Séptimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna. The Twenty-Sixth Day of December. The Night of the Moon.
Hierosólymis natális sancti Stéphani Protomártyris, qui a Judæis, non longe post Ascensiónem Dómini, lapidátus est. At Jerusalem, the birthday of St. Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned to death by the Jews shortly after the Ascension of our Lord.
Romæ sancti Maríni, ex órdine Senatório viri, qui, sub Numeriáno Imperatóre et Marciáno Præfécto, Christiánæ religiónis causa comprehénsus, equúleo et úngulis servíli more punítus, in sartáginem deínde conjéctus, sed, igne in rorem convérso, liberátus, objéctus quoque feris et ab illis nullátenus læsus; tandem, ad aram íterum ductus, et, cum idóla oratióne ejus corruíssent, percússus gládio, martyrii triúmphum adéptus est. At Rome, St. Marinus, a man of senatorial rank. In the time of Emperor Numerian and the prefect Marcian, he was arrested for the Christian religion, racked and torn with iron claws like a slave, then thrown into a boiling cauldron; but being delivered because the fire became like a dew, he was exposed to the beasts without being injured by them, and finally being led to the altar, the idols of which toppled over at his prayer, he was struck with the sword, and thus obtained the triumph of martyrs.
Ibídem, via Appia, deposítio sancti Dionysii Papæ, qui, multis pro Ecclésia impénsis labóribus, fídei documéntis clarus effúlsit. Likewise at Rome, on the Appian Way, the death of Pope St. Dionysius, who sustained many labours for the Church, and was renowned for his doctrinal writings.
Item Romæ sancti Zósimi, Papæ et Confessóris. In the same city, St. Zosimus, pope and confessor.
In Mesopotámia sancti Archelái Epíscopi, doctrína et sanctitáte célebris. In Mesopotamia, St. Archelaus, bishop, famous for learning and holiness.
Majúmæ, in Palæstína, sancti Zenónis Epíscopi. At Majuma, in Palestine, St. Zeno, bishop.
Romæ sancti Theodóri, qui Mansionárius Ecclésiæ sancti Petri fuit, cujus et méminit beátus Gregórius Papa. At Rome, St. Theodore, sacristan of the church of St. Peter, who is mentioned by blessed Pope Gregory.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Deo grátias. R. Thanks be to God.
Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
St. Stephen, the First Martyr
St. Dionysius, Pope and Confessor
St. Jarlath, First Bishop of Tuam in Ireland, Confessor
ORCCE Ordo: S. Stephani Protomartyris ~ Duplex II. classis
Nota Bene:
Joy and fear for Christians in Sri Lanka
Yamini Ravindran, National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka’s (NCEASL) advocacy officer, said, “Christmas is commercialized for the Christians residing in the main city areas; however, for most Christians in the rural or Buddhist-dominant villages it is a completely different scenario. It is an event filled with joy and fear for them. Joy to remember the birth of Christ—fear to conduct services boldly and fear of attacks against churches, pastors, or Christian members.”
Open Doors warned that Sri Lankan Christians may be under increasing persecution as Christmas nears in the mostly Buddhist nation. Citing recent reports from NCEASL, Open Doors said in a Dec. 19 email that “Christians in Sri Lanka are likely to take extra precautions as they hold their Christmas gatherings and celebrations this month.” The NCEASL noted several recent instances of persecution, including the Dec. 5 visit from authorities who told a pastor to “stop all religious worship activities taking place on his premises” in southern Sri Lanka, according to Open Doors.’
Click to read more at World Mag
Egyptian Copts to celebrate Christmas ‘no matter the circumstance’
By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo
Egyptian Copts are eager to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s this year but at the same time acknowledge the need for increased security.
“Christmas celebrations are a necessity that will not be stamped out by any circumstances or events,” said Father Paul Nathir of the Church of St. Anthony in Cairo’s Shubra district.
He told Al-Shorfa, however, that Copts are planning on making this year’s New Year’s and Christmas celebrations low-key affairs.
“Copts have unpleasant memories of previous New Year’s and Christmas Eves,” he said, recalling the killings in Nag Hammadi on Christmas Eve in 2009 and the bombing of the Saints Church in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve last year that left dozens of Christians killed and wounded.
“Many areas have begun forming popular committees to secure the masses held during the holidays in collaboration between young Christians and young Muslim members of political groups and independents,” he said.
Mena Mitri, a senior in Cairo University’s Department of Languages, said celebrating Christmas is “essential and semi-obligatory, no matter the circumstances”.
GWOZA CHRISTIANS PUBLISH OPEN LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS AND REVEAL HORRORS COMMITTED AGAINST THEM Gwoza Christians in Northern Nigeria published an open letter in three Nigerian national newspapers demanding answers for severe crimes committed against them. They also hope to inform the global…
COLOMBIAN GUERRILLA GROUP BANS WORSHIP SERVICES, THREATENS PASTORS An estimated 150 churches closed since July. COCHABAMBA, Bolivia, December 18, 2013 (Morning Star News) – Christians in southern Colombia are living in constant danger…
Video: Dutch politician Geert Wilders named politician of the year by the people Examiner.com 19 December 2013 On Monday, Dutch news outlet the Volkskrant reported that Dutch politician Geert Wilders was named the 2013 politician of the year. The Dutch news program, ‘EenVandaag’, asked its viewers to vote for who they believed was the Netherlands best politician. There were approximately 35,000 viewers who cast a ballot, Wilders received 16% of those votes.
Video: December 10th: The Day of Genuine Human Rights Gates of Vienna 19 December 2013 By Baron Bodissey Hatune Dogan is a Turkish-German Orthodox Christian nun. In the video below, recorded on December 10th in Vienna, Sister Hatune gives a shocking description of the situation for Christians in Syria, Iraq and Turkey.
Prince Charles warns Christianity disappearing in Middle East birthplace Ecumenical News 19 December 2013 By Peter Kenny The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles has warned that the decline of Christians in the Middle East is a major blow to peace as they often act as bridge-builders…