Daily Calendar _ June 20

The 171st day of the year, 194 days left until the New Year.

Church Calendar

Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra (303); Martyrs: Valeria, Kyriakias and Maria (284-305); Hieromartyr Marcellus, Pope of Rome and Martyrs: Claudius, Quirines and Antonines (304); Martyrs: Sisinus and Quirines, deacons, Smaragda, Larga, Apronianes, Saturnines, Papius and Maurus, soldiers and Crescentianes; Martyr Mothers: Priscilla, Luciana and Artemias, the daughter of the king (304-310); Saints: Anthimus the Five and Stephen.

The Holy Martyr Theodote was a native of the city of Ancyra in Galilee. He was distinguished by his special kindness and generosity. During the anti-Christian campaign of the reign of Diocletian, he helped Christians in every way and even gave them his apartment so that they could set up a secret chapel there. Theodote refused to sacrifice to idols, called pagan worship a lie, and publicly confessed Christ, for which he was terribly tortured and beheaded.

Saint Marcellinus was Pope of Rome during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximilian. In those times, the persecution of Christians was especially intense. In one month, 17,000 people were tortured. Pope Marcellinus was also captured, who, fearing inhuman torture, burned incense and offered incense to pagan idols. At that time, a church council was being held in the city of Sinues (Campania), in which 180 bishops and presbyters participated. Pope Marcellinus came to this council with ashes on his head and asked the council to punish him for apostasy. Returning to Rome, Marcellinus went to the emperor, threw his clothes on him and told him that he deeply regretted having renounced Christ. The enraged emperor ordered him to be tortured and finally sentenced him to death.

Marcellinus prayed fervently before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Forgiver of Sinners, and without murmuring he met the executioner. The holy martyrs Claudius, Cyrene, and Antonine were beheaded with him.

Born:

1815 — Jacques Offenbach, French composer, founder of classical opera. Died in 1880.

1861 — Frederick Howland Hopkins, English biochemist, discoverer of vitamins. Died in 1947.

1894 _ Shalva Apkhaidze, writer. Died in 1968.

1903 — George Orwell, writer, author of the famous novel _ "1984". Died in 1974.

1909 — Ksenia Sikharulidze, folklorist, professor. Died in 1976.

1928 _ Jean-Marie Le Pen, French far-right politician.

1928 — Hamlet Gonashvili, prominent singer. Died in 1985.

Died:

1911 — David Sarajishvili, founder of cognac production in Georgia, patron of the arts.

1597 — Willem Barentsz, Dutch sailor.

1966 — Georges Lemaître, Belgian astronomer.

Events:

1837 — Victoria I, the last representative of the Hanoverian dynasty, became Queen of Great Britain.

1895 — The Kiel Canal was opened, connecting the Baltic and North Seas. Its length is 98 km.

1937 — Russian pilots Chkalov, Baidukov, and Belyakov flew over the North Pole to the United States. They flew for 63 hours and 16 minutes.

1974 — The Turks invaded Northern Cyprus.

Memorable days:

International Refugee Day.

Argentina — Flag Day

Senegal — Independence Day