DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9841#0286
XXXVIII.] CUSTOM OF ENTERING TEMPLES BAREFOOT. 265
the present day, an oriental bestows the same mark of
respect on every equal or superior in whose presence
he may find himself, so that to take off the shoes in the
east has almost the same meaning as to take off the hat
has with us.
The only Christian nation by whom, as far as I
know, the ancient oriental and pagan custom, of entering
the house of prayer barefoot, is still practised, is that
of the Armenians30; who also prostrate themselves to
the ground in their adorations, much in the same manner
as is done by the Mohammedans37.
3C Smith and Dwight, Missionary Researches in Armenia, Letter vn.
p. 140.
37 The Armenian system of religion resembles the Greek in many of its
absurdities. One of their authors defends the worship of " the God-bearing
cross," on the ground that it is offered "not to the visible matter, but to the
invisible God who is in it." More scrupulous, however, in some things, than
the Greek, the Armenian extends not his profane iconolatry to the pictures
of the saints, but holds that, "as neither a name nor an image, without the
substance, is to be worshipped, and as the saints are not every where present
to dwell in their images, as Christ is in Ms, their images are not to be
worshipped." Nerses Shnojuiali, Unthanragan, pp. 132-133. quoted by
Smith and Dwight, 1. c. Letter vn. p. 142.
the present day, an oriental bestows the same mark of
respect on every equal or superior in whose presence
he may find himself, so that to take off the shoes in the
east has almost the same meaning as to take off the hat
has with us.
The only Christian nation by whom, as far as I
know, the ancient oriental and pagan custom, of entering
the house of prayer barefoot, is still practised, is that
of the Armenians30; who also prostrate themselves to
the ground in their adorations, much in the same manner
as is done by the Mohammedans37.
3C Smith and Dwight, Missionary Researches in Armenia, Letter vn.
p. 140.
37 The Armenian system of religion resembles the Greek in many of its
absurdities. One of their authors defends the worship of " the God-bearing
cross," on the ground that it is offered "not to the visible matter, but to the
invisible God who is in it." More scrupulous, however, in some things, than
the Greek, the Armenian extends not his profane iconolatry to the pictures
of the saints, but holds that, "as neither a name nor an image, without the
substance, is to be worshipped, and as the saints are not every where present
to dwell in their images, as Christ is in Ms, their images are not to be
worshipped." Nerses Shnojuiali, Unthanragan, pp. 132-133. quoted by
Smith and Dwight, 1. c. Letter vn. p. 142.