Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) holy water, in Christian churches, water blessed to symbolize spiritual cleansing. In Roman Catholic churches there is a bowl (stoup or font) of holy water near the doors, so that the faithful may ble...

(Encyclopedia) Hosanna hōzănˈə [key] [Heb.,=save now; Psalm 118], an intensified imperative, a cry, addressed to God, particularly used in the Feast of Tabernacles, when prayers for rain were offered. In the New...

(Encyclopedia) Fleurus flörüsˈ [key], town, Hainaut prov., S Belgium. It is a coal-mining and manufacturi...

(Encyclopedia) Kristiansand krĭstyänsänˈ [key], city (1995 pop. 68,618), capital of Vest-Agder co., S Norway, a commercial and passenger port on the Skagerrak. Manufactures include ships, textiles, metal and woo...

(Encyclopedia) Aran Islands ărˈən [key], 18 sq mi (47 sq km), Co. Galway, W Republic of Ireland, in Galway Bay. The three islands are Inishmore (the largest), Inisheer, and Inishmaan. The islands are barren; farm...

(Encyclopedia) Sigtuna sĭgˈtüˌnä [key], town (1990 pop. 4,918), Stockholm co., E Sweden, on Lake Skarven, near Stockholm. Founded c.1000, it was one of Sweden's earliest towns, its first capital, and a center o...

(Encyclopedia) Simeon Stylites, Saint stīlīˈtēz [key] [Gr.,= of a pillar], d. 459?, Syrian hermit. He lived for more than 35 years on a small platform on top of a high pillar. He had many imitators (called styli...

(Encyclopedia) Simpson, Matthew, 1811–84, American Methodist bishop, b. Cadiz, Ohio. In 1839 he became the first president of Indiana Asbury Univ. (now DePauw Univ.). He edited (1848–52) the Western Christian Ad...

(Encyclopedia) Youngstown State University, at Youngstown, Ohio; coeducational; est. 1908 as a department of the Youngstown Association School sponsored by the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1921 the school b...

(Encyclopedia) Baugh, Sammy (Samuel Adrian Baugh), 1914–2008, American football player, b. near Temple, Tex. The first great passer in the game, “Slingin' Sam” played for Texas Christian Univ. (1934–36) and ...