The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-05-14

cophogi of the cemetery of the Vatican
the style and execution of which woult
indicate that they were executed in tn
aye of Julian"--tho fourth century.
"Anothcr image of Christ" continue
Rouchette, (Which presents almost tn,
same traits, is found in the chapel of til,
cemetery of st. Pontianus; and a paint
ing exactly like it had been discovered il
the cemetery Of st. Callixtus by Boldetti
who had the misfortune to see it perish
under his very eyes, and, in some sQgt, ip
his very hands, as he was endeaYnt
detatch it from the wall" ct "
co painting on the wall.") ~
The same general type of cdtn 4 d
is apparent in all the old POI -
Christ, whether by Greek or
lists; and the general traits of
divine are very we'll portrayed in t6e5
ter of the pretended Lentulus.
1t is fair to infer that, though T.
speaking, the document as emanatiH5'
from Publius Lentulus is certainly spuri-
Gus, yet that it substantially embodics the
oldest and most reliable traditions Of both
the eastern and western christians in re-
gard to the appearance of the Savior. Ii
order that our readers may be better alb
to appreciate this resemblance in all the
descriptions of Christs person which have
come down to us, we will here give a
translation Of that furnished by Nichpho-
rus CalliXtus, a Greek historian of the
fourteenth century, who composed the
ecclesiastical history under the reign of
the Paleologi.
There is a striking resemblance between
this document and that ascribed to Len
tulus, and yet quite enough discrepancy
to show that they emanated from different
sources. For instance Nicephorus says
the eyes Of Christ were bordering on
brown, and Lentulus that they were ceru-
lean or blue. The one was an eastern and
the latter a western document. Nicepho-
rus, it will be observed, says that he col
lected the description with care from
the ancients," probably from those an
clients writers whose works he was collect
ing and examining.
Here is his statement:
But the image of Jesus Christ, as we
have received it from the ancients, SO far
as we shall be able to present it in dull
words, was nearl y as follows: lie was pos
sessed Of beautiful and vivid counte-
nance. His statue was at least seven
palms high, (about five feet nine and a
half inches of our measurement lie !
had yellowish (subfacen) or golden hair,
and not very thick, but slightly curling
Mt the extremity. His eyebrows were
dark, but not exactly arched His eyes
bordering on brown, and full Of vivacity
had an inexpressible charm. They were
very sharp and piercing, his nose some
what long. His beard was yellow and
not long, but the hair of his head was
long and flowing. Never had the scissors
passed o. er his head; no hand Of any man
had ever touched t none other than those
of his mother while no ;of,nt- he
head leaned somewhat forward, and this
caused him to lose in appearance some
what of his stature His complexion was
resembling that Of wheat be-
ginning to ripen. His face was neither
round nor long nor sharp, just like that
of his mother, especially in the lower part
and it was moderately rubicund in the
cheeks. lie showed forth in his countcn-
ance gravity and prudence, conjoined with
and a placability wholly devoid
of anger. In fine he was in all things
very much like his divine and Immaculate
mother.
nrtf Iote he NpvDr.