The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1352 page)

Labarum
.

The military standard of the emperor
Constantine
. Its design was that of the Roman cavalry standard with the pagan emblems replaced by the
chi-rho
monogram.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Lady, Our
.

Designation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary
. Lady Day is the feast of the
Annunciation
, 25 Mar. A Lady Chapel is one dedicated to Mary.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Laestadianism
.

A Christian revival movement in northern Scandinavia founded by Lars Levi Laestadius (1800–61). This Swedish pastor of the
Lutheran church
in Karesuando, near the Finnish border in Lappland, was more interested in botany than in souls until a deep personal awakening in 1844 led to a new preaching of the gospel, with emphasis upon repentance and the absolute forgiveness of sins within the congregation as the body of
Christ
and through his atoning death. Emigrating Laestadianism Finns were responsible for the foundation of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in the USA in 1871.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Lat., ‘let the heavens rejoice’). The title, taken from the opening words, of two unconnected Christian documents.

1 The Formulary of Reunion of 433 between the opposing parties after the Council of
Ephesus
.
2  The
bull
of 1439 decreeing the union agreed at the Council of
Florence
of the E. and W. churches, that the Orthodox accept the
filioque
and the primacy of the see of Rome

.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Heb., ‘thirty-third of Omer’). A Jewish holiday. Lag Ba-Omer is celebrated on the thirty-third day of counting the
Omer
, i.e. 18 Iyyar. Mourning customs are lifted, weddings may be solemnized, and music enjoyed. Customs associated with the festival include giving 3-year-old boys their first haircut, playing with bows and arrows, and lighting bonfires.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Skt., ‘lightness’). Yogic ability in Hinduism to levitate. See also
DARDURA-SIDDHI
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search