All Day
October 7, 2025
This Feast, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a result of The Battle of Lepanto. Fought on October 7, 1571, this was a major naval engagement in the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece. The Holy League, a coalition of Christian states led by Spain and Venice, decisively defeated the Ottoman Empire's fleet under Ali Pasha. With over 400 galleys involved, the battle saw the Holy League's 212 ships outmaneuver and destroy much of the Ottoman's 251-vessel fleet, sinking or capturing over 100 ships. Around 40,000 men fought, with heavy losses on both sides—15,000 Ottoman and 7,500 Holy League casualties. The victory halted Ottoman naval expansion in the Mediterranean, boosting Christian morale and marking a turning point in the Ottoman-Habsburg wars, though the Ottomans rebuilt their fleet within a year.
Date of the Battle of Lepanto: a turning point in Christendom