Historical Writings

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.'

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.'

Death of Walter Rauschenbusch, famed theologian of the social gospel

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.

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