Cordova an ancient city of Spain (called by the Romans Corduba), seat of a Roman Catholic bishop, and noted for its cathedral church, which is the most beautiful of all Spain.
1. A celebrated Synod of Cordova was held on occasion of the persecution of Spanish Christians from 850 to 859, during the caliphate of Abderrahman II († 852) and of Mohammed. The synod was called at the wish of Abderrahman, in order to enjoin moderation upon monks and others who craved martyrdom by provoking the Mohammedans. In accordance with this wish, the council, of which the metropolitan Hostegis of Malaga seems to have been the leading spirit, forbade self-sought martyrdom. This action met at once with a determined opposition on the part of the rigorists, who called the synod impium conciliabulum. The acts of the council are lost, as it soon came to be generally disowned by the Spanish Church.
2. The School of Cordova was one of the most celebrated literary institutions of the Arabs it Spain. It was founded about 980 by caliph Hakem II, and had the largest Arabic library in Spain, which, according to one, undoubtedly exaggerated, account, numbered as many as 600,000 volumes. The school of Cordova became in particular celebrated for the impulse which it gave to the study of the Aristotelian philosophy. One of the most celebrated professors of Cordova was Averrhoes (q.,v.). The conquest of Cordova by the Christians put an end to this school, as also to the flourishing Talmudic school of the same city. — Herzog, Real- Encyklopadie, s.v.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More