Collyridians
Collyridians. Under this name Epiphanius (Haer. 79) assails certain
women who had brought from Thrace into Arabia the practice of performing on certain
days rites in honour of the Blessed Virgin, the chief being the offering of a cake
(κολλυρίς), and the partaking of it by the
worshippers. Epiphanius condemns their conduct because (a) women ought not
to offer sacrifice, and (b) Mary is to be honoured, God only to be worshipped.
The name Collyris (or kindred forms) is to be found in the LXX translation of
Lev. vii. 12,
viii. 26;
II. Sam. vi. 19,
xiii. 68; and the word passed thence
into the Latin versions.
[G.S.]