The statements of some travellers respecting the treasures of the primate and the bishops of the Mingre- lians, the splendor of their garnlents, the extortions they commit, and the enormous sums of money they exact for mass, confession, ordination, etc., are rather at vari- ance with the statements relating to the general poverty of the nation : there is likely to be exaggeration on both sides. "What is said of the ignorance and corrup- tion of the clergy in general may be more readily be- lieved. The bishops, who are very loose in their mor- als, are regarded as acceptable if they abstain from iioeat, strictly observe Lent, and say mass in conformity with the Greek rite. Priests are allowed to marry, not only before their ordination, but also afterwards, and even to take a second wnfe, with dispensation.
The observances at baptism are very peculiar. As soon as a child is born, the priest anoints his forehead, drawing a cross on it with the chrism. The baptism is deferred until the child is two years of age, when he is christened by immersion in warm water; again unc- tions are made on almost every part of his body ; holy bread is given him to eat, and wine to drink. The priests do not stick to the traditional form of baptism, and have been known to use wine for the christening of great people's offspring.
There are in INIingrelia monks of the order of St. Basil, who are called berres. They are dressed like Greek monks, and do not differ from them in their man- ner of living. A very condemnable abuse is that par- ents are allowed to engage their children to this state, in their tenderest years, when they are themselves in-
capable of choice. There are also nuns of the same or- der; they wear a black veil, and observe the same fast- ings and abstinence as the monks ; but they do not sub- mit to claustration, and make no vows, being thus at liberty to leave the monastic state when so inclined. The cathedral churches are adorned with painted im- ages (no rilievi), covered, it is said, with gold and gems ; but the parochial churches are sadly neglected. It is asserted that the Mingrelians are in possession of quite a number of precious relics, brought to them by the Greek fugitives, after the downfall of Constantinople ; among others they claim to have a piece of the true cross, . eight inches long ; but the statements of the Greeks and the Romanists, in the matter of relics, are some- what subject to caution. The Theatins of Italy in 1627 established a mission in jMingrelia, and so have the Ca- puchins in Georgia, and the Dominicans in Circassia ; but the small success which attended these endeavors caused the missions to be suffered to fall into decay, and finally to be abandoned. See Dr. J. Zampi, delation de Min[irelie ; Cerry, Etat present de VEglise Romaine ; Chardin, Voyage de Perse ; and especially Bergier, Dic- tionnaire de Theologie, iv, 347 sq.
Min'iamiu (Jlfib. Minyamin', '^'^^'^'^'Q, from the right hand, or perhaps corrupted from Benjamin), the name of two men. See also Mi^vjiix.
1. (Sept. Biviantiv v. r. Btria/^i'i', Yulg. -Se/y'awin.) One of the Levites (or priests) who had charge of the distribution of the sacred offerings among the families of the sacerdotal order under Hezekiah (2 Chron. xxxi, 15). B.C. 726.
2. (Sept. Mtajuii'.Vulg. Miainin.) One of the priests that returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon (Neh. xii, 17), and celebrated with trumpets the completion of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. xii, 41) ; probably the same elsewhere called Mluiin (Neh. xii, 5) orMuAJiiN (Neh. x,7).
Miiiiatis, Eltas, an Eastern theologian and teach- er, was born at Liguri, Ccphalonia, in 1669, and was ed- ucated at Venice. He filled ofiices as public instructor, and became afterwards clergyman at Constantinople, Corfu, and the Peloponnesus, and was finally bishop of Calaoryta. He died in 1714. His .works are: Yltrpa (TKavSaXov (Leipsic, 1718), a treatise on the schism be- tween the . Greek and Latin churches : a Latin and German version of it was published at Leipsic in 1843, and at Vienna in 1783: — AiSaxai slg r))v ayiav kcu fiiyc'iXrjv TtaaapaKoar))v Kai tig ciWaQ tTriarijixovg toprdg (Venice, 1727, and often). — Pierer, Unicersal- Lejcikon, s. v.
Miniato (or Minias) , St., an Armenian prince, who belonged to the Roman army, and served under Decius. When that emperor was encamped outside the city of Florence, according to the Florentine legend, this saint was denounced as a Christian, and condemned to be thrown to the beasts of the amphitheatre. A panther was first set upon him, but the saint was delivered from him in answer to his prayers. He was then hanged, put in boiling oil, and stoned, without being destroyed, for an angel descended to comfort him, and clothed him in a garment of light. Finally he was beheaded. It is said that this severe measure was executed in A.D. 254. Miniato is represented dressed as a prince, with scarlet robe and a crown. His attributes are the palm, the lily, and javelins.
Miniature is a picture illustrating the text of a JIS. ; so called because filling up the outline sketched in vermilion {imniinum').
Minims (ordo fratrum minimonan S. Frandsci de Paula), a religious order in the Church of Rome, found- ed by St. Francis de Paula, of Calabria, in the year 1453. The new order was called at first Hermits of St. Francis {Eremilce 3Hnimoiiun Fratrum S. Frandsci de Paula'). Pope Sixtus IV, in 1474, confirmed the statutes of the order, thus uniting them in conventual order, and named