http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents
Childermas (transferred from, Sunday)
Childermas is usually
celebrated on the 28th of December and commemorates the murder of
the children of Bethlehem, usually called the Holy Innocents. According to the Bible, these would have been
all the children of Bethlehem
of two years and under, probably two dozen or less children. .
While there are no independent sources of this event, it is highly
consistent with King Herod’s actions, who was quite prepared to kill anyone
including relatives who were a threat to his sitting on the throne.
In this day, we
remember not only those innocents who died after the first Christmas, but also
all Holy Innocents killed for political expediency, especially today the
children who died from AIDS in Rumania in the 1990’s and the street children
murdered by police in Latin America, and the millions of children killed
through abortion. .
In an English
tradition, in many Cathedrals, a boy bishop was elected on St. Nicholas Day and
continued in office until Childermas, conducting all the minor offices of the
Cathedral, and often preaching.
Collect: Emmanuel, as we remember the lives and deaths
of those who died when Herod was attempting to kill you, help us to resist
tyrants, and to stand strong against those forces today which would destroy
innocent lives, whether through neglect or intent: this we ask in the name of Yeshua haMoshiach,
who took our nature upon himself to redeem it.
Amen. (red)
Eucharistic Readings:
Psalm 124;Jeremiah 31:15-17;
Revelation 21:1-7;
Matthew 2:13-18
Daily Office Readings:
AM Psalm 2, 26; Isaiah 49:13-23; Matthew 18:1-14PM Psalm 19, 126; Isaiah 54:1-13; Mark 10:13-16
Note: If there is no celebration of the Eucharist, the Eucharistic reading of the Gospel is to be used for Matins. At the discretion of the celebrant other Eucharistic readings may be used for Matins.
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