Memorial of Saints (December 7)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church
• Eutychian, priest
• Josepha Rosello, virgin

St. Ambrose of Milan (339-397 A.D.) was born at Gaul but went to Rome where he became a lawyer and even consul of Milan. He was acclaimed by the people as bishop. One week later, he was baptized. After getting more instructions he was ordained priest and bishop. St. Ambrose was known as an apostle of charity. He reformed the liturgy, wrote commentaries on the Old Testament and the Gospel of Luke. As bishop, he directed many to the Catholic faith, among them St. Augustine of Hippo. St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Augustine of Hippo are both "Fathers of the Church and Doctors of the Church. "Father of the Church" is a more traditional title than Doctor of the Church, Learn more.

St. Josepha Rosello (1811-1880 A.D.) was born and baptized as Benedetta in Liguria, Italy. Together with two cousins, she founded a community in Savona in 1837 A.D. The Congregation, the Daughters of Our Lady of Pity, takes care of the education of poor girls, the founding of hospitals, and doing charitable works. Josepha Rosello was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1949 A.D.

December 7 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

In 1298 A.D., Ambrose of Milan was named Doctor of the Church. His feast today is in the General Roman Calendar. It commemorates not the day of his death, (as most Saints are commemorated), but on the day of his consecration as a bishop. His feast is also celebrated on this day by the:

• Greek Orthodox Church
• Russian Orthodox Church
• Church of England
• Episcopal Church in the USA
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Memorial of Saints (December 6)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Nicholas of Myra, bishop
• Dionysia, Majoricus, and Companions, martyrs
• Abraham of Kratia, bishop

St. Nicholas of Myra (died 4th c. A.D.): He was bishop of Myra (now in Turkey) in Asia Minor. He signed the document at the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) which affirmed the divinity of Christ.

St. Nicholas was known as a compassionate man who cared for the young ones and helped all those he saw in need or came to him for help. He became one of the most loved and honored saints. More than 2,000 churches are named in his honor in Europe alone.

He is the patron of Russia, Greece, Sicily and Lorraine, and of children and sailors.

St. Abraham of Kratia (ca. 474-558 A.D.) was born in Emesa, Syria. He became a monk but was forced to flee to Constantinople because the community he belonged was dispersed by nomadic raiders. In Constantinople, he became a procurator of a monastery.

When he reached twenty-six he became abbot of the monastery in Kratia in Bythinia. About ten years later he went to Palestine to seek solitude and a life of contemplation. However, he was forced to return by his bishop and eventually became the local bishop of Kratia. He served as bishop for 13 years before he retired in 525 A.D. Again he left for Palestine and remained there for the rest of his life.

December 6 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra

St. Nicholas of Myra became the basis of the legend of Santa Claus. His feast is on the General Roman Calendar and is also observed by the:

• Greek Orthodox Church
• Russian Orthodox Church
• Church of England
• Episcopal Church in the USA
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Memorial of Saints (December 5)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Sabas
• Philip Rinaldi
• Crispina
• Nicetius of Trier
• Birinus
• Sigiramnus
• John Almond

St. Sabas was the son of an army office and had a hard life as a youth. He felt drawn to monastic life and so, he ran away to a monastery near his birth place. When his family wanted him back home, he chose to remain in the monastery.

He then became a hermit under the guidance of St. Euthymius. He founded a hermitage which would be called after him, Mar Saba.

In 491 A.D., the patriarch of Jerusalem ordained him a priest and made him responsible for all hermits in Palestine. As a hermit, he attracted a number of followers, and thus organized them into a laura - (hermit huts in circular form around a chapel).

He then left the country at 91 years old and went to see the emperor in Constantinople to ask him favors for his monks and for the population in Palestine which suffered under heavy taxes. He died after a fulfilled life, well-balanced between prayer and activity.

St. Sabas is considered one of the founders of Eastern monasticism. His monastery is one of the four oldest inhabited monasteries in the world (died ca. 532 A.D.).

More on Saints - December 5

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• St. Sabas, Hegumen-Abbot

St. Sabas' feast is also observed this day by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches and by the Benedictines and Cistercians.

From Google Gemini

A hegumen-abbot is the head of a monastery in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. The term "hegumen" comes from the Greek word meaning "leader" or "one who is in charge." It is similar to the title of "abbot" in Western Christianity.

Here are some key points about hegumen-abbots:

Role: They are responsible for the spiritual and administrative leadership of their monastery. This includes overseeing daily prayers, spiritual guidance of the monks, and managing the monastery's finances and property.

Appointment: Hegumen-abbots are typically appointed by a bishop or other higher church authority.

Rank: The rank of hegumen-abbot is considered higher than that of a simple monk but lower than that of an archimandrite, another monastic title.

Attire: Hegumen-abbots wear distinctive clothing, including a black monastic mantle and a pectoral cross.