1, 2. From medieval embroidery. 3. From painted glass Thaxted Church, Essex, 4,5. The mystical fish, from the catacombs at Rome. 6,7,8. Examples of the Libarum. or Cross of Constantine. O O One of these monograms was adopted by the Emperor Constantine, and displayed on his standardo. Another very common one is IHS, or IHC, forming the first three letters of the Name of Jesus in Greek; this is of very frequent occurrence on sacred embroidery, vessels or ornaments, and is also often met with in Churches on dripstone terminations, fonts, corbels, &c. They are all evidently of Greek, rather than of Latin origin, and their use continues to be more frequent in the Eastern than in the Western Church. The fish is also well known as an emblem of the name of Jesus from the Greek word IXOYƐ containing the initials of His name and titles, and the favourite form called Vesica Piscis is constantly met with in medieval decorations, &c. AUGUST 10. S. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr, A.D. 258. S. Laurence was by birth a Spaniard, and treasurer of the Church at Rome: : being Archdeacon to Pope Sixtus II. When that Bishop was killed by the soldiers of the Emperor Valerian, S. Laurence refusing to deliver up the Church treasure, which they imagined to be in his custody, was laid upon a gridiron and broiled to death over a fire. Emblems, a book and gridiron or iron bed, frequently very small and carried in the hand, or suspended from the neck, also sometimes he carries a • See Early Christian Symbols in Part III. H 2 M OF bag, in allusion to the treasure in his custody. He is always represented in the dress of a Deacon, and as a young man. This Saint has ever been famous throughout all Christendom, his heroic firmness and constancy under intense suffering caused him to be much honoured in medieval days. In England he is one of the most popular saints, about two hundred and fifty Churches being dedicated in his name, one to SS. George and Laurence, one to S. Laurence B 8. LAURENCE, from painted glass, Nettlestead Church, Kent. and All Saints, and one to SS. Mary and Laurence. The celebrated palace of the Escurial is dedicated in honour of this Saint. AUGUST 24. S. Bartholomew the Apostle, son of Tolmai, a family mentioned by Josephus; other accounts say the son of a husbandman. He preached the Gospel in Armenia, converted the Lycaonians, and afterwards visited the extreme confines of 8 Bartholomew India. Some authors assert that he was crucified, like S. Peter, with his head downwards; others however, with more probability, say that he was flayed alive by order of Astyages, King of Armenia. Many have supposed him to be the same as Nathaniel, since the Evangelists, who mention Bartholomew, say nothing of Nathaniel, and S. John, who mentions Nathaniel, takes no notice of Bartholomew. Emblem, a knife of peculiar shape, like a butcher's or flaying knife; sometimes he carries on his arm the skin of a man with the face attached to it, and frequently he has in one hand the Gospel of S. Matthew; about one hundred and fifty Churches in England are named in his honour. S. Bartholomew was the patron saint of the celebrated S. Guthlac, and therefore Croyland Abbey was dedicated in the joint honour of SS. Bartholomew and Guthlac. A curious custom connected with this dedication formerly prevailed at that abbey of presenting on this day (Aug. 24) small flaying knives to all the members of the community. In Callot's Images he is represented as tied to a wide cross. AUGUST 28. S. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, A.D. 430, was born at Togaste, a town in Numidia, in the year 354, his mother Monica being an earnest Christian, his father a pagan. He was possessed of great talents, but in his youth was of a very restless disposition and a great votary of pleasure. He early applied himself to the study of |
