Collyridianism
Ancient group alleged to have worshipped Mary mother of Jesus as a goddess / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Collyridianism (or Kollyridianism) was an alleged Early Christian movement in Arabia whose adherents apparently worshipped the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, as a goddess.[1][2] The existence of the sect is subject to some dispute by scholars, as the only contemporary source to describe it is the Panarion of St. Epiphanius of Salamis, published in approximately 376 AD.[1][3]
According to Epiphanius, certain women in largely-pagan Arabia syncretised indigenous beliefs with the worship of Mary and offered little cakes or bread-rolls.[4] The cakes were called collyris (Greek: κολλυρις) and are the source of the name Collyridians.[5] Epiphanius stated that Collyridianism originated in Thrace and Scythia although it may have first travelled to those regions from Syria or Asia Minor.[4]