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Christian History

Today in Christian History

August 16

August 16, 1773: Pope Clement XIV dissolves the Jesuit Order, fearing its growing power. Pius VIII restored the order 41 years later.

August 16, 1875: American evangelist Charles Grandison Finney, the leading revivalist of the nineteenth century, dies (See issue 20: Charles G. Finney).

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May 2, 373: Church father Athanasius, "the father of Orthodoxy," dies. He attended the Council of Nicea, and after becoming bishop of Alexandria, he fought Arianism and won. He was also the first to list the New Testament canonical books as we know them today (see issue 51: Heresy in the Early Church).

May 2, 1507: Martin Luther celebrates his first mass (delayed by a month so his father could attend) as an ordained priest. Luther was so nervous that he nearly dropped the bread and cup. ...

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