This week in Christian history: Pope Urban VI dies, Knights Templar arrested, Martin Luther debates cardinal

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, October 11, 2020

A statue of 16th-century theologian Martin Luther holds a Bible in the hand on the marketplace during the celebrations to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Luther's nailing of his 95 theses on the doors of the nearby Schlosskirche church on October 31, 2017, in Wittenberg, Germany. | Carsten Koall/Getty Images

Christianity is a faith with a long and extensive history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages.

Each week brings the anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, births, deaths, and everything else in between.

Some of the things drawn from over 2 millennia of history might be very familiar to the reader, while other happenings might be previously unknown.

Here are three things that happened this week, Oct. 11-17, in Church history. They include the death of Pope Urban VI, the arrests of the Knights Templar, and the start of a three-day debate between Martin Luther and a cardinal.