Historical Writings

The Visigoths sacked Rome, disillusioning Christians who were trusting in God's protection of this ecclesiastical center of early Christianity. St. Augustine (354-430) later tacked this religious problem in his monumental work, "City of God" (ca.413-27).

Death of Menas, patriarch of Constantinople. He had been actively engaged in the issues of his day as an opponent of monophysitism and of Origen's teachings, but was largely subservient to the Roman pope.

In Mainz, Germany, volume two of the famed Gutenberg Bible was bound, completing a two-year publishing project, and making it the first full-length book to be printed using movable type.

St. Teresa of Avila founds the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelite nuns.

The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre took place all across France, where thousands of French Protestants (Huguenots) were slaughtered. depleted the intellectual, educational and financial reserves of the French nation.

The deadline arrives for all British ministers to publicly assent to the Book of Common Prayer. Two thousand Puritans who do not accept this have to vacate their pulpits, becoming known as non-conformists.

After much misery because of his spiritually-lost state, Isaac Backus experiences personal salvation in Christ at the age of eighteen while plowing alone in his fields. In his diary, he records, “I was enabled by divine light to see the perfect righteousness of Christ and the freeness and richness of His grace with such clearness that my soul was drawn forth to trust in Him for salvation. The Word of God and the promises of His grace appeared firmer than a rock, and I was astonished at my previous unbelief.” He will go on to become a Baptist pastor and successful evangelist in New England.

William Grimshaw and John Wesley are fiercely attacked at Colne while preaching.

Greek monk Cosmas of Aetolia is martyred by Muslims. He had preached throughout Greece to revive the church and founded over two-hundred schools.

Death of Samuel Stennett. One of the outstanding dissenter (non-Anglican) preachers of his day, he had been a personal friend of England's King George III. He wrote the hymns "Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned" and "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand."

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa was organized by German Lutherans. In 1930 this synod merged with the synods of Ohio and Buffalo to form the American Lutheran Church.

Alois Majonga Mncadi is sent to Rome to study. He will become only the second black African to become a Catholic priest in South Africa.

Five Baptist congregations met at Jellico Creek, Whitley County, Kentucky, and formed the Church of God of the Mountain Assembly. The CGMA both pentecostal and holiness in doctrine reports a world membership today of 7,000.

Death of Ernest W. Shurtleff, while doing relief work in World War I with his wife. An American Congregational clergyman, he had authored the hymn, "Lead On, O King Eternal."

Beginning of the Second General Council of the Latin American Episcopate. The meeting is held in Medellín, Columbia. It will emphasize elements of newly-developing liberation theology and give special emphasis to the poor.