december synaxarion

7/24/2019 December Synaxarion

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December

SynaxarionThis month has thirty-one days with nine hours of day and fifteen hours

of night.

December 1

Memory of the holy Prophet Nahum (Seventh century

B.C.)

The Prophet Nahum was born in Elcos, Galilee. He

predicted the ruin of Ninive, in the second half of the

Seventh century B..

Fifth Class Feast.

Sunday of the Blind Man of Jericho: On the Sunday which falls

between ecember !-"# the $os%el of the Fourteenth Sunday after the&'altation of the (enerable and )ife-gi*ing Cross +)u,e !:"-/"0 is

read# where the healing of the blind man of Jericho named Bartimeus is

mentioned.

December 2

Memory of the holy Prophet Habacuc (Seventh century

B.C.).

This holy prophet prophesied the devastation of the Temple

and of !erusalem, as well as the destruction of Ninive,

before the captivity of !uda "end of the Seventh century

B..#.

Fifth Class Feast.

December 3

Memory of the holy Prophet Sophona (Seventh century

B.C.).


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Saint Sophonia prophesied around the end of the Seventh

century B.., concernin$ !erusalem, the end of %srael, the

conversion and salvation of the Gentiles, the re&ection ofthe un$odly, the $lorification of the !ust, and the $eneral

&ud$ment of every creature.

Fifth Class Feast.

December !

Memory of the holy "reat martyr Barbara (#).

$ur venerable %ather &ohn Dama'cene (!*#)

'ccordin$ to the le$end in the Gree( )enaia, Saint

Barbara lived under Emperor )a*imian. Her father was a

pa$an named +ioscorus. !ealous of his dau$htersremar(able beauty, +ioscorus (ept her imprisoned in a

tower, for he was not unaware that she was a vir$in andalready won over to hristianity. He was still further

convinced of it, when, havin$ arran$ed for two windows to

be put into a bath which he was buildin$, his dau$hterordered three windows. -uestioned concernin$ her reasons,

she answered /So that it be in the name of the 0ather, Son

and Holy Spirit./ 't these words, +ioscorus wanted to

immediately behead her with his own sword, but sheescaped from fallin$ into his hands. He lun$ed at her from

behind a roc(, but she fled to the mountains. Havin$ beenadvised of it, her father followed her, found her, anddelivered her over to the $overnor of the province, before

whom she confessed hrist and scorned the idols. Then she

was cruelly beaten, her body was torn open by pinpunctures, her sides were burned, and her head was

battered by lar$e stones. Then she was stripped and led

throu$h the entire city. She was further overpowered byassaults. 't last, she ended her martyrdom, beheaded by the

hands of her own father. %t is told that this wretched man

was struc( by li$htnin$ when he came down from the

mountain where he had (illed his dau$hter.

Saint !ohn +amascene was born in +amascus, in an

illustrious family, the son of Ser$ius, the son of )ansour,

the $eneral administrator of aliph 'bdalmali( "1234563#.

He received a complete education, than(s to his virtuousfather, and he probed the depths of the Holy Scriptures.

%mpelled on by his faith, he abandoned his paternal riches


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and embraced monastic life in the laura of Saint Sabbas, in

the company of Saint osmas, the future Bishop of

)aiuma. 7nder divine inspiration, they both composed aconsiderable number of troparia and canons in praise of

God, the Theoto(os, and the Saints. 8rdained a priest,

without doubt by his teacher !ohn, the Patriarch of!erusalem "561459:#, he coura$eously combatted the

un$odly %conoclast heresy by the vi$or of his discourses

and the irrefutable ar$uments which he (new how to pullout of Scripture. He left behind him a $reat number of

wor(s, comprisin$ almost wholly and in perfect clarity the

whole body of re;uired (nowled$e. He died at the ir$in. This le$end does not seem to be historicallyfounded.

Fourth Class Feast. Ty%i,a and Beatitudes.

Tro%aria: of Saint Barbara# of Saint John amascene# and of the

Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ

+ecember 450. &%istle# $os%el# and 2inoni,on of Saint Barbara.

6n occurrence with a Sunday# see the rule for general occurrences.

Sunday of the Stoo%ed 7oman: On the Sunday which falls betweenecember /-!5# the $os%el of the tenth Sunday after the &'altation of

the (enerable and )ife-gi*ing Cross# +)u,e !":!5-!80# is read# which

mentions the healing of the stoo%ed woman on the Sabbath day.

December +

Memory of our venerable an, "o,-bearn %ather

Sabba' the Sanctfe, (!3*-+32).

Saint Sabbas was born in :9= in )utalascus in appadocia.?hile still very youn$, he embraced reli$ious life in the

monastery of 0lvinia in appadocia. %n :35, at the a$e ofei$hteen, he went to the monastery of Passarion in

!erusalem. Saint Euthymius, who had remar(ed about him

for his eminent virtue and called him the /youn$ old man,/

directed him to Saint Theo(tistos in :32. 'fter SaintEuthymius une*pected death in :59, he spent five years in


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solitude. He then went to ta(e up his abode in :52 in a

$rotto on the left ban( of the edron @iver opposite the

monastery which today bears his name. 's several mon(scame to place themselves under his direction, he erected a

tower on the ri$ht ban( of the torrent and made the water

$ush forth over this arid land by his prayer. ' vast $rottotransformed into a church was blessed in :=A by Sallustos,

the Patriarch of !erusalem, who conferred priestly

ordination upon Saint Sabbas at the same time and namedhim the archimandrite of all the hermits of Palestine. The

Saint undertoo( upon the re;uest of the Patriarchs of

!erusalem two ambassadorships to Emperors 'nastasius %,

in 3A, and !ustinian, in 39A. @eachin$ a $reat old a$e, hedied on +ecember 3, 39, at the a$e of ninety4three. The

Typi(on of Ecclesiastical 8ffices and the Typi(on of

)onastic % returned Saint Sabbasrelics to the monastery of )assaba in !ordan on 8ctober

:, A=13.

Third Class Feast# follow the general order of a Third Class Feast.

December /

Memory of our %ather amon the Sant'0 Nchola' the

on,erorer0

4rchb'hop of Myra n 5yca. (%ourth century)

This holy bishop lived in the time of Emperors +iocletian

and )a*imian. 'fter havin$ led the monastic life for a

while, he was promoted to the episcopal di$nity for hise*ceptional and eminent virtue. Because he defended the

interests of hristians and coura$eously preached the true

reli$ion, he was seiCed by the citys ma$istrates and throwninto prison in company with other hristians, after he was

overpowered by assaults and inflicted with all (inds of

tortures. ?hen the $reat and pious onstantine too(possession of the @oman Empire by a Providential decree,

all the prisoners in fetters were released. Thus set at liberty,

Saint Nicholas returned to )yra and too( part in theouncil of Nicaea held sometime after by Emperor

onstantine in 93.

He died at a very old a$e leavin$ his holy body to the

faithful as a source of balm and healin$. He remains as iflivin$ after his death, havin$ received from heaven the $ift


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of miracles. His relics are preserved in Bari, %taly. His

power as a wonderwor(er $ave birth to a marvelous le$end

which is the ori$in of traditional childrens festivals in theEast as well as the ?est.

Third Class Feast# follow the general order of a ThirdClass Feast.

December

Memory of our %ather amon the Sant'0 4bro'e0

B'hop of Mlan (333 or 3!6-3*)

Saint 'mbrose was born in 999 or 9:6, in a noble hristianfamily. His father was the Prefect of the Pretorium of the

Gauls, in Treves. He received a solid education in @ome

and was named consular $overnor of Emilia and


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Fifth Class Feast.

December *

The onception of Saint 'nn, )other of the

Theoto(os.

'ccordin$ to the teachin$ of many of the hurch 0athers,

8ur esurrection# of the Feast +twice0# and of the

Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the Feast. &%istle of the Feast and

$os%el of the Sunday. Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,on of the Sunday and

of the Feast.

December 16

Memory of the holy Martyr' Mena'0 Hermoene'0 an,

9urapho' (#)

Saint )enas was an 'thenian by birth, a cultured man,

elo;uent, and of hi$h ran(. Saint Eu$raphos was his scribe.

Both were from old families, which had been hristian forseveral $enerations. Saint Hermo$enes held the position of

Eparch. Born in pa$anism, he was converted to the

hristian faith at the si$ht of Saint )enas miracles. Thesethree holy martyrs suffered at the same time for the faith in

'le*andria under )a*imin about 93.

Fifth Class Feast.

December 11


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Memory of our venerable %ather Danel the Stylte

(!6*-!*3).

Saint +aniel was born in :6= in the small mar(et4town of)aratha, in 7pper Euphratensis, near Samosata. He

embraced monastic life when he was twelve years old. Hethen went to Saint Simeon the Stylite and was blessed by

him. %n :3A, he went to 'napla, near onstantinople, andshut himself up in a temple of idols, where he was

submitted to multiple assaults by the demons. %n :16, he

became a stylite on a columnD neither cold, nor heat, norviolent winds4nothin$4could wea(en his coura$e. 8rdained

a priest by Patriarch Gennadius ":324:5A#, he won the

$eneral esteem and commanded the attention of everyone.Even Emperor ir$in )ary,

the intermediary between man(ind and her divine Son.

%ndeed, the


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to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ +ecember 450.

&%istle and $os%el of the =ncestors. 2inoni,on of the Sunday.

&%istle of the Twenty-ninth Sunday after 1entecost: Colossians ":/-!!.

$os%el of the &le*enth Sunday after the &'altation of the (enerable

and )ife-gi*ing Cross: )u,e !/:!?-4/.

December 12

Memory of our %ather amon the Sant' Spr,on0

B'hop of 8remthu' n Cypru'0 the on,erorer

(ca. 3!7)

Saint Spiridon was a simple peasant, married and the father

of several children, but in the thin$s of God, he would notyield to anyone. This shepherd led such a simple life that he

was &ud$ed worthy of becomin$ a shepherd of men, and sowas named Bishop of Tremithus, a city of yprus. His $reat

simplicity did not prevent him from continuin$ to feed hisfloc(s, even thou$h he was a bishop. He too( part,

accordin$ to some, in the 0irst Ecumenical ouncil of

Nicaea and died around 9:2. esurrection# of the =ncestors# of Saint

S%iridon# and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-festi*e

1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# andSa*ior Jesus Christ +ecember 450. &%istle of Saint S%iridon. $os%el

of the Sunday of the =ncestors. 2inoni,on of the Sunday.

+ecember A9

Memory of the holy Martyr' 9u'trato'0 4u:ento'0

9uene0 Mar,aro'0 an, $re'te' (bennn of the

%ourth century).

8he holy Martyr 5ucy0 vrn (%ourth century).

'ccordin$ to the evidence of tradition, the holy martyrs

Eustratios, 'u*entios, Eu$ene, )ardarios, and 8restes

suffered for the faith under +iocletian, around thebe$innin$ of the 0ourth century.


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' native of Syracuse, Sicily, Saint


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December 1

Memory of the holy Prophet Danel an, the 8hree


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persecution of )a*imian and +iocletian. 'fter havin$ been

pierced throu$h by a shower of arrows, his body was

bro(en by blud$eons and torn to shreds. He thus ended hismartyrdom around 22. ?ith him and also submitted to

martyrdom, after various tortures, were )arcellinus and

)arcus, his brothersD Tran;uilinus and )arcia, theirparentsD Nicostratos and oe, his wife, as well as Tiburtios,

laudius, astulus, and astor.

Fifth Class Feast.

Sun,ay Before the Natvty 4ccor,n to the %le'h of

$ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't= Memory of all

the %ather' ho ere areeable to "o,0 from 4,am to

&o'eph0 the 'pou'e of the Mo't Holy 8heotoo'

(Sun,ay of the %ather' or of the "enealoy)

8n Sunday, +ecember A2, or on the Sunday whichimmediately follows it, memory is made of all the Saints of

the 8ld Testament, from 'braham to !oseph, the spouse of

the )ost Holy Theoto(os. This feast is a prolon$ation ofthat of the Holy 'ncestors of 8ur


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relics, in &est he promised her that he would soon brin$

bac( his own body to her. 'ccompanied by several of his

fellow4servants, he went to ilicia where the holy martyrswere then sufferin$. SeiCed by the President, he

coura$eously confessed his faith and submitted to

martyrdom. His companions brou$ht bac( his holy body.The holy martyr had (ept his word.

Fifth Class Feast.

6f ecember 45 falls on a Sunday# the feast of Saint 6gnatius the $od-

bearer of =ntioch is antici%ated on ecember !@# which is normally

fi'ed on ecember 45. =fter the Tro%arion of Saint Boniface# then the

Tro%arion of Saint 6gnatius will be sung.

+ecember 6

8he Pre-fe'tve Pero, of the Natvty accor,n to the

%le'h of $ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't

Memory of the holy Heromartyr ;natu' the "o,-

bearer of 4ntoch (16)

Saint %$natius was the successor of the 'postles in the seeof 'ntioch, and the second bishop of this city after Evodios.

Sent to @ome, laden with chains, he confirmed in the faith

the hurches of the cities which he passed throu$h andwrote seven admirable letters to them. %n his letter to the

@omans, he $ives himself the name of Theophorus to

si$nify that he carried God in his soul. He was torn apart by

the teeth of wild beasts in the ampitheater of @ome, underEmperor Tra&an, on +ecember 6, A65.

Fifth Class Feast.

Ty%i,a and Beatitudes. Tro%aria: of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the

3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ# of the Saint# and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-

festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od#and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

On the Sunday between ecember 45 and 4": Ty%i,a and Beatitudes.

6sodi,on of the Sunday. Tro%aria: of the >esurrection# of the 1re-festi*e

1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# andSa*ior Jesus Christ# of the Fathers +see the Sunday before the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ0# and

of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the


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3ati*ity according to the Flesh of our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ. &%istle and $os%el of the Sunday before the 3ati*ity according

to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. 2inoni,on of

the Sunday. The memory of Saint 6gnatius was antici%ated onecember !@.

December 21

Secon, Pre-fe'tve Day of the natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the holy Martyr &ulana of Ncome,a

(bennn of the %ourth century)

The dau$hter of wealthy parents of Nicomedia, Saint

!uliana lived under Emperor )a*imian. )arried to apa$an, named Eleusios, a senator then an eparch, she

refused to live with him because he refused to embrace thehristian faith. Bein$ furious, hr husband delivered her

over to the &ud$es. She was beheaded around == after

many tortures.

Fifth Class Feast.

Tro%aria: of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to theFlesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of Saint Juliana# and

of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the

3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior JesusChrist +%ro%er to this day0.

December 22

8hr, Pre-fe'tve Day of the Natvty accor,n to the

%le'h of $ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't.

Memory of the holy "reat martyr 4na'ta'a the Healer

(en, of the 8hr, century).

' vir$in of @oman e*traction, with remar(able beauty, richand virtuous, Saint 'nastasia was the dau$hter of

Prete*astus and Phaustia who instructed her in the hristian

faith. She was married to a profli$ate and un$odly youn$man, named Publius Patricius. Becomin$ a widow soon

after, she went in secret to the dwellin$s of the poor and the


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prisons of the martyrs, and procured re;uisites for all,

cleanin$ their wounds, loosenin$ their chains, and carin$

for their infirmities. She was also surnamedPharmacolytria4the Healer. 7pon bein$ discovered, the

Saint was seiCed by the servants of +iocletian, and after

many tortures, her martyrdom was ended by fire around=6.

Fifth Class Feast.

Tro%aria: of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the

Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of Saint =nastasia#

and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the

3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior JesusChrist +ecember 450.

December 23

%ourth Pre-fe'tve Day of the Natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the 8en Holy Martyr' of Crete (un,er

Decu'0 2!*-2+1)

These holy martyrs belon$ed to different localities andcities on the island of rete. They suffered martyrdom

under +ecius in 36. Their names are Theodulos,

Saturninus, Euporos, Gelasios, Eunician, oticos,

'$athopos, Basilidos, Evarestos, and Pompios.

Fifth Class Feast.

Tro%aria: of the 1re-festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the

Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of the Ten 9oly

Martyrs of Crete# and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 1re-

festi*e 1eriod of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od#and Sa*ior Jesus Christ +ecember 450.

December 2!

%fth Pre-fe'tve Day of the Natvty accor,n to the%le'h of $ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't

Memory of the holy Ho'omartyr 9uena (en, of the

8hr, or bennn of the %ourth century)

1aramony of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and

Sa*ior Jesus Christ. Concession for the usage of wine# but not of oil.Strict fast day.


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%f we must believe the account in the )enaia, Saint

Eu$enia was a native of @ome, the dau$hter of noble and

very rich parents, named Philip and Eu$enia. ?ithout herparents (nowled$e and accompanied only by two servants,

Protas and Hyacinth, she left her paternal home by ni$ht

and dis$uised as a man, lived with them in a monastery ofmon(s, under the name of Eu$ene. 'll three suffered

martyrdom under Emperor ommodus "A264A=#. Saint

Eu$enia was buried in the catacombs of 'pronian, on the


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Christ. 2inoni,on of the Sunday.

December 2+

8he Natvty 4ccor,n to the %le'h of $ur 5or,0 "o,0

an, Savor &e'u' Chr't. 9a'ter. 4b'tenton from or

for three ,ay'

The birth of 8ur


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also the Eucharist was celebrated first in the middle of the

ni$ht, at Saint )ary )a&or, then on the day, at the tomb of

Saint Peter.


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Memory of the holy Heromartyr 9uthymu'0

Metropoltan of Sar,e' (72!)

The Holy >ir$in )ary is called the Theoto(os ")other ofGod#, and she really is, for she be$ot the +ivine ?ord

accordin$ to the flesh. esterdays feast celebrated anhistoric fact. That of today is a notion of a feast, the feast of

the divine maternity of the >ir$in.

8ur ir$in )ary. This why )ary is the

)other of !esus, by the same ri$ht that other mothers are

for their children, and yet more perfectly. )oreover, !esus

is truly the ?ord of God, God HimselfD )ary is truly theTheoto(os. %t is a do$ma defined solemnly by the ouncil

of Ephesus in :9A, but which EliCabeth had already utteredon the day of the >isitation /How is it $iven to me that the

)other of my


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=nti%hons of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our

)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. 6sodi,on of the

3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# andSa*ior Jesus Christ. Tro%aria: of the 3ati*ity according to

the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# and

of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity accordingto the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

6nstead of the Trisagion# the *erse is sung: =ll of you who

ha*e been ba%tied into Christ# ha*e %ut on Christ.=lleluia. &%istle and $os%el of the Syna'is. 9irmos from

the Second Canon of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of

Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ and# after

Communion# Tro%arion of the 3ati*ity according to theFlesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

6n occurrence with a Saturday# the same order is followed#

but the &%istle and $os%el are of the Saturday after the3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# andSa*ior Jesus Christ.

6n occurrence with a Sunday# the %ro%er of the Syna'is is

united with that of the Sunday after the nati*ity accordingto the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

Ty%i,a and Beatitudes# or =nti%hons of the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ with# as a res%onse to the Second =nti%hon: ...whowas born of a (irgin. 6sodi,on of the Sunday. Tro%aria: of

the >esurrection# of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh ofOur )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of Saint Jose%h#and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ. Trisagion or the *erse: =ll of you who ha*e beenba%tied into Christ# ha*e %ut on Christ. =lleluia. &%istle

and $os%el of the Sunday after the 3ati*ity according to

the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

2inoni,on of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# and after Communion#

Tro%arion of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our

)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

Satur,ay 4fter the Natvty 4ccor,n to the %le'h of

$ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't

&%istle of the Saturday of the wee, of the %rodigal Son: 6 Timothy

?:!!b-!?.

$os%el: Matthew !4:!a-4!.


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Sun,ay 4fter the Natvty 4ccor,n to the %le'h of $ur

5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't= Memory of Sant

&o'eph0 the Spou'e an, the "uar,an of the ?rn0 of

the holy apo'tle &ame'0 brother of the 5or,0 an, of

Dav,0 the Prophet an, @n (8enth century B.C.)

ertain hurches of the East rather soon ac;uired the habit

to commemorate certain persona$es of the New Testamentwith the feast of Theophany "and later with the Nativity#. %n

Syria, on +ecember 1 and 2, Saint Stephen, the sons of

ebedee, and the two princes of the 'postles, werecommemorated. esurrection according to the occurring tone# then that

of Saint Jose%h# of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord#

$od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# and of the Church 1atron< 2onda,ion ofthe 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ.

December 2

8hr, Day of the %ea't of the Natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the holy Protomartyr an, 4rch,eacon

Stephen (3)

$ur venerable %ather 8heo,ore the Scarre,0 the

Confe''or (+-7!!)

8ne of the seven deacons chosen to aid the 'postles in thematerial wor( of the nascent hristian community, Saint

Stephen was stoned to death, as it is reported in the 'cts of

the 'postles around the year 95. He committed his soul in

pardonin$ his e*ecutioners. Buried by some pious men, hisholy body was rediscovered in :A3 at Faphar$amala,

followin$ an apparition made to


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Eudocia, the wife of Theodosius the oun$er. +estroyed by

the Persians in 1A:, the hurch of the Protomartyr Stephen

was rebuilt in A2=2 by the +ominicans. His name si$nifies,in Gree(, a crown the Troparion ma(es an allusion to this

etymolo$ical sense of his name.

's for Saint Theodore the Scarred "55342::#, he was the

brother of Saint Theophanes, whose feast is on 8ctober AA,where his life is $iven.

Fifth Class Feast.

=nti%hons and 6sodi,on of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our

)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. Tro%aria: of the 3ati*ity according

to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of Saint

Ste%hen# and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity of Our)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ according to the Flesh. &%istle and

$os%el of Saint Ste%hen. Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,on of Saint Ste%hen.

6n occurrence with a Saturday# the same order is followed# but the

&%istle is of Saint Ste%hen and the $os%el is from the Saturday after the3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ.

6n occurrence with a Sunday: Ty%i,a and Beatitudes. 6sodi,on of the

Sunday. Tro%aria: of the >esurrection# of the 3ati*ity according to the

Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# of Saint Jose%h# ofSaint Ste%hen# and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.

&%istle of Saint Ste%hen. $os%el of the Sunday after the 3ati*ity

according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,on of the Sunday.

December 27

%ourth Day of the %ea't of the Natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the Holy Martyr' Burne, n Ncome,a

un,er Docletan (363)

%n the nineteenth year of the rei$n of +iocletian, in themonth of )arch, 969, imperial edicts were posted

everywhere orderin$ the churches to be destroyed, the

Scriptures to be burned, and proclaimin$ those who were inpublic office forfeited of their duties if they remained in the

profession of hristianity. Shortly afterwards, under the

insti$ation of )a*imian Galerius and +iocletian, newdecrees were promul$ated orderin$ all the heads of the


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hurch imprisoned in whatever country they be, and that

they be compelled, by all means, to sacrifice. %n

Nicomedia, the $reat church was destroyed, and 'nthimos,who then presided over this church, was beheaded because

of the witness he rendered to hrist. ' crowd of martyrs

followed him. ' fire, hypocritically ordered by )a*imian,bro(e out in the imperial palace of Nicomedia at that time.

8n a lyin$ suspicion, the rumor spread that it had been set

on fire by the hristians. 'lso, on an imperial order, theywere put to death without distinctionD some were

slau$htered by the sword, others were burned, and it is told

that carried away by a divine and indescribable Ceal, some

men and women leaped onto the funeral4pyress. Thee*ecutioners bound a crowd of others on ships and threw

them to the bottom of the sea.

Fifth Class Feast.

=nti%hons and 6sodi,on of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our

)ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. Tro%aria: of the 3ati*ity accordingto the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ< of the 9oly

Martyrs burned in 3icomedia< and of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of

the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our# )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus

Christ. &%istle and $os%el of the %eriod. Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,onof the wee,day.

6n occurrence with a Saturday# the same order is followed# but the

&%istle and $os%el are from the Saturday after the 3ati*ity according

to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.


Sunday. Tro%aria: of the >esurrection< of the 3ati*ity according to theFlesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ< of Saint Jose%h< and

of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh

of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. &%istle and $os%el of the

Sunday after the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# andSa*ior Jesus Christ. Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,on of the Sunday.

December 2*

%fth Day of the %ea't of the Natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the Holy ;nfant' @lle, by Hero, n

Bethlehem

$ur venerable %ather Marello'0 Heumen of the

Mona'tery of the 4cemete' (!6)


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24/26

Sun,ay Before the Holy 8heophany of $ur 5or,0 "o,0

an, Savor &e'u' Chr't.

&%istle: 66 Timothy /:-.

$os%el: Mar, !:!-.

6f there are two Saturdays or two Sundays between the Feast of the

3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior JesusChrist# and Theo%hany# on the first Saturday and on the first Sunday is

read the &%istle and $os%el of the Saturday or of the Sunday after the


Christ< on the second Saturday and on the second Sunday is read the&%istle and $os%el of the Saturday or of the Sunday before Theo%hany.

6f there is only one Saturday or one Sunday# on Saturday is read the

&%istle and $os%el of the Saturday after the 3ati*ity according to the

Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ< and# on Sunday# the&%istle and $os%el of the Sunday before Theo%hany are read.

December 36

S:th Day of the %ea't of the Natvty accor,n to the


Memory of the holy Ho'omartyr 4ny'a of

8he''alonca (bennn of the %ourth century)

8he venerable Pre't Aotco'0 the 9,ucator of $rphan'

(%ourth century)

Saint 'nysia suffered for the faith in Thessalonica under

Emperor )a*imian, around the be$innin$ of the 0ourth

century.

%n the time of Emperor onstantius, the son of onstantine,

Saint oticos constructed a hospital for lepers who were

then by custom thrown into the sea, and procured food and

necessary clothin$ for them. 7npretentious in itsbe$innin$s, Saint oticos leper hospital was enlar$ed by

Emperor onstantine >%% Porphyro$enitus "=A94=3=# in thefirst years of his rei$n. %n his time, Emperor !ohn %TCimisces added new buildin$s to it and endowed it with

real estate which assured half of its maintenance. +estroyed

by an earth;ua(e, it was rebuilt from its ruins by @omanus%%% 'r$yrus "A624A69:#.

Fifth Class Feast.


25/26

The Closing ay of the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord#

$od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ# falling on the following day# ecember

"!# the memory of Saint Melania the >oman is antici%ated today.

6n occurrence with a Saturday# the &%istle and $os%el are from the

Saturday after the 3ati*ity according to the Flesh of Our )ord# $od#

and Sa*ior Jesus Christ.


Sunday. Tro%aria: of the >esurrection< of the 3ati*ity according to the

Flesh of Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ< of Saint Jose%h< and

of the Church 1atron. 2onda,ion of the 3ati*ity according to the Fleshof Our )ord# $od# and Sa*ior Jesus Christ. The &%istle and $os%el are

from the Sunday before Theo%hany. Ordinary 9irmos. 2inoni,on of the

Sunday.

December 31

Clo'n Day of the %ea't of the Natvty accor,n to the%le'h of $ur 5or,0 "o,0 an, Savor &e'u' Chr't

Memory of the ?enerable Melana the oman (8here

ere to to bear th' name= Melana the 9l,er ho ,e,

n !160 an, her ,auhter0 Melana the alerius )a*imus,

the Prefect of @ome under !ulian the 'postate, was born inSpain. ' widow at twenty4two years of a$e, she conceived

the lively desire to consecrate herself to God. She entrustedher son Publicola to a tutor, sold the $reater part of her

immense properties and she embar(ed for 'le*andria,

where she distributed her riches to the poor and to the

monasteries. She went to visit the +esert 0athers in Nitria,conversed with them at $reat len$th for si* months, visited

all the holy anchorites of the desert and educated herself

from them. She built a monastery in !erusalem around 953,where she withdrew for twenty4seven years in the company

of about fifty consecrated vir$ins. Nearby her was the

famous writer @ufin, a native of ';uileia, %taly, who,honored later by priestly ordination, had at the same time as

Saint )elania, the pious thou$ht to construct a hospice in

!erusalem to receive bishops, priests, mon(s, and vir$ins

who came on pil$rima$e to the Holy Places. 'dorned withhi$h education and very well mannered, her son Publicola


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attained hi$h di$nities in the Empire, not to spea( of the

happy marria$e which he had contracted.

Saint )elania the oun$er whom we commemorate todaywas the dau$hter of Publicola. She was born in @ome

around 929. ?ith her husband Pinian, she embar(ed for'frica around :6=, where the two spouses spent seven

years. Then in :A1, in company with 'lbina, the mother ofPinian, they went to !erusalem. 'lbina havin$ died in :9A,

Saint )elania shut herself up in a small cell on the )ount

of 8lives. She erected there a monastery which containedabout ninety vir$ins whom the Saint directed, but so

humbly that she was li(e the servant of all. She approached

the Holy )ysteries daily. 'fter the death of Pinian, shefounded a monastery for men, to assure the litur$ical

offices accordin$ to the @oman rite in the hurch of the

'scension. She died in peace on +ecember 9A, :9=.

0ar from @ome at the time these holy persons survived thebarbarian invasion of :A6 which sac(ed and devastated the

whole city, not even sparin$ the bronCe statues of the

forum. ?hile the unhappy inhabitants of @ome were allcaptives, they alone, bein$ consecrated to God on the

e*hortations of )elania, escaped the fri$htful catastrophe.

'll is said as on the 0east of the Nativity accordin$ to the

0lesh of 8ur

december synaxarion

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