Memorial of Saints (December 28)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Holy Innocents, martyrs
• Antony of Lerins
• Gaspar del Bufalo

The Holy Innocents (first century A.D.) were put to death by King Herod in an effort to destroy the One who was to be born King of the Jews out of fear for his own throne (Matthew 2:16-18). They are venerated as martyrs who died not because of Christ, but instead of Christ, Learn more

St. Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837 A.D.) was the founder of the Society of the Precious Blood in 1815 A.D., an order of priests and brothers dedicated to parish ministry, parish missions and other forms of missionary work. They promote devotion to the Precious Blood as a sign of Christ's redemptive love for all humanity. (Pope Pius IX was an early member of the congregation.) St. Gaspar del Bufalo was canonized in 1954 A.D.

December 28 - Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• 20,000 Martyrs in Nicomedia
• St. Domna, Martyr

The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia refers to victims of persecution of Christians in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey) by the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian in the early 4th century A.D.

According to various martyrologies, the persecution included the burning of a church that held numerous Christians on Christmas Day.

The story of their martyrdom began after the Emperor Maximian returned from battle and won against the Ethiopians in 304 A.D. To thank their gods after the victory Maximian acquired, everyone was ordered to sacrifice to idols. The Christians were in the church celebrating Christmas. When the Christians refused to sacrifice to idols, the Emperor Maximian and his soldiers entered the Church and told the Christians that they could escape punishment if they renounce Christ. Since the Christians refused to do so, Maximian ordered the soldiers to kill the priest Glycerius by burning him to death, including all the Christians in the church. Learn more from Wikipedia.org

Memorial of Saints (December 27)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• John, apostle and evangelist
• Fabiola, widow
• Nicarete, virgin
• Theodore and Theophanes
• John Stone, priest and martyr

St. John was born in Bethsaida, Galilee. He and his brother James followed Christ and became apostles, with John becoming Christ's beloved disciple. In the hour of Christ's death on the Cross, John was with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. It was there before the death of Christ, that Christ entrusted His mother to John.

St. John was not only an apostle but also an evangelist like his companion-apostle Matthew. John's gospel is the last gospel to be written. Three letters are also attributed to John in the New Testament. John is the only apostle not to die as a martyr.

December 27 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• St. Stephen, Protomartyr, Apostle and Archdeacon
• Theodore, brother of St. Theophanes

Sts. Theodore (ca. 775-841 A.D.) and Theophanes (born ca. 778 A.D.) were born at Kerak, Moab (Transjordan) and became monks at St. Sabas Monastery. He and his brother Theophanes were exiled to an island in the Black Sea when they opposed the iconclastic activities of Emperor Leo the Armenian. Upon the death of Emperor Leo in 820 A.D., the brothers returned to Constantinople. They were again banished by Emperor Theophilus in 829 A.D.. When Theophilus died, Theophanes was brought back and was later named bishop of Nicaea. Both brothers are called Graptoi (written-on) because twelve lines of verses had been cut into their skins for their opposition to iconoclasm.

St. Theodore is commemorated in both the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar this day, December 27. St. Theophanes (called the Chronicler) is commemorated in the Roman Calendar every 12th of March.

Memorial of Saints (December 26)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Stephen, martyr
• Archelaus, bishop
• Dionysius, pope
• Zosimus, pope

St. Stephen (1st century A.D.) was one of the first deacons in the early Christian Church of Jerusalem. As a brilliant speaker he was very successful and drew the hatred of the Jews on himself. The story of his martyrdom is presented in the Acts of the Apostles.

Sts. Stephen, Archelaus, Dionysius, Zosimus, Learn more

December 26 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God and St. Joseph, her Spouse
• St. Euthymius, Priest-Martyr

(Author's note: AI Overview from Google Search on the "Synaxis" provided below. Generative AI is experimental)

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God and St. Joseph, her Spouse is a celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church that takes place on December 26. It is celebrated on the second day of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The name of the festival refers to the gathering of the faithful to honor the Virgin Mary and her spouse, St. Joseph.

The word "Synaxis" refers to a gathering for worship, or a congregation that meets for a liturgical service. It can also refer to an early part of the Eastern Orthodox Church's divine liturgy.

St. Euthymius the Great:

In the Roman Calendar, the feast of St. Euthymius is every January 20. In the Byzantine Calendar, he is commemorated today, December 26.

More on St. Euthymius the Great (Wikipedia.org)