COUNTRY, Patria. By this word is meant the Land where we were born, and the Town where we dwell.
It is taken likewise for Family; for example, Ps. xcv. 7.Afferte Domino patriæ gentium; bring Sacrifices unto the Lord, O ye Kindreds of the People; ye People of foreign Nations come and offer your Sacrifices unto the Lord. Patria in Greek signifies a Race, a Nation.
The Heavenly Country, denotes the happiness of Heaven, which is hoped for by all Christians: We have here no continuing city, but we seek one to come, says S. Paul, Hebr. xiii. 14.
2 Mac. vii. 8, 21, 27. xii. 37. xv. 27.Patria voce in the Book of Maccabees, signifies the Hebrew tongue, or Syriac, Respondit voce Patria? He answered in his Mother tongue in Hebrew, which was the language of his Country. The Author makes this distinction, because this whole Affair of the Martyrdom of the Maccabees was transacted before the Greeks, and even in the midst of Antioch, where Greek was spoken.