May 7: Today in Christian History

May 7, 1274

The Second Council of Lyons convenes with the goal of reunifying the Roman and Greek churches. Attended by approximately 500 bishops, it is ultimately unsuccessful because, although Orthodox delegates agree to recognize the papal claims and recite the creed with the filioque clause, the union is fiercely rejected by the majority of Orthodox clergy and laity.

May 7, 1429

Joan of Arc leads the final charge ending the Siege of Orléans, reportedly after pulling an arrow from her own shoulder or breast. The victory marks a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.

May 7, 1508

Death of Nilus of Sora, a Russian monastic leader who advocated small monastic groups rather than huge monasteries and insisted each monk support himself by useful labor, among which was the copying and correcting of old manuscripts. He advocated mercy toward heretics.

May 7, 1823

Russian Orthodox bishop John Veniaminov (St. Innocent of Alaska) departs from Irkutsk for Alaska where he will do notable missionary work and translate portions of the Bible into several indigenous languages. He will later serve as Metropolitan of Moscow. 

May 7, 1848

While visiting Scotland, Tiyo Soga is baptized. He will become a great South African preacher.

May 7, 1859

Guido Verbeck and other missionaries sail from the United States for the Orient, where Verbeck will become famous for his educational and translation work in Japan and will eventually be honored by the Japanese with the Order of the Rising Sun.

May 7, 1889

Katharine Drexel becomes a postulant [candidate for acceptance into a religious order] with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where she prepares to found a congregation to serve African American and Native American people who are oppressed by discrimination and dire poverty.