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Domus Columbe

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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the house of the dove, used by Tertullian for a church. When writing against the Valentinians, who affected secrecy in their doctrines, he compares them to the Eleusinian mysteries. whose temple was so guarded with doors and curtains that a man must be five years a candidate before he could be admitted to the adytum of the deity, or secrets of the sanctuary. "Whereas," says he, "the house of our dove is plain and simple, delights in high and open places, affects the light, loves the figure of the Holy Ghost, and the orient or morning sun, which is the figure of Christ." "The house of the dove" seems here to be the same as " the house of Christ." Mede explains it, the house of the dove-like religion, or of the dove-like disciples of Christ (Tertullianus contra Valentin. c. 3, cited by Bingham. Orig. Ecclesiastes book 8, chapter 1, 2.