Historical Writings

Today in Christian History

325

The Council of Nicea closed. Regarded as the first 'ecumenical council,' its 300attending bishops drafted the Nicene Creed and fixed the formula for Easter Sunday.

408

Death of St. Olympias, a friend of the notable preacher and martyr John Chrysostom.

1566

Philip becomes Metropolitan of Moscow, chosen by Tsar Ivan IV "the Terrible," who will have him strangled three years later because of his bold stands against the Tsar's blasphemies and cruelties.

1593

Henry IV of France renounces Protestantism and adopts Catholicism in the Church of St. Denis, Paris.

1741

English revivalist George Whitefield wrote in a letter: 'Your extremity shall beGod's opportunity.'

1845

Canadian-born Catholic missionary Fran‡ois Blanchet was consecrated bishop of thePacific Northwest. He devoted 45 years to planting churches, and is remembered today as the'Apostle of Oregon.'

1899

Birth of Stuart K. Hine. While an English missionary to the Ukraine, Hine pennedthe English words to an oft-sung Swedish hymn, known today as 'How Great Thou Art.'

1918

Death of Walter Rauschenbusch, famed theologian of the social gospel

1929

The Soviets arrest the Orthodox priest Peter Gavrilovich Tsetayev in Kurgan province. They will sentence him to three years' imprisonment in keeping with their anti-Christian policies.

1968

Pope Paul VI published the encyclical 'Humanae Vitae.' It restated the Catholicposition on the family, and condemned all artificial methods of birth control.

Copyright Statement
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"

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Historical Writings

Today in Christian History

Thursday, July 25