catholic University at Louvain. This … Continue reading “Van Beneden, Pierre-Joseph”

Van Beethoven, Ludwig Born at Bonn, probably on 16 December, 1770; died at Vienna, 26 March, 1827. The date of his birth has never been positively ascertained but is inferred from the fact that the baptismal registry of his parish church gives 17 December as the date of his baptism, and that it is customary … Continue reading “Van Beethoven, Ludwig”

Van Arsdale, Simeon a minister of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, was born in 1754. He was licensed in 1782, and preached at Readington, N.J., 178386. He was a powerful and polished preacher, ardent in piety, and untiring in all his pastoral labors, but was cut off in the very beginning of his ministry. He died … Continue reading “Van Arsdale, Simeon”

Van Arsdale, Melville a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., March 21,1845; embraced religion in his fourteenth year; studied at Thorntown Academy; served as a soldier in the Union army; and in 1867 entered the Upper Iowa Conference. Later he was transferred to the North-west Indiana Conference, wherein he labored but a … Continue reading “Van Arsdale, Melville”

Van Arsdale, Cornelius C., D.D a Reformed (Dutch) minister of the United States. He graduated at Rutgers College in 1828; and at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1831; supplied Central Church, Brooklyn, 1838-40; South Church, Brooklyn, 1840-41; First Church, Philadelphia, 1841-49; Greenwich Church, New York city, 1852-54. He died in 1856. His published works consist … Continue reading “Van Arsdale, Cornelius C., D.D”

Vampire vampr (, alukah): the Revised Version margin for horseleach (Pro 30:15) has vampire. See HORSELEACH. Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Vamis, or Vamacharis (left-hand worshippers), a Hindu sect who adopt a ritual contrary to what they dare publicly avow. They worship Devi, the Sakti of Siva (q.v.). The Sakti is personated by a naked female, to whom meat and wine are offered and then distributed among the attendants. Then follows the recitation of mantras and … Continue reading “Vamis, or Vamacharis”

Vamana the fifth avatar, or incarnation, of Vishnu, in which he appears as a dwarf. Bali was a powerful king who conquered Indra (q.v.), ruled over the three worlds, and filled the gods with dismay for their future prosperity. Even Vishnu could overcome him only by craft. While Bali was performing on an extraordinary scale … Continue reading “Vamana”

Valverde, Vincent de Born at Oropesa, Spain towards the close of the fifteenth century; d. at the Island of Puná, near Guayaquil, 31 Oct., 1541. He was the son of Francisco de Valverde and Ana Alvarez de Vallegada, and was related to many noble families, in particular, to that of Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru, … Continue reading “Valverde, Vincent de”

Valva and Sulmona, Dioceses of (VALVEN. ET SULMONEN.) Located in Italy; united aeque principaliter. Valva, a medieval castle belonging to the Bishop of Sulmona, Baron of Valva, is situated near the ancient Corfinium, chief town of the Peligni, A Samnite tribe. In the Social War it was the capital of the Italici, who called it … Continue reading “Valva and Sulmona, Dioceses of”