My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
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ON THE 29th OF DECEMBER OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY 14,000 INFANTS SLAIN AT HEROD'S ORDER IN BETHLEHEM
When Herod "saw that he was mocked of the wise men" (Matthew, Ch. 2), he became "exceedingly wroth," both with them and the newborn King of the Jews. Herod in his rage attacked the blameless infants because those who had aroused his fury were out of reach. He sent soldiers armed as if for battle to Bethlehem, with orders to slay every child that was "two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Theophylact (as was said in the Narrative of the Adoration of the Magi) informs us that the Star was first seen quite some time before the Nativity. If it appeared at the moment of the Annunciation, it would have been visible for nine months prior to the Savior's birth. The Wise Men arrived in Jerusalem on the day of the Nativity, worshipped Christ in Bethlehem before the purification of the spotless Theotokos, the "departed into their own country another way." Herod did not immediately realize that he had been mocked by the Magi, but at first thought that they had failed to find Him Whom they sought, and not wishing to become a laughing-stock, had secretly slipped away in shame.
"...The slaughter of the innocents took place twenty-one months after the Star appeared, in the year following the Nativity, on the 29th of December; therefore, the Holy Church commemorate these blameless sufferers on this day. Because he wished to be certain he had achieved his aim, fearful Herod slew "all the children form two years old and under to death," says the holy Chrysostom. The raging tyrant was a coward, so his order was intent to allow the soldiers no possibility for error."
Some of the innocents were run through with the sword, others smashed against walls or with rocks, others hurled to the ground and trampled underfoot, others had their limbs torn off, others were speared, others cleaved asunder. Their mothers wailed pitifully, piercing heaven with their cries. They ripped out their hair, and tore their flesh and clothing. On that day the saying of the Prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (Jeremiah, Chapter 31; Matthew, Chapter 2). Rama was a city on a hill within the allotment of the Tribe of Benjamin. Rachel is another name for Bethlehem, since Rachel, mother of Benjamin and wife of the Patriarch Jacob, was buried there. When the infants were slaughtered in Bathlehem, that is, in Rachel, "the lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning" of the mothers could be heard in Rama, which is not far away.
Both, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint John of Damascus describe how the mothers mourned their slain babes. Saint John Chrysostom writes: "The mothers pleaded with the murderers, 'Why do you butcher our children? What offense have they committed against you or your king? What if these were your children? Have compassion on us; slay us rather than our little babies...
"...Soon after the massacre of the holy children, Divine retribution overtook Herod. According to Saint Theophylactos, he "came to a miserable end, with fever, spasms of the bowls, itching, swelling of the feet, rotting of the private parts, breeding of worms, difficulty in breathing, trembling, and spasms in every member until he spat out his wicket soul." (Source: The Collection of The Lives of the Saints)
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PLEASE NOTE: The slaughter of the Innocence is still continuing today by those who are committing abortion and killing their innocent children. The Christian Church condemns it as murder. Over 65 million innocent children have been murdered in the U.S. alone. Just think how many more millions are killed throughout the world including so called "Christian" countries in Western Europe, including Greece.
The killing of the innocent must stop immediately! Those who believe in abortion are not Christian believers. And those who commit this horrific crime have brought condemnation to their souls.
There is Divine Justice which no one can escape. Jesus said, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and be thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:42-43).
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George
