An ancient Runic cross of stone, 18 feet tall, dating from the 7th or 8th century, now in the church at Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. A portion of Cynewulf's poem, Dream of the Rood, in which the tree of the Cross is conceived of as telling its own story, is engraved upon it, and is said to be the earliest piece of written English extant. It was smashed in 1664, but restored in 1818 by Henry Duncan.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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