Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints
- John of Kanty, priest
- The Ten Martyrs of Crete
- Victoria and Anatolia, virgins and martyrs
- Servulus
- Dagobert of Austrasia
- Thorlac, bishop
- Marie Margeruite d'Youville
St. John of Kanty (1390-1473 A.D.) was a Polish priest and professor at the University of Cracow. John was born of a well-to-do family at Kanty, near Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland. For some unknown reason, perhaps out of envy at his success, he was later removed from his teaching position and assigned to a parish in Olkusz. His parish ministry being unsuccessful, he was later recalled to occupy a chair of theology at the university. He urged his students to oppose false opinions with moderation and courtesy. And he himself was held in such high esteem that his academic gown was used to vest each new doctor of the university.
St. Thorlac of Skalholt (1133-1193 A.D.) was born in Iceland, became a deacon when he was fifteen, and was ordained when he was eighteen. He was sent abroad to study and then returned to Iceland in 1161 A.D. He founded a community of Augustinian Canons and became its abbot. In 1178 A.D., he was named bishop of Skalholt, one of Iceland's two dioceses. He reformed the see, insisted on clerical discipline and celibacy, abolished lay patronage, and fought simony. He planned to resign and move to Thykkviboer and retire, but he died on December 23. The bishops of Iceland canonized him in 1198 A.D. and made patron saint of Iceland, but his cult has never been formally approved by the Holy See in Rome. Learn more from CatholicNewsAgency.com.
December 23 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar
- The Ten Martyrs of Crete
The Ten Martyrs of Crete are both commemorated in the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar. These ten were executed during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius from 249 to 251 A.D.
- Theodulus,
- Saturninus,
- Euporus,
- Gelasius,
- Eunician, (and all the four above were from Gortyn),
- Zoticus from Knossos,
- Pompius from Lebena,
- Agathopus from Panormos,
- Basilides from Kydonia (Hania),
- and Evaristus from Iraklion
The ten refused to worship at the shrine of the deity of the emperor Decius as god of Rome. The ten were brought before the governor of Crete. At their trial they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to worship the emperor and other idols. They were imprisoned and tortured for one month. But the torture did not change their opinions, and they continued to glorifying God. They were sentenced by the governor of Crete to be beheaded. Learn more from OrthodoxWiki.org.