Historical Writings
Today in Christian History
Wednesday, April 18
246
(probable date) Cyprian is baptized in Carthage on Easter eve. He will become a bishop and leading theologian, renowned for writing the treatise On the Unity of the Catholic Church.
1506
Pope Julius II lays the foundation stone of the second building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
1587
Death in London of John Foxe, author of The Actes and Monuments of the Church (first published in 1563), better known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
1606
In Rome, Julius II laid the foundation stone of the second building of St. Peter's Basilica. Completed 20 years later by Urban VIII, St. Peter's today is the largest church in Christendom, with an overall length of 619 feet.
1753
Sophronius is consecrated Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk. Years earlier, at being made a monk, he had received a vision saying, "When you become bishop, build a church dedicated to all saints" - which he did. He will be considered an Orthodox saint.
1784
Thomas Charles's career as a Church of England clergyman ends when he is dismissed as curate of Llanymawddwy because of his support of Methodists. He will be influential in establishing Welsh schools and the British and Foreign Bible Society.
1874
In England, the remains of Scottish missionary David Livingstone (who had died the previous year in Africa at age 60) were interred in London's Westminster Abbey.
1905
Eleven Catholics are murdered for their faith in Yanjing, Tibet. Their killers read a message from the Dalai Lama threatening death to Christian converts who will not return to Buddhism.
1909
Mattiya Leonard Kamungu becomes the first Anglican priest of the Chewa people in the diocese of Nyasaland. He will be misunderstood by both Europeans and his own people as he tries to walk a line between European paternalism and African expectations. He dies in 1913, possibly poisoned, and will be considered a martyr.
1929
Death in Hankow, China, of Eduard L. Arndt, pioneer Lutheran missionary.
Copyright Statement
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"
Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, January 20th, 2021
the Second Week after Epiphany
the Second Week after Epiphany
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