COLLIRIDIANS. — Under this name St. Epiphanius condemned certain women who had introduced from Thrace into Arabia the practice of particular rites in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the principal element of which consisted in the sacrifice of a loaf of bread, which the women offering it would then divide among themselves. Epiphanius censures their conduct for two reasons: first, because women ought not to take upon themselves the duty of offering a sacrifice, and second, because the Virgin is to be honored, but sacrifice is due only to God (cf. St. Epiphanius, *Panarion*, 78, 79). Mario Scaduto
COLLIRIDIANI
