History
Today in Christian History

February 9

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
<>

February 9, 249 (traditional date): According to Dionysius (died c. 264), bishop of Alexandria, on this date, Roman officials “seized that marvelous aged virgin Apolloinia, broke out all her teeth with blows on her jaws, and piling up a bonfire before the city, threatened to burn her alive if she refused to recite with them their blasphemous sayings. But she asked for a brief delay and without flinching leapt into the fire and was consumed” (see issue 27: Persecution in the Early Church).

February 9, 1881: Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky dies. A devout Russian Orthodox Christian, the author of Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880) once wrote “If someone proved to me that Christ is outside the truth, and that in reality the truth were outside of Christ, then I should prefer to remain with Christ rather than with the truth.

Our Latest

Analysis

Housing Doesn’t Solve Homelessness

At California’s Orange County Rescue Mission, a two-year program provides far more than a roof over residents’ heads.

Duvall’s ‘The Apostle’ Treated Evangelicals With Empathy

Aaron Griffith

In the late actor’s hands, Christian conversion was not something to be lampooned or deconstructed but an object of wonder.

News

Trump’s SOTU Heralded a Revival. The Data Is Mixed.

In a State of the Union focused on immigration and domestic policy, the president’s mention of Christianity was brief and debatable.

At SOTU, Trump Overstates and Inflates Presidential Power

In his State of the Union marking our 250th year, the president honored athletes, veterans, Sage Blair, America—and himself.

Public Theology Project

What If Aliens Are Real? A Thought Experiment

I don’t know how likely extraterrestrial life might be. But no matter what, the truth of Christianity will stand.

Faith Should be Public but Not Performative

Christian faith must act on behalf of the most vulnerable, not clutter social media feeds.

Analysis

First, Honesty. Then, Multiplication Tables.

We need to know how badly students are failing in math class. Then we must return to the fundamentals.

News

Mass Kidnappings Leave Nigerian Churches Reeling

Emiene Erameh

Christian leaders fight to draw attention to the abductions by criminal gangs amid government denial.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube