Tascodrugites

Tascodrugites (Τασκοδρούγγιται, Τασκοδρούγιται, from τασκός, a wooden nail or stake, and δρουγγός, nose, in Epiphanius, Haeret. 48, n. 14), a heretical sect of Galatia (Hieron. Comm. in Ep. ad Gal.) belonging probably to the 4th century, are by some included among the Gnostics of the school of Mark, SEE MARCUS THE HERESIARCH, e.g. by Theodoret, Haeret. Fab. 1, 9, 10, and by others among the Montanists, e.g. by Epiphanius, vt sup. The term is unquestionably a nickname, applied to these heretics because they were accustomed during prayer to place a finger to the nose or mouth like a pole, at the same time observing the profoundest silence. See Aulgustine, De Haeres. 63; Philastr. Haeres. 76; and Epiphanius. Theodoret says that they ridiculed the sacraments, rejected the creeds, repudiated all revelation; 'and others charge on them a denial of the incarnation. Their assemblies were legally prohibited after the 4th century, but traces of them are seen in Theodore Studita in the 9th. They are by some supposed to be identical with the Passalorynchites. — Herzog, Real- Encyklop. s.v.