Friday, February 18, 2011

This Week in Christian History

Friday, February 18, 2011

269 - Martyrdom of St. Valentine
On Valentine's Day we exchange cards expressing love or appreciation for one another. According to tradition, on February 14, 269, a young man named Valentine was executed in Rome for his faith. But what does our exchange of sentimental cards have to do with a third century martyr? (Read more)
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309 - Pamphilius Beheaded for Faith
Almost everyone who has read church history is familiar with the name of Eusebius of Caesaria, the man who gave us a priceless pastiche of the first three centuries of Christianity. But Eusebius could not have put together his valuable work if it had not been for his mentor, Pamphilius.
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1678 - Every Pilgrim's Story, by John Bunyan
The most popular book of the Christian world, next to the Bible itself saw publication on February 18, 1678. The story is Pilgrim's Progress, authored by John Bunyan while he lay in prison for preaching without a license. Since its publication, it has never been out of print. Surprisingly, the Chinese Communist government also printed the book and 200,000 copies sold out in three days. (Read more)
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1689 - Down with King James II!
William III of Orange came to the throne of England on February 13, 1689 in a bloodless revolution. It was not that England had no king. James II sat in Whitehall and did not hesitate to exert his royal prerogative as he saw fit. The problem was the Roman Catholic king used his powers to browbeat Anglicans and... (Read more)
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1858 - Cause for Waldensian Rejoicing
February 17 marks the anniversary of the day in 1858 when the Waldensians finally received a guarantee of civil and religious rights. Their saga began in 1176. For 682 years they fled across Europe or hid in caves, persecuted, hunted, and exterminated like vermin. With the coming of the Reformation, many joined the Protestants. Survivors gathered in 1561 and pledged themselves to adhere to the Scriptures. They were reduced by persecution to only a few thousand individuals... (Read more)
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