Saints Days Dec 15-21
Dec. 15
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_15]
Eleutherios
Made bishop in Illyncum at 20 years of age, he caught the notice of Emperor Hadrian who ordered Felix, a centurion, to make his arrest.
Before arresting him, Felix converted.
Returning to Rome Eleutherios withstood mortal tortures before finally being beheaded alongside Felix and the governor, Choribus, who had also been converted by Eleutherios.
[Source: members.xoom.com/sjs/saintn.htm#nino] Nino
Also known as Christina, she was born in Cappadocia, enslaved, and brought to Georgia where she spread Christianity before dying in 320.
Dec. 16
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_16]
Joseph, The Betrothed
Eastern and Western beliefs about Joseph, husband of Mary, are different. In the Orthodox Church both Joseph (the father of many children) and his ancestor, [Source: members.xoom.com/sjs/saintd.htm#david] David, are commemorated on this day.
Dec. 18
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_18]
Saint Eubiotos.
Eubiotos lived during the reign of Emperor
Maximian. He was beaten severely but remained unscathed. Such a miracle produced Christian converts. He was even put in the arena with gladiators and sent to the lions, without harm. Eventually, when Maximian heard Constantine was coming, he was set free.
[Source: www.erols.com/saintpat/ss/1218.htm#auxe] Auxentius of Mopsuetia
Although the Emperor Augustus Licinus co-signed the Edict of Milan in 313, providing religious freedom for Christians, Auxentius was dismissed from his service for refusing to engage in pagan practices, so he became a priest and then bishop in Cilicia. As bishop he defended Chritians against imperial interference.
[Source: www.erols.com/saintpat/ss/1218.htm#gati"]St. Gatian of Tours
Gatian (d. 337) is honored for being a disciple of Saint Dionysius of Paris.
Dec. 19
[Source: www.knight.org/advent/Popes/ppan01.htm] Anastasius I, Pope
A friend of Saints Augustine, Jerome, and Paulinus, he died in Rome in 401, having been pope for two years.
He is known for his opposition to Origen and Donatus.
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_19 and DIR]
St. Boniface I
During the reign of Emperor Diocletian, Boniface was a loving if drunken servant to Aglais, daughter of Akakios the Proconsul of Rome.
Aglais asked him to bring her relics of martyred saints from the East "for help and spiritual salvation."
He followed her orders by confessing his religion to the Governor of Cilicia who thereupon had him tortured and torn to bits. The 12 servants with whom he had arrived, oblivious to what was going on, had assumed he had been in a tavern drinking. When they learned the truth, they bought Bonifacius' bones, and brought them back to Rome as relics.
Aglais buried them four miles from Rome and also built a church in his name in the city.
Dec. 20
[Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/ignatiusofantioch.html] Saint Ignatios of Antioch
A disciple of John the Divine, Ignatius was appointed to the See of Antioch by St Peter. There he was Bishop for 40 years until he was persecuted under the Emperor Trajan, ending his life in an amphitheater with hungry lions.
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_20] Saint Ignatios The God-Bearer
[Source: www.erols.com/saintpat/ss/1220.htm] Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus
[Source: members.xoom.com/rotw/old/roman/roman.htm] The Emperor Decius (249-251) was responsible for the persecution of Egyptian Christians. Four soldiers charged with guarding such prisoners, and a bystander named Theophilus urged one of the victims to be true to his faith. The five were, of course, added to the group of the accused and beheaded.
Dec. 21
[Source: www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp1662/notes/saints.html#Stephen] St. Thomas the Apostle
Not much is known about him. He is believed to be the brother of St. Matthew and is thought to have been a missionary to Persia and India.
[Source: www.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_21]
Saint Juliane
Juiane of Nicomedia lived during the reign of Emperor Maximian. She was engaged to Eleusios, a prefect.
Since she refused to marry him, thereby alienating both her father and suitor, she was handed over for torture as a Christian. After much suffering, both in prison, where she is said to have fought a devil, and through such tortures as burning and boiling in oil, she was finally beheaded.
[Source: /www.erols.com/saintpat/ss/0216.htm#juli] Juliana of Nicomedia
[Source: www.erols.com/saintpat/ss/1221.htm] Glycerius of Nicomedia
Glycerius was a Nicomedian priest or deacon, killed in 303 under Diocletian.
Advent Week I
(Dec 1-7)
Advent Week II
(Dec 8-13)
Advent Week III
(Dec 14-21)
Advent Week IV
(Dec 22-24)
