Written in the 19th century, this monumental work of scholarship remains an essential reference for anyone interested in the history, culture, and institutions of early Christianity. With entries on everything from early Christian art and architecture to theological doctrines and church politics, this dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of this formative period in human history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.