Today in 1748, Denmark adopted the distinctive Nordic Cross flag design, which was later taken up by all the other Scandinavian countries. Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden all have the same design, but in different colour combinations. Above (left to right) are the flags of Norway, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
It is the feast of St Barnabas, the first generation Christian who led the church in Antioch and travelled with Paul on missionary journeys to Cyprus and Asia Minor. He is also traditionally said to be the author of the Letter of Barnabas, written in the late 1st or early 2nd century, which almost made it into the New Testament.
‘You are to love the one who made you, fear the one who created you, and glorify the one who redeemed you from death. Be simple in heart and rich in spirit. Do not join yourselves to those who walk the way of death. Hate everything that is not pleasing to God, and avoid all hypocrisy. Never forsake the commandments of the Lord.’ Letter of Baranbas
This is a special day in the story of the Turin Shroud (as it’s now known). In 1460, ownership of the Shroud had changed hands, and 40 years later, its new owner, the Duke of Savoy, gave his chapel in Chambéry a major upgrade to make it a suitable home for the holy relic. On this day in 1502, the Shroud was brought into the chapel with great ceremony, displayed to the large crowds who had gathered, and then locked away behind iron doors in a special niche behind the altar.
It’s Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s wedding anniversary! Wed today in 1509, Catherine was the first wife Henry got rid of (thankfully in her case only by divorce). The end of their marriage, when Henry ditched her for his second Queen, Anne Boleyn, marked the beginning of the English Reformation.
Image: FamiljenHelsingborg