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What does the word "Catholic" mean?

...ll, Paul. Medieval Sourcebook: Banning of Other Religions Theodosian Code XVI.i.2. 20 January 2021. 29 July 2021. . Jerusalem, Cyril of. Catechetical Lectures. Ed. Kevin Knight. n.d. 29 July 2021. . Kirby, Peter. The Muratorian Fragment. n.d. 29 July 2021. . Lerins, Vincent of. Commonitorium. Ed. Kevin Knight. n.d. 29 July 2021. . Marone, Paola. The Use of the Term “Catholic” in the Donatist Controversy, in “Pomoerium...

Did St. Nicholas Really Slap Arius?

...It’s nearly Christmas time again, and like clockwork, the internet memes come out all over social media about Saint Nicholas giving the heretic Arius a slap across the face at the Council of Nicaea! As it’s almost the end of November and coming up soon is the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6th, the original inspiration behind Santa Claus, I thought I’d address this long-standing myth about Nicholas of Myra (present-day Demre, Turkey), the fourth century bishop. St. Nicholas is often humorously portrayed in social media memes which playfully recount the infamous incident during the Council of Nicaea when the good bishop, provoked by Arius’s blasp...

Does Easter Have Pagan Origins?

...Much like any major Christian holiday, there are the usual arguments and accusations about how it’s all just pagan festivities with a “Christian mask”. Easter is no different, and usually gets hit the hardest over its so-called “pagan roots”, or in the month or so preceding it, Lent being some “invention of the Catholic Church”. Table of Contents The Lenten Fast The Easter controversy and why we celebrate it when we do Is the Name “Easter” really the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre? Chocolate eggs and bunnies? Concluding Thoughts Further Reading and Sources I like to try and observe Lent, as it is one of the most ancient custom...