Memorial of Saints (December 27)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• John, apostle and evangelist
• Fabiola, widow
• Nicarete, virgin
• Theodore and Theophanes
• John Stone, priest and martyr

St. John was born in Bethsaida, Galilee. He and his brother James followed Christ and became apostles, with John becoming Christ's beloved disciple. In the hour of Christ's death on the Cross, John was with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. It was there before the death of Christ, that Christ entrusted His mother to John.

St. John was not only an apostle but also an evangelist like his companion-apostle Matthew. John's gospel is the last gospel to be written. Three letters are also attributed to John in the New Testament. John is the only apostle not to die as a martyr.

December 27 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• St. Stephen, Protomartyr, Apostle and Archdeacon
• Theodore, brother of St. Theophanes

Sts. Theodore (ca. 775-841 A.D.) and Theophanes (born ca. 778 A.D.) were born at Kerak, Moab (Transjordan) and became monks at St. Sabas Monastery. He and his brother Theophanes were exiled to an island in the Black Sea when they opposed the iconclastic activities of Emperor Leo the Armenian. Upon the death of Emperor Leo in 820 A.D., the brothers returned to Constantinople. They were again banished by Emperor Theophilus in 829 A.D.. When Theophilus died, Theophanes was brought back and was later named bishop of Nicaea. Both brothers are called Graptoi (written-on) because twelve lines of verses had been cut into their skins for their opposition to iconoclasm.

St. Theodore is commemorated in both the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar this day, December 27. St. Theophanes (called the Chronicler) is commemorated in the Roman Calendar every 12th of March.

Memorial of Saints (December 26)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Stephen, martyr
• Archelaus, bishop
• Dionysius, pope
• Zosimus, pope

St. Stephen (1st century A.D.) was one of the first deacons in the early Christian Church of Jerusalem. As a brilliant speaker he was very successful and drew the hatred of the Jews on himself. The story of his martyrdom is presented in the Acts of the Apostles.

Sts. Stephen, Archelaus, Dionysius, Zosimus, Learn more

December 26 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God and St. Joseph, her Spouse
• St. Euthymius, Priest-Martyr

(Author's note: AI Overview from Google Search on the "Synaxis" provided below. Generative AI is experimental)

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God and St. Joseph, her Spouse is a celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church that takes place on December 26. It is celebrated on the second day of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The name of the festival refers to the gathering of the faithful to honor the Virgin Mary and her spouse, St. Joseph.

The word "Synaxis" refers to a gathering for worship, or a congregation that meets for a liturgical service. It can also refer to an early part of the Eastern Orthodox Church's divine liturgy.

St. Euthymius the Great:

In the Roman Calendar, the feast of St. Euthymius is every January 20. In the Byzantine Calendar, he is commemorated today, December 26.

More on St. Euthymius the Great (Wikipedia.org)

Solemnity of Christmas (Years A, B, & C)

(Edited) Reflection (from) Christmas Mass for the Day (B), December 25, 2011

Author's note: The Liturgical readings for Christmas Mass for the Day is the same for all liturgical cycles: Year A, B, & C

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

In a sermon for Christmas, St. Bernard (a Cistercian abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux in the beginning of the 2nd millenium), describes the mystery of Christmas as follows:

"A little child has been given to us, but in Him dwells all the fullness of a divine nature...the smaller He became through His human nature the greater was His goodness; the more He lowered Himself for us, the dearer He is to us."

What can humble some human minds is the challenge to have faith in this little child, who has that fullness of divinity which contains the Wisdom of God - a Wisdom not only for the known universe that everyone knows, but also for what is unknown. In a little child, the hope of humanity is borne in the lowliness of a baby, born of a simple maiden from Nazareth.

Looking at the traditional Christmas crèche, and taking time to contemplate how God-became-flesh-in-Jesus, can fill any soul with a hope not like any hope found in the other liturgical season of the Catholic faith. As present external circumstances appear to be heading towards negativity and a downtrend, the mystery of hope and joy which the Christ-Child presents every Christmas to all the faithful, is enough to dispel any form of discouragement or sorrow one may have encountered in the difficulties of life this past year. And it gives all a source of hope for a future that all anticipate. This hope for a future is found in the Christmas spirit of the Eucharist itself. And it is magnified with the knowledge that the Spirit of God is present in all who receive this hope in the Eucharist in every corner of the world. The Eucharist brings that Christmas hope to every heart until it overflows and benefits others as well.

It has been two millenia since that mystery of the Word-became-flesh quietly entered human history in a small town in Bethlehem. This Spirit of the Word-became-flesh from then on continued to be poured out all over the world through the zeal of the apostles and their followers. Until now, it continues to be poured out to all humanity through the Church and all its members of every culture and race. Though there are still others who may not as yet see the light of the truth of the Incarnation, everyone knows by heart that the spirit of joy and hope which the poor Bethlehem scene brings, can still inspire a world in need of this Christmas spirit. It is the task of every baptized Catholic not only to remain in this Christmas hope, but also to bring it to others in the very circumstances of each one's respective work and state of life.