On August 26, 1978, a conclave elected the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Albino Luciani, to the See of Peter, taking the name John Paul I. He led the Catholic Church for 33 days. ¹⁾

The demon Asmodeus occurs mainly in the Book of Tobit. In addition, he appears in demonology and in some Talmudic legends, to which he probably came from Zarathustrianism at the time when the territories of the Jews passed into the hands of the Persian Achaemenids. Before the fall he belonged to the Seraphim Choir. In it, he was the Ashma-devah - the leader of the devas (demons). ²⁾

Armenia is the first country in the world to declare Christianity the state religion, earlier than the Roman Empire did. This was probably during the reign of King Tyridates III (298-330) as early as 301, at a time when Rome was undergoing severe persecution of Christians on the orders of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). ³⁾

The Great Western Schism was a period that lasted from 1378 to 1417. It had to do with the end of the Avignon Captivity In 1377, Pope Gregory XI, who resided in Avignon, returned to Rome. After his death in 1378, Urban VI was elected in Rome, but the decision was contested by some pro-Franciscan cardinals who sided with their own candidate, Clement VII. This marked the beginning of a decades-long dual government (and after the Council of Pisa, even a triple government). Church unity was not restored until 1417 at the Council of Constance. ⁴⁾

Pax et Treuga Dei was first introduced by the synod of Charroux in 989. It set a time frame for an absolute armistice: from Wednesday evening to Monday morning, later also throughout the Advent and Lenten seasons. The oldest state peace was concluded in 1103 at Mainz. Great authority was later enjoyed by the Landfried of Mainz, Frederick II. ⁵⁾

In the Scriptures, we do not find an accurate description of Jesus. As a Jew, he had dark eyes and hair and probably did not wear his hair long. This would have been unlike the Jews and Romans at the time. Proof that Jesus was not particularly distinctive in his appearance is the fact that not only do we not have a detailed description of him in the Bible (if he looked special, indeed the inspired authors would not have omitted this fact), but Judas must have pointed him out with a kiss, handing him over to the guards. ⁶⁾

The exact date of Jesus' birth is not known. The first Christians did not actually celebrate Christmas. The 25th day of December is a symbolic date adopted by Christians of the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD. It is associated with the Christians' response to pagan holidays celebrated immediately after the winter solstice. ⁷⁾

Although it is widely accepted that we are 2022 after the birth of Christ, this dating is also most likely incorrect. The dispute is unresolvable, but scientists believe that Jesus was most likely born between 8 and 4 B.C.! ⁸⁾

Isa ibn Maryam, for that, is the Arabic and Muslim name of Jesus in Islam, which appears in the Quran as many as 26 times! ⁹⁾

Muslims recognize Jesus as the most important prophet after Mohammed and the previously announced messiah created by Allah in the womb of Mary without the participation of a man. Jesus, however, is not recognized by them as God. He is therefore not co-equal with the Father. This is because it would conflict with the monotheistic concept of Islam, which has no place for one God in three persons. ¹⁰⁾

Judas, performing his role in salvation history, became the most famous traitor in the history of mankind. ¹¹⁾

The famous thirty pieces of silver, however, was a sum greater than a paltry handful of coins. Indeed, it was the equivalent of four laborers' wages! ¹²⁾

When the new faith reached Damascus and Antioch, which was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the third largest city in the Empire, the local pagans, who were in a large majority, gave the followers of Jesus the name Christians. This was actually a contemptuous term, so it should be translated as Christians. The early Christians were so called because the followers, divided into small groups, did not constitute any force and were simply made fun of for believing in an anointed one who was false according to the pagans. ¹³⁾

The symbol of the first Christians was not a cross at all. The first followers of Christ used the symbol of a fish. The fish was not only to remind of Christ's miraculous multiplication of bread and fish and the fact that the apostles were to be fishers of men. Above all, the Greek word Ichthys, written in capital letters, was meant to stand for an abbreviation that could be translated as Jesus Christ God's Son the Savior. ¹⁴⁾

The fact about persecution of the early Christians is well known. The first followers of Christ recognized that he who dies a martyr's death simply because he does not deny his faith will be saved. ¹⁵⁾

Relics still arouse great interest today, and not everyone understands their meaning. Things left behind by people considered sacred, according to believers, have a special power. The same applies to their remains. Unfortunately, as is usually the case with objects with unearthly powers, wily people quickly saw this as a way to make money. After all, everyone would like to be able to carry a saint's ear in their pocket to guard them against evil powers! Fortunately, the Church, seeing the gullibility of the faithful and fearing idolatry on their part, decided at the Lateran Council in 1215 that every relic must be approved by the Pope. Today, the trade in relics is strictly forbidden. ¹⁶⁾