Portal:Christianity/DYK Archive
Archive of Did you know? items
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...that there are approximately two billion Christians worldwide?
...that there are usually 66 books in the Christian Bible?
...that there are over 33 000 Protestant denominations in 238 countries worldwide?
...that Jesus worked as a carpenter until the age of 30, when he began his ministry?
...that during the Avignon Papacy from 1305 to 1378, several medieval popes resided in Avignon and not in Rome?
...that Pope Paul VI was the last pontiff to be inaugurated as Pope through a papal coronation?
...that the Anglican Church was established because of the refusal of Pope Clement VII to annul the marriage of Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon?
...that Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama before commencing his civil rights struggle?
...that by proclamation of then-Governor George W. Bush, 10 June 2000 was "Jesus Day" in Texas?
...that the Christmas carol Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages?
...that the Bible was the greatest passion of Sir Isaac Newton, who said, "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired... I study the Bible daily"?
...that the Black Madonna of Częstochowa is credited with miraculously saving the Polish monastery of Jasna Góra (English: Bright Hill) from a Swedish 17th century invasion, known as The Deluge?
...that taking $370m in the United States, Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made?
...that, with 74% of its population Catholic and 15.4% Protestant, Brazil has the largest Christian population in the world?
...that ecclesiastical Latin remains the official language of the Roman Catholic Church and is thus also the official language of Vatican City?
...that although raised as a Christian, C. S. Lewis spent most of his youth being an atheist until discussions with close friends such as J. R. R. Tolkien gradually persuaded him to reconvert?
...that The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come, a Christian allegorical novel written in 1675 by John Bunyan while imprisoned in England, is regarded as one of the greatest classics of literature and has been widely translated into more than 100 languages other than its original English text?
...that the Amish are a denomination of Anabaptists, found primarily in the United States and Canada, who do not vote, join the military, pay or draw Social Security, or accept any form of assistance from the government?
...that some Catholics and Prayer Book Anglicans will refrain from eating the meat of warm blooded animals on Fridays, and will often choose fish instead?
...that in the Roman Catholic Church, there are seven sacraments; baptism, penance and reconciliation (informally called Confession), Eucharist (informally called Communion), Confirmation (in Eastern Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Church, equivalent to chrismation), Holy Matrimony (i.e. marriage), Holy Orders (becoming a priest) and Anointing of the Sick (also called Extreme Unction)?
...that Seventh-day Adventists believe that the custom of meeting for worship on Sunday originated in paganism, and instead keep Saturdays holy?
...that one of the most often quoted verses from the Bible is John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life"?
...that Christian demonology has assigned the colors red and black to represent Satan?
...that Roman Catholic and most Protestant churches celebrate Mass, while Eastern Christian churches instead celebrate Divine Liturgy?
...that the length of a Church service can vary widely, depending on the denomination and priest, and can range from 40 minutes to 3 hours?
...that Mandarin Chinese translates the word "Christ" as Jidu (基督)?
...that the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world?