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Religion

God-eaters and Christ-worshippers

théophage; christicole

Théophage literally means god-eater and here derisively names a Catholic receiver of the Eucharist, with its doctrine of Christ’s presence.

From the book

The Gods Are Athirst

Anatole France · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Meaning

Related words and phrases.

Théophage literally means god-eater and here derisively names a Catholic receiver of the Eucharist, with its doctrine of Christ’s presence. Christicole means worshipper of Christ. Brotteaux’s provocative names coexist with his claim that he maintained a chaplain and regular worship at his estate. Irreverent vocabulary therefore does not by itself establish practical persecution of believers.

Places to read

  1. Chapter XIV, paragraph 34Frenchdes théophages et des christicoles: god-eaters and Christ-worshippers. Brotteaux describes the religious people with whom he says he got on well.