An important circumstance proves besides, that it was at Antioch that the sect for the first time had full consciousness of its existence; for it was in this city that it received a distinct name. Hitherto its adherents had called themselves "believers," "the faithful," "saints," "brothers," or disciples; but the sect had no public and official name. It was at Antioch that the title of _Christianus_ was devised.[13.5] The termination of the word is Latin, not Greek, which would indicate that it was selected by the Roman authority as an appellation of the police[13.6] like _Herodiani_, _Pompeiani_, _Cæsariani_.[13.7] In any event it is certain that such a name was formed by the heathen population. It included a misapprehension, for it implied that _Christus_, a translation of the Hebrew _Maschiah_ (the Messiah), was a proper name.[13.8] Not a few of those who were unfamiliar with Jewish or Christian ideas, by this name were led to believe that _Christus_ or _Chrestus_ was a sectarian leader yet living.[13.9] The vulgar pronunciation of the name indeed was _Chrestiani_.[13.10] The Jews did not adopt in a regular manner, at least,[13.11] the name given by the Romans to their schismatic co-religionists. They continued to call the new converts "Nazarenes" or "Nazorenes,"[13.12] undoubtedly because they were accustomed to call Jesus Han-nasri or Han-nosri, "the Nazarene;" and even unto the present day this name is still applied to them throughout the entire East.[13.13] This was a most important moment. Solemn indeed was the hour when the new creation received its name, for that name is the direct symbol of its existence. It is by its name that an individual or a community really becomes itself as distinct from others. The formation of the word "Christian" also marks the precise date of the separation from Judaism of the Church of Jesus. For a long time to come the two religions will be confounded; but this confusion will only take place in those countries where the spread of Christianity is slow and backward. The sect quickly accepted the appellation which was applied to it, and viewed it as a title of honor.[13.14] It is really astonishing to reflect that ten years after the death of Jesus His religion had already in the capital of Syria, a name in the Greek and Latin tongues. Christianity is now completely weaned from its mother's breast; the true sentiments of Jesus have triumphed over the indecision of its first disciples; the Church of Jerusalem is left behind; the Aramaic language, in which Jesus spoke, is unknown to a portion of His followers; Christianity speaks Greek; and the new sect is finally launched into that great vortex of the Greek and Roman world, whence it will never issue.