Day's Calendar – September 18

The 261st day of the year; 104 days remain until the New Year.

Church Calendar

Commemoration of the Prophet Zechariah and the Righteous Elizabeth—parents of Saint John the Baptist (1st century); Martyrs Theophila and her sister Thebea (Vevea) (98–138); Martyr Sarvilus; Martyr Raisa (Iraida) (308); Martyrs Juventinus and Maximus the soldiers (361–363); Martyrs Urban, Theodore, Medimnus, and 77 companions (monastics) martyred in Nicomedia (370); Martyr Abdis (Abidis) in Persia (5th century); Saint Peter of Athyra; the Prophet Zechariah of Jerusalem—son of Jehoiada the priest (also known as Barachiah)—who was slain by King Joash of Judah.

The Prophet Zechariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the Lord’s holy prophet, forerunner, and baptist, John. They were of the lineage of the High Priest Aaron. For a long time, they had no children. Once, while Zechariah was performing his priestly duties in the temple, an angel appeared to him and announced that he and his wife would have a son; however, Zechariah doubted the angel's words and was punished by losing his ability to speak until the birth of John.

The martyrs Tiphaelis and his sister Tibea suffered for preaching the Christian faith among the pagans.

The martyrs Juventinus and Maximus, who were soldiers, suffered during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate.

The martyrs Urbanus, Theodore, and Medimnus—along with 77 other clergy members—suffered for Christ in Nicomedia during the reign of Emperor Valens, a follower of the Arian heresy.

The martyr Abdas suffered in Persia during the reign of King Yazdegerd; he refused the demand of the Mazdeans to renounce the Christian faith and worship fire, and for this, he was brutally tortured.

Born:

1946 – Tedo Japaridze, diplomat, member of the "Georgian Dream" coalition, and Member of Parliament.

1891 – Otto Schmidt, Russian geophysicist, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and explorer. Died in 1956.

Deaths:

96 – Titus Flavius ​​Domitianus, Roman Emperor.

1911 – Pyotr Stolypin, prominent Russian statesman and author of agrarian reforms.

2017 – Zurab Sotkilava, Georgian tenor.

Events:

1769 – American John Harris built the first piano.

1810 – Chile gained independence.

1850 – The US Congress passed an immigration law.

1919 – Argentina recognized Georgia's independence.

1961 – UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash.

Observances:

USA – Constitution Week.

Netherlands – Queen's Speech Day (Prinsjesdag).

Chile – Independence Day.