The Pearl of Great Price
A short daily trip down the lane of Christian History. Looking at the fascinating people and events that have shaped a universal civilisation.
Feb 1 Erasmus and the Bible
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Today in 1516 Erasmus dedicated his amendment to St Jerome's New Testament to Pope Leo X. A great achievement by this 'Prince of Humanists', did it unwittingly trigger the reformation? We look today at the history of Biblical Translation and how Erasmus' work became influential
Jan 31 Maronite Church & Lebanese Nationalism
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Today in 1867, the Maronite Nationalist Leader Karam was sent into exile by the French. We look at the long fight for Lebanese independence, and today we look at St Maron, the church in Lebanon and its struggle for recognition,
Jan 30 - Oliver Cromwell and two executions
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Today in 1661, Oliver Cromwell's dead body was exhumed and beheaded in revenge for his execution of King Charles I on Jan 30 in 1649. We look at how Cromwells puritanism motivated him, his disputed legacy, and Englands brief experiment with republicanism
Jan 29 - Martin Luther's Wife
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Today we look at the life of Katarina Von Bora, who after a daring escape from a convent, married Martin Luther, had 6 children and ran many successful enterprises. We also take a tentative look at her influence on her husband.
Jan 28 - Excommunicating an Emperor
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Todays pod looks at the incredible story of the walk to Canossa, where in the dead of winter, Henry IV crossed the Alps by foot in a penitential act. Today Pope Gregory VII lifted his excommunication.
Jan 27 - Dante's Exile and his Divine Comedy
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Today in 1302, Italy's finest poet and some say the father of the Italian language, Dante Alighieri was exiled from Florence. In exile, he wrote the Divine Comedy, the greatest poem of the middle ages, and an allegory of the Soul's journey to God. Hear all about it in today's pod.
Jan 26 - India becomes a republic
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In 1950 on Jan 26 the Constitution of India came into force, forming a republic. One of the oldest civilisations in the world, India is officially a secular country nut with a deeply religious population. With 80% of the huge population identifying as Hindu with Christians about 2% of the population, but with a huge impact on education. Today's pod looks at how a Christian leader H.C. Mukherjee, became the Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Jan 25 - Founding of Sao Paulo
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A group of Jesuit missionaries built a mission on top of a steep hill on the Piratiningha plains. As part of the mission they founded the Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga today on January 25, 1554. Around the mission, grew up the Portuguese village of São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga which is now the most populous city in Brasil, and the fourth in the world.... This it's story
Jan 24 - Gregorian Calendar is now almost universal
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Today in 1918 the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars making its coverage almost universal. Today's pod looks at the history of it, why it was needed and how it was rolled out.... Enjoy!
Jan 22 - Arrival of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican
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On Jan 22 1506 the first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican. Todays pod looks at the historical context for their arrival, their famous colourful uniforms and how their role is changing all the time.
Jan 23 - Netherlands Splits, start of the Dutch Empire
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Seismic events in Northern Europe today on the 23rd of January and the Union of Utrecht effectively unites the northern provinces of the Netherlands. A radical experiment in Religious Freedom leads to the waning of Spain as an international force and heralds the beginning of the Dutch empire and the start of a Dutch Golden Age
Jan 21 - First prayer of Pilgrim Fathers in America
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On this day in Christian History, we go back to the year 1621 and the Pilgrims from England left their ship the Mayflower and gathered on shore at Plymouth, Massachusetts, for their first religious service. The story of their grueling journey and what motivated them.
Jan 20 - Communist Russia & Christianity
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Today in 1918 we remember how the Bolshevik-controlled government in Russia enacted the Decree that proclaimed the separation of church and state . This effectively meant that all church property in Russia was confiscated and all religious instruction in schools was abolished.
Jan 19 - Premiere of Goethe's Faust
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Today in 1829 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust receives its premiere performance, we look at the story behind the greatest work of German Literature.
Jan 18 - Final Session of Trent Opens
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The final session of the Council of Trent opened today in 1562. This would define Catholicism for the next four hundred years, a sadly mark the definite rupture with Protestantism.
Jan 17 - Baptising Children in Switzerland
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Today in 1525, the Zurich City Council arranged a public debate between Ulrich Zwingli and the Anabaptists who were opposed to infant Baptism. In reality there was more at stake than baptism,
Jan 16 - The Medici become the Popes Bankers
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Its 1412, The church is divided into three claims to the papacy, and the Medici become the Pope's bankers and one of the most powerful families in Europe
Jan 15 James Naismith invents Basketball
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Today in 1892 chaplain and teacher James Naismith publishes the rules of basketball at the Springfield YMCA in Massachusetts. This is the story.
Jan 7 - Galileo's Moons cause a revolution
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Today in 1610 Galileo Galilei observed 4 moons of Jupiter. This observation changed the way we understood the universe and led to conflict with the scientific community and then the Church. Todays pod explores this story.
Jan 8 - Gauchito Gil, Argentinas folk saint
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Today's episode looks at the curious phenomenon of Gauchito Gill killed today in1878. With his roadside shrines all over Argentina, he is venerated as a saint although not yet declared one by the church.
Jan 9 - The Black Nazarene
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Today millions of Phillipinos accompany a 7km procession of a statue of Christ carrying his cross in Manila. It lasts up to 22 hours and the intensity of devotion it inspires leads some to risk their lives... find out why in today's podcast
Jan 10- Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II
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On the 10th of January 1984, The United States and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations for the first time in 117 years. Today's pod looks a little at the bromance between President Reagan and Pope John Paul II
Jan 11 - The Danish Bishop who was the father of Geology
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Today the 11th of January we remember the Danish Bishop and pioneer in anatomy and geology Nicholas Steno, who was born today (according to the Gregorian Calendar)
Jan 12 - Digging Up the Bible
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Today in 1897 saw the discovery of some half a million papyrus fragments in a remarkable archeological discovery in Egypt. This increased our knowledge of the ancient world include the Bible.
Jan 13 - Mary Slessor dies in Nigeria
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Today's pod looks at the life of a remarkable Scottish Woman, who dedicated her life to saving twins from infanticide amongst tthe Okoyong people in Nigeria
Jan 14 - Albert Schweitzer
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The remarkable life and faith of Albert Schweitzer, who was born today in 1875
Jan 6 - Washington National Cathedral
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Today in 1893 Congress chartered the building of the Washington National Cathedral, Today's pod explores a remarkable building that is now of unifying importance for the nation.
Jan 5 - Twelfth Night
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Today is the last day of Christmas, so we explore the origins of Twelfth Night Festivities and answer the question why does Christmas last 12 days?
Jan 4 - I Promise to do my duty to God
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The Boys Scouts becomes a worldwide movement today in 1912 as the Scout Association was incorporated throughout the British Empire by royal charter. Today's pod looks at how the promise to do my duty to God has waxed and waned over the years
Jan 3 - The Apostle of Lepers
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The amazing story of Father Damian, the apostle of lepers, who was born today in 1840
Jan 2 - New Name New Mission
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Jan 1 - Amazing Grace
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Today the Anglican Priest John Newton introduced a new hymn called I Chronicles 17.16-172 this has since became known as Amazing Grace, We look at how it has become one of the most popular hymns of all time
Dec 31 Abraham Lincoln and the Deity
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We look at how Abraham Lincoln saved the constitution and kept the country together - but wasn't able to change the constitution to acknowledge the deity
Dec 30 Ben Hur
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The ground breaking film Ben Hur was based on the novel that was voted the most influential Christian Book of the 19th Century. It tells the fictional story of a Jewish prisoner, who encounters Christ and eventually is freed from slavery by winning a chariot race
Dec 29 Thomas Becket
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Thomas Beckets murder in Canterbury Cathedral made him one of the most popular saints of the medieval period and Canterbury became a pilgrimage destination for many from around Europe
Dec 28 John Wycliffe and the Lollards
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John Wycliffe was a reforming priest from the 14th Century. However he grew more critical and distant from the Pope and Church and inspired a group called the Lollards. Sometimes he is called the evening star of scholasticism and the morning star of the Reformation
Dec 27 Hagia Sophia - The Holy Wisdom
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The building that has become iconic in Istanbul, today was consecrated as a church 'The Holy Wisdom', Under the Ottomans it became a mosque, Attaturk turned into a museum and Erdogan has turned it back into a mosque
Dec 26 Nuns on a hospital ship
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The first nurses on a US Navy hospital ship where 3 sisters from the Order of the Holy Cross - this is their story during the US Civil war
Dec 25 First record of Christmas as a holiday
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The Philocalus Calendar is the first time we have Christmas Day recorded as an annual feast
Dec 24 The First Christmas Crib at Greccio
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Francis of Assisi is credited of inventing the Live Crib at his hermitage at Greccio in Italy, this is the story of it
