Today in Church History

May 19

363 - During the night and early morning, earthquakes accompanied by ball lightning disrupt an attempt to rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem that was to begin the next day. These forces destroy much of the material gathered for the work. The rebuilding had the backing of the pagan emperor Julian as one of his lines of opposition to Christianity

715 - Pope Gregory II is elected Pope. He would run in conflict with Iconoclast Byzantine Emperor Leo III sparking a series revolts, schisms, and civil wars that would lead to the establishment of the temporal power of the Popes. 




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