Old Stuff

The Twenty-seventh Day of December

At Ephesus, the birthday of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. After he had written his Gospel, he was sent into exile where he wrote the inspired Apocalypse. He lived even to the time of Trajan, and estabfished and guided Churches over all Asia. Overcome by old age, he died in the sixty-eighth year after the Passion of our Lord and was buried near the aforesaid city. A totum duplex feast of the second class.

At Constantinople, the holy confessors Theodore and Theophanes, brothers. They were reared from childhood in the monastery of St. Sabas. Afterward, they contended zealously against Leo the Armenian in their defence of the veneration of holy images. By Leo's orders, they were flogged and driven into exile. After Leo's death, they also resisted the Emperor Theophilus who adhered to the same impiety; again they were beaten and driven into exile, where Theodore died in prison. When peace was at last restored to the Church, Theophanes became Bishop of Nicaea. Celebrated for the glory of his confession, he died peacefully in the Lord.

At Alexandria, St. Maximus, bishop, who was quite illustrious and outstanding by reason of his confession of the faith.

At Constantinople, St. Nicaretes, virgin, who, at the time of the Emperor Arcadius, was distinguished for her holiness.

V. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

R. Thanks be to God.