Historical Writings

Death of Theodosius II, killed by a fall from his horse while hunting, an event which brings about the accession of his sister Pulcheria, who has long been an advocate of orthodox Christianity.

John Allen, Archbishop of Dublin, is murdered at Artaine, near Dublin, during the rebellion of Lord Thomas Fitzgerald.

Protestant reformer Thomas Cromwell, for many years the chief advisor to King Henry VIII, is executed at Tower Hill after refusing to support Henry's divorce against Anne of Cleves. The charge is "betraying the crown."

Death of Bulstrode Whitelocke 69, an influential English lawyer during theCommonwealth of Oliver Cromwell. Among Whitelocke's last words: 'There has been one truereligion in the world; and that is the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts and soulsof men.'

Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers of all time, succumbs to apoplexy and fever.

Clergy from many Protestant denominations gather at Kidderminster, England, for the unveiling and dedication of a statue in commemoration of influential Puritan preacher and writer Richard Baxter (1615-1691).

Francis Pfanner lands at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where he will do a notable missionary work.

Birth of J. Gresham Machen, an American Presbyterian theologian who taught atPrinceton and Westminster seminaries. Two of his writings still endure: 'New Testament Greekfor Beginners' (1923) and 'The Virgin Birth of Christ' (1932).

The first Divine Liturgy (worship service) of the Armenian Church in America wascelebrated in Worcester, MA. It was led by Rev. Hovsep Sarajian, himself the first Armenianclergyman to come to America.

Forty-five Serbs are tortured by Germans in an Orthodox church in Serbia.

Death of W.M. Flinders Petrie, 89, English archaeologist. He was regarded bycolleague William Foxwell Albright as 'the greatest genius among biblical archaeologists.'

American Trappist Thomas Merton wrote in a letter: 'I can depend less and lesson my own power and sense of direction... It is so strange to advance backwards and getwhere you are going in a totally unexpected way.'

Chinese troops massacre Christians of the A-Hmao ethnic group who are worshiping secretly in a cave at Xinglongchang. Their leaders had defied the Chinese by saying if forbidden to worship openly they would worship secretly and if attacked on Sunday they would multiply their meetings to every day of the week.

Martyrdom of Ethiopian theologian Gudina Tumsa at the hands of rebel Derg soldiers.

Death of Wang Ming Dao, an influential Chinese evangelist who spent many years in a Communist prison for his faith.