APOSTASY (aaoafiavis, in classical

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• GREEK
• GREEK, ETRUSCAN AND

Greek a defection or revolt from a military

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• COMMANDER

commander)  , a term gene'tally employed to describe a complete renunciation of the . Christian faith, or even an exchange of one form of it for another, especially if the motive be unworthy . In the first centuries of the Christian era, apostasy was most commonly induced by persecution, and was indicated by some outward act, such as offering incense to a heathen deity or blaspheming the name of Christ.' In the Roman Catholic Church the word is also applied to the renunciation of monastic vows (apostasis a monachatu), and to the abandonment of the clerical profession for the life of the world (apostasis a clericatu) . Such defection was formerly often punished severely .