DOXOLOGIES (dOks'61-6•112), (Gr. So(oXo-yia, dox giving glory), ascriptions of glory or praise to God.
(1) Scriptural. These are frequently found in the Psalms (e. g., xcvi :6; cxii ; cxiii:t), and were used in the synagogue. The apostles very naturally used them (Rout. xi :30 ; Eph. ; I Tim. i :17). We have also examples of celestial doxologies (Rev. v :13 xix :i). The song of the angels in Luke ii:14 is a doxology. As to the doxology in Matt. see LORD'S PRAYER.
(2) Liturgical., There were hymns used in the service of the ancient Christians. (f) The dox ology was only a single sentence, without a re sponse, running in these words, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, world without end, Amen." Part of the latter clause, "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be," was inserted some time after the first composition. The fourth council of Toledo, A. D. 633, added the word honor to it, and read it, "Glory and honor be to the Father," etc., because the prophet David says, "Bring glory and honor to the Lord." It is not easy to say, at what time the latter clause was inserted. Some ascribe it to the council at Nice, and pretend it was added in opposition to the Arians. But the first express mention made of it is in the second council of Vaison, A. D. 529, about two centuries later. This was called the Lesser Doxology. (2) There was likewise another hymn, of great note in the an cient church, called the Great Doxology, or An gelical Hymn. the Gloria in E.rcelsis. beginning with those words which the angels sting at our Saviour's birth, "Glory be to God on high," etc. This was chiefly used in the communion service. It was also used daily in private devotions. In the Mozarabic liturgy, it is appointed to be sung before the lessons on Christmas Day. Chrysostom often mentions it, and observes, that the Ascetics, or Christians who had retired from the world, met together daily to sing this hymn. Who first
composed it, adding the remaining part to the words sung by the angels, is uncertain. Some suppose it to be as ancient as the time of Lucian, about the beginning of the second century. Others take it for the "Gloria Patri ;" which is a dispute as difficult to be determined, as it is to find out the first author and original of this hymn. (3) There was another called the Twagion, as old as the second century, beginning. "Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaver., we laud and magnify thy glorious name." They arc still in use in church worship. DRACHMA (dr3k-m;1), (Gr. Opaxmi, drachma), a coin of silver, the common among the Greeks, and which after the Exile became also current among the Jews 12 Mace. IV:10; X :20; xii.43; Luke xv :A, g).
The earlier Attic drachmae were of the average weight of tit.5 grains, and in a comparison with the English shilling would be equal to about twenty cents, lint the specimens of later times are of the average weight of only (ii grains, and some of less. In this state the drachma was counted equal to the denarius, which was at first worth about seventeen cents anti afterwards only fifteen cents The value of the drachma -4 the New Testament may therefore have been „bout six teen cents. The woman's 'ten pieces of silver' (drachma') in Luke xv:8, would hence he equal to or about $1.65—that is, in nominal value, for the real value of money was far greater in the time of Christ than at present.
DRAG (drag), (Heb. mik-meh'reth), is mentioned as being the object of worship by fish ermen (Hab. i:15). It was a large fishing net.