17th November: Today in Christian History

 

17th November, Everyday

Evey day like today, 17th November, we publish a Daily Devotional live here on our website. Read Today's Devotional here.

17th November, 594

On this day in Christian History, Gregory of Tours died. In his lifetime, he was an influential bishop of Tours and historian of the Franks.

17th November, 680

On this day in Christian History, influential Hild (aka Hilda) of Whitby died. Hilda was abbess of a double monastery of women and men, the site of a famous synod that determined the direction of English Christianity.

17th November, 914

On this day in Christian History,  the fortress of Q’ueli in Georgia, defended by Christians against the Muslim forces of Sajid emir of Azerbaijan, falls after a twenty-eight day seige. The Christian commander Mikel-Gobron is beheaded when he refuses to convert to Islam.

17th November, 1231

On this day in Christian History,  Elizabeth of Hungary died at the age of thirty-four. A noblewoman, she had used her wealth to help the needy. Following her husband’s death, she had become the first of the Franciscan Tertiaries and tended the sick at Marburg. (Tertiaries are men or women who serve God within secular occupations.)

17th November, 1634

On this day in Christian History, Giordano Ansalone, a Christian missionary to Japan, was martyred in Nagasaki.

17th November, 1668

On this day in Christian History, Joseph Alleine, author of Alleine’s Alarm, who was an English Puritan, died having burned himself out by age thirty-four in labours for the Lord.

17th November, 1966

On this day in Christian History, Johanesa Rakotovao, a pastor, educator, linguist, and Lutheran leader in Madagascar died. He was among those who pressed for an end to colonial rule.

17th November, 1980

On this day in Christian History,  in Stone v. Graham, by a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a Kentucky statute requiring the posting of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.