o ashes. The standard of the Nile's
increase was kept in this temple, but it was on this occasion removed
into the cathedral. The idolaters expected the river would swell no
more: but finding the succeeding years very fertile, they condemned the
vanity of their superstitions, and embraced the faith. Two churches were
built on the place where this temple stood, and its metal was converted
to the use of churches. The busts of Serapis on the walls, doors, and
windows of the houses, were broken and taken away. The temples all over
Egypt were demolished, during the two following years. In pulling down
those of Alexandria, the cruel mysteries of Mithra were discovered, and
in the secret Adyta were found the heads of many infants cut off,
cruelly mangled, and superstitiously painted. The artifices of the
priests of the idols were likewise detected: there were hollow idols of
wood and brass, placed against a wall, with subterraneous passages,
through which the priests entered the hollow trunks of the idols, and
gave answers as oracles, as is related by Theodoret,[2] and Rufinus.[3]
Where the idols were cast down, figures of the cross were set up in
their places. These martyrs suffered in the year 392. See Theodoret,
Rufinus, Socrates, Sozomen, Fleury, b. 19. Tillemont in the history of
Theodosius, art. 52-55.

Footnotes:
1. Those mistake the truth, who confound Serapis with Osiris, or who
imagine him to have been the patriarch Joseph. Serapis was a modern
divinity, raised by the Ptolemies. See Celmet, Banier on Mythology,
&c.
2. B. 5, c. 22.
3. Ib. 2, c. 25.

ST. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.

HE was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrim, but a faithful disciple of
Jesus. It was no small proof of his great piety, that, though he had
riches and honors to lose, he feared not the malice of men, but at a
time when the apostles trembled, boldly declared himself a follower of
Jesus who was crucified; and with the greatest devotion embalmed and
buried his sacred body. This saint was the patron of Glastenbury, where
a church and hermitage, very famous in the times of the ancient
Britons,[1] were built by the first apostles of this island: among whom
some moderns have placed St. Joseph himself, and Aristobulus.

Footnotes:
1. See Matthew of Westminster, and John of Glastenbury in their
histories of that famous abbey published by Hearne; also Tanner's
Notitia Monastica.

ST. GERTRUDE, VIRGIN,

ABBESS OF NIVELLE.

S