Daily Almanac for
Nov 8, 2009
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Simony

Buying and selling church livings; any unlawful traffic in holy things. So called from Simon Magus, who wanted to purchase the “gift of the Holy Ghost,” that he might have the power of working miracles. (Acts viii. 9-23.)

Simony.
The friar in the tale of Reynard the Fox; so called from Simon Magus.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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