11 January 2025 (MIA)

Macedonian Orthodox Church Calendar

Holy Innocents of Bethlehem

A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. The words of Jeremias the prophet about the slain of 14,000 infants in Bethlehem were fulfilled. The wily king Herod, who was reigning in Judea at the time of the birth of Jesus, learned from three Wise Men from the East that they had come to Jerusalem, advised by a star in the heavens, in search of the newborn King of the Jews. Herod’s superstitious fear of losing his throne was awakened, and he grew troubled. He called together the chief priests, questioned them, and learned from them that the awaited Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He said to the strangers: “When you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may go and adore Him.” When Herod realized that the Wise Men would not return, he was furious, and in his rage ordered that every male child in Bethlehem and its vicinity, of the age of two years or less, be slain.

Catholic Calendar

Pope St. Hyginus

Born in Athens he reigned about 138-142. He was considered a philosopher and fought for the assertion of the validity of the Old Testament. He established that the churches should be dedicated, also he divided the ecclesiastic hierarchy in different orders. Seems like it was him to prescribe the godfather and godmother for the baptism. In those years the Mausoleum of Hadrian was built.