Ecclesia and Synagoga, or Ecclesia et Synagoga in Latin, meaning "Church and Synagogue", are a pair of figures personifying the Church and the Jewish synagogue, that is to say Judaism, found in medieval Christian art. They often appear sculpted as large figures on either side of a church portal, as in the most famous examples, those at Strasbourg Cathedral. They may also be found standing on either side of the cross in scenes of the Crucifixion, especially in Romanesque art, and less frequently in a variety of other contexts.[1]
The two female figures are usually young and attractive; Ecclesia is generally adorned with a crown, chalice and cross-topped staff, looking confidently forward. In contrast, Synagoga is blindfolded and drooping, carrying a broken lance (possibly an allusion to the Holy Lance that stabbed Christ) and the Tablets of the Law or Torah scrolls that may even be slipping from her hand.[2] The staff and spear may have pennants flying from them. In images of the Crucifixion, Ecclesia may hold a chalice that catches the blood spurting from the side of Christ; she often holds the chalice as an attribute in other contexts.[3] Attributes sometimes carried by Synagoga include a sheep or goat or just its head, signifying Old Testament sacrifice, in contrast to Ecclesia's chalice which represents the Christian Eucharist. If not blindfolded, Synagoga usually looks down.[4] Ecclesia has an earlier history, and in medieval art Synagoga occasionally appears alone in various contexts, but the pair, or Ecclesia by herself, are far more common. Further subjects where the pair may sometimes be found are the Tree of Jesse, and the Nativity.[5]
Tefillin (Askhenazic: /ˈtfɪlɪn/; Israeli Hebrew: [tfiˈlin], תְּפִלִּין or תְּפִילִּין) or phylacteries, is a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. Tefillin is worn by observant adult Jews during weekday morning prayers. In Orthodox communities, it is worn only by men, while in non-Orthodox communities, it may be worn by men and women.
Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form (the singular being "tefillah"), it is often used as a singular as well.[1] The arm-tefillah (or shel yad) is placed on the upper arm, and the strap wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers; while the head-tefillah (or shel rosh) is placed above the forehead. It is intended to fulfill the Torah's instructions to keep as a "sign" and "remembrance" of the Exodus, signifying that God brought the children of Israel out of Ancient Egypt.
Sadhu Sundar Singh
Jump to navigation Jump to search This article is about the Indian Christian, disciple of Christ.
Conversion to Christianity
Sundar felt that his religious pursuits and the questioning of Christian priests left him without ultimate meaning. Sundar resolved to kill himself by throwing himself upon a railroad track. He asked that whosoever is the 'True God' would appear before him, or else he would kill himself; that very night he had a vision of Jesus. Sundar announced to his father, Sher Singh, that henceforth he would get converted into the missionary work of Christ. His father officially rejected him, and his brother Rajender Singh attempted to poison him. He was poisoned not just once but a number of times. People of that area threw snakes in his house, but he was rescued from mistreatment by the help of a nearby British Christian.[5]
On his sixteenth birthday, he was publicly baptised as a Christian in the parish church in Simla,[4] in the Himalayan foothills. Prior to this he had been staying at the Christian Missionary Home at Sabathu, near Simla, serving the leprosy patients there.
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A Living Library of Jewish Texts ספרייה חיה של טקסטים יהודיים
https://www.sefaria.org/
Ancient Hebrew Texts ,English Translations
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