5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols

The 600th Episode

Jun 19, 2024

Early church historian Stephen Nichols discusses the poet Caedmon who was miraculously gifted with a poet's hand at a monastery. The episode reflects on significant events in the year 600 A.D., theology, poetry, angelic history, and celebrates the milestone of 600 episodes.

05:00

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Stephen Nichols

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Quick takeaways

Pope Gregory I introduced 'God bless you' during the bubonic plague outbreak in 600 A.D. to seek God's protection.

Caedmon's poem on Genesis narrates celestial beings' initial righteousness before succumbing to error, highlighting themes of divine worship and consequences of pride.

Deep dives

Gregory I's introduction of 'God bless you' after sneezing during the bubonic plague outbreak

During the bubonic plague outbreak in 600 A.D., Pope Gregory I introduced the phrase 'God bless you' after someone sneezes in an attempt to seek God's protection from the plague, which was affecting places like Constantinople and other cities.

Reflecting on the year 600 A.D. and 600 reasons to love church history

5min

According to the early church historian Bede, Caedmon was an illiterate herdsman at a monastery who was miraculously gifted with a poet's hand. Today, Stephen Nichols tells us about the poem on Genesis attributed to Caedmon.

Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-600th-episode/

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