Historical Writings

Armenians fight a desperate battle at Avarayr to preserve their Christian culture against the Persians, who have a much larger army. This is the first known battle in history fought to preserve a nation's Christian faith. Although the Armenians lose the battle and their best leaders, the Persians lose sixty thousand soldiers and agree by treaty that Armenia may practice its faith.

Franciscan friar William of Occam, a notable scholar, flees from Avignon to escape Pope John XXII, of whom he had been critical, and joins Emperor Louis of Bavaria. He will take an active part in the emperor's struggles against the pope.

Death in Rome of Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratorians.

Birth of William Hunter, American Methodist clergyman. The author of three collections of hymns, published during his lifetime, Hunter is best remembered today for the hymn entitled, "The Great Physician Now is Near."

In Pittsburgh, the Associate Presbyterian and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches merged to form the United Presbyterian Church in North America.

Lillian May Thomas, an African-American, sails from the United States for the Congo as a missionary.

Pope Pius X issues his "Borromeo" encyclical (Editae saepe) in which he blames modern revolutions on "the would-be reformers of the sixteenth century" and characterizes them as enemies of the cross.

Death at Newton, Massachusetts, of Francis Edward Clark, founder of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.

Death in Valparaiso, Chili, of Willis Collins Hoover, a Methodist missionary who founded Chile's Pentecostal movement and consequently was disowned by his Methodist sponsors.

The religious program "The Fourth R" aired for the last time over NBC television. Produced by several different religious organizations, this short-lived series aired on Sunday mornings.