#OnThisDay in 683, Pope St Leo II died; he upheld the 6th Ecumenical Council and curtailed Ravenna bishops

On the connivance of his wife Rosamunde, the Lombard king Alboin was murdered by Peredeo at Verona #OnThisDay in 572

Justinian's indomitable empress and trusted adviser Theodora died of a "cancer" #OnThisDay in 548 #sixthcentury

#OnThisDay, the western church celebrates the feast of Irenaeus, 2nd century Church Father and bishop of Lyon

The feast of Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria 412-444 and a central figure in the Council of Ephesus 431 and in the opposition to Nestorianism is celebrated #OnThisDay

Crescens, a fellow missionary of St Paul and martyred in Galatia under Trajan, is commemorated #OnThisDay

Perhaps #OnThisDay in 684, despite being elected some months earlier, Benedict II became pope on the permission of Constantine IV

#OnThisDay in 405, Vigilius, first bishop of Trent, was stoned to death near Lake Garda by pagans

#OnThisDay in 363, the emperor Julian was fatally wounded rushing unarmoured into a major skirmish at Samarra

The feast of John and Paul, eunuchs of Constantina, beheaded on the Caelian Hill in c.362, is celebrated #OnThisDay