Daily Calendar - August 17

229th day of the year, 136 days left until the New Year.

Church Calendar

Commemoration of the Seven Ephesian Children: Maximilian, Iamelichos, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Constantine and Antonine; Holy Protomartyr Eudokias; Holy Martyr Eleftherias; Holy Martyr Cosmas.

The Seven Ephesian Children: Maximilian, Iamelichos, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Constantine and Antonine lived in the 3rd century. Saint Maximilian was the ruler of the city of Ephesus. When Emperor Decius arrived in Ephesus, he demanded that everyone worship idols. By his order, those who disobeyed were to be punished with death. Seven Christian children were brought to the emperor, but the emperor spared them in the hope that they would return to paganism. The children took refuge in a cave, where the entrance was stoned by order of the emperor. The Lord sent them to sleep for two centuries.

The Holy Protomartyr Eudokia lived in the 4th century. Along with 9,000 Christians, she also fell into captivity of the Persian Shah. Eudokia was tortured for a long time and beheaded for her Christianity.

The Holy Martyr Eleftherios served the pagan emperor. He converted to Christianity and took refuge in a cave. One of his servants gave away his whereabouts. He was beheaded for defending Christianity.

The Holy Martyr Cosmas was originally from Aetolia. He became a monk in the Philotheus monastery on Mount Athos. Then he went to Constantinople, where he preached Christianity.

Saint Cosmas ended his work with a martyr's death.

Born:

1686 — Nicola Antonio Porpora – Italian composer.

1829 _ Filimon Koridze – Georgian singer, teacher, folklorist.

1906 — Ucha Japaridze – Georgian painter.

1911 _ Mikhail Botvinnik – famous Russian chess player.

1930 — Levan Chilashvili _ professor, corresponding member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Died in 2004.

1935 Oleg Tabakov Russian actor.

1937 _ Givi Vashakidze, painter.

1943 — Robert De Niro – American actor.

1946 — Elguja Medzmariashvili – constructor.

1970 — Jim Currie – American tennis player.

Died:

1786 — Frederick II – King of Prussia from 1740 to 1760.

1850 — José San Martín – led the fight for the freedom of South America.

1987 – Rudolf Hess – one of the leaders of the Nazis.

Events:

1682 – Peter I was crowned Tsar of Russia.

1807 – Robert Fulton invented the steam engine.

1836 – The British Parliament approved the procedure for registering births, marriages and deaths.

1858 – The first telegraph connection was established between Europe and America.

1915 – Charles Kettering patented the electric starter for a car.

1917 – Italy declared war on Germany and Turkey.

1918 – British troops attacked Baku.

1934 – The first automatic telephone exchange was put into operation in Tbilisi.

1945 – Indonesia declared independence.

1959 – The USSR and Iraq signed a contract to build a nuclear reactor in Iraq.

1960 – The trial of Francis Powers began in Moscow.

1962 – Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr in the Beatles.

1978 – Max Anderson, Ben Aruzzo and Jerry Newman successfully completed the first transatlantic hot air balloon flight.

1988 – The Republican Party nominated George Bush as its presidential candidate.

1998 – The financial crisis began in Russia.

Memorable days:

Norway - Constitution Day.

Argentina - José Martín Day.

Gabon - National holiday.

Indonesia - Independence Day.