NOVEMBER 28 IS THE FEAST OF POPE ST. GREGORY III.

Pope Gregory III was the fifth Syrian pope and the tenth and last pope born outside of Europe until the election of Pope Francis I in 2013. He fought iconoclasm and the Lombard invasion into Rome.

November 28 is the birthday of poet, artist, engraver and Gnostic mystic WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827).

November 28 is the birthday of the Flemish painter ABRAHAM BRUEGHEL (1631-c. 1690). He was from the famous Brueghel family of artists. He emigrated at a young age to Italy where he played an important role in the development of the style of decorative Baroque still lifes. To see samples of his work, CLICK HERE.

November 28 is the birthday of Italian-French composer JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY (1632-1687).

Lully, who composed some of the grandest music of the 17th century for King Louis XIV of France, would also conduct his own works using the large staff favored by conductors of the time. Once, he accidentally brought down on the staff on his foot, severely wounding himself. His foot became infected, he developed gangrene and he died. This video is a dramatization of the event.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On November 28, 1811, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" had its premiere at the Gewandhaus at Leipzig with Archduke Rudolf as the soloist.

November 28 is the birthday of Spanish pianist and conductor JOSÉ ITURBI (1895-1980). He appeared in several Hollywood films of the 1940s, notably playing himself in the musicals, Thousands Cheer (1943), Anchors Aweigh (1945), That Midnight Kiss (1949), and Three Daring Daughters (1948), his only leading role.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On November 28, 1920, THE MARK OF ZORRO starring Douglas Fairbanks opened. Fairbanks did all his own stunts in this hugely popular swashbuckler.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On November 28, 1909, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 was first performed by Rachmaninoff himself, with the New York Symphony Society conducted by Walter Damrosch at the New Theater (later rechristened the Century Theater). It received a second performance under Gustav Mahler on January 16, 1910.

Here it is performed by one its finest contemporary interpreters, Daniil Trifonov.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On November 28, 1924, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City.